Author Archives: davetcourt

Film Journal 2024: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Directed by Wes Ball Set generations after the events of War, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes positions itself both directly within the timeline of the aformentioned trilogy while also establishing its own storyline. I admit, I was very uncertain heading into this one,Continue reading “Film Journal 2024: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”

Film Journal 2024: Evil Does Not ExistDirected by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi Evil Does Not Exist is a fascinating study of the ways in which simple ideas and experiences can inspire the genesis of a story. And more specifically in the case of the filmmaker, how different aspects of the form can drive a story’s function. TheContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: Evil Does Not Exist”

Film Journal 2024: The Last Stop in Yuma County Directed by Francis Galluppi I wish we were given more character development. There was plenty of space sitting around at the restaurant for this to happen through dialogue and back story. Stylistically it’s going for something different however, drawing out a situational thriller in a wayContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: The Last Stop in Yuma County”

Film Journal 2024: Hundreds of BeaversDirected by Mike Cheslik This film is looney tunes. In all senses of that phrase. One of them being an apt descriptive that marries a kind of live action Looney Tunes styling with an outright homage to the silent film era while blending in notes of satire, folklore (think PaulContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: Hundreds of Beavers”

Reading Journal 2024: Mothered Author: Zoje Stage Stage is one of my favorite horror authors. This is probably my least favorite of her books. Great premise, less than stellar execution.  I have to hand it to her though- she knows how to write dysfunctional families and messed up mother-child relationships like it’s no one else’sContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Mothered”

Reading Journal 2024: Reading GenesisAuthor: Marilynne Robinson If there is one word to describe Robinson’s demeanor and approach it would be grace-filled. This word drives her theological commitments. It drives her scholarship. It drives her exploration of ideas and her deeply felt interest in the God-human story. Perhaps another word might be warranted here- nuanced.Continue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Reading Genesis”

Reading Journal 2024: The Sovereignty of Good Author: Iris Murdoch A fascinating little book, which is really more a collection of essays brought together to form a cohesive, and often persuasive argument against modern philosophy (read: Kant, existentialism, empiricists) and for a reclamation of Platonic ideals. I don’t agree with all of it, and IContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: The Sovereignty of Good”

Reading Journal 2024: ThistlefootAuthor: GennaRose Nethercott Full credit to this book for introducing me to the legend of Baba Yaga, an enigmatic and popular figure in Slavic folklore (full points too for the Ukrainian backdrop for this most recent adaptation of the famed story). This also helped me to make sense of its reference inContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Thistlefoot”

Film Journal 2024: Back to Black Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson It’s a flawed film, to be sure. The way they shoot the film is very flat, and it definitely could have used some cinematic flourishes to give the thing some layers. It throws us straight into her personal struggles, leaving very little room for anContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: Back to Black”

Reading Journal 2024: Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and CompellingAuthor: Nijay K Gupta In Ann Jarvis’ Paul and Time, she makes a persuasive argument against familiar conceptions of either the overlap of the ages (old and new creation), or views that see the new age as future occurrence. Indeed, Jesus didContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling”