Author Archives: davetcourt

Reading Journal 2024: The Book Woman of Troublesome CreekAuthor: Kim Michele Richardson I became aware of this book on a recent trip to the American south. One of the places I spent some time in was Louisville, Kentucky, and while there I visited one of their famed local bookstores named Carmichaels. I asked the shopContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek”

Been thinking more about the film, The Book of Clarence, a film that has really been sticking with me this year, and which has a real, thematic interest in the resurrection. The journey that the film goes on wonders about how it is that a conviction in the truth of the resurrection might reshape theContinue reading “Embracing the Tension of the Empty Tomb: A Transformed Hope”

Coming into 2024, I wondered about three things- how an over abundance of sequels would be recieved, how we would navigate a reigning culture of cynicism, and the impact of balancing a still uncertain release schedule due to the strike, The first quarter would suggest that sequels have fared well, originals have succumbed to theContinue reading “First Quarter Check In: Favorite Films of 2024 Thus Far”

Film Journal 2024: Perfect Days Directed by Wim Wenders A film that teaches us how to know a person not through the use of speech, but through observation of things like facial expressions, eye movement, physical gestures and tendencies. The more these subtleties cause us to pause and ask why questions, the more we getContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: Perfect Days”

Reading Journal 2024: Where Butterflies WanderAuthor: Suzanne Redfearn The book does stumble a bit in the middle, especially where the back and forth nature of the drama starts to get drawn out and repetitive. But it is also bolstered by a strong premise and a really riveting first quarter. Even where it stumbles, there areContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Where Butterflies Wander”

Reading Journal 2024: FallingAuthor: T.J. Newman The very definitiion of a literary blockbuster. An understatement to say it was impossible to put down. The way the chapteres kept adding to the tension and ending with a cliff-hanger. There were a few times when I asked if it could give me even just a short breather.Continue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Falling”

Reading Journal 2024: The Heaven and Earth Grocery StoreAuthor: James McBride There is some payoff in the end, to be sure, but I’m still mulling over whether this is actually able to overcome what were some very real obstacles for me. The writing itself is strong of course, and the book’s premise is alluring. IContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store”

Film Journal 2024: Cabrini Directed by Alejandro Gómez Monteverde The film dedintiely has its issues- it’s far too long given the material it is working with, and this is made more aware by some poor editing choices, both of which challenge the story structure and prolonge the conflict past its effectiveness on a narrative level.Continue reading “Film Journal 2024: Cabrini”

Film Journal 2024: Imaginary Directed by Jeff Wadlow Imaginary offers some nice surprises in what is ultimately an uneven effort. Top of the list being just how straight up horror this thing was. And I was here for it, including a handful of legitimate jump scares. The potential was there to hit a home runContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: Imaginary”

Film Journal 2024: The American Society of Magical NegroesDirected by Kobi Libii A complicated film to consider and analyze for sure. Not because the material is overly complicated,.but because of how it approaches the satire that informs its working premise (A society where the magical part of the equation is literalized and imagined as aContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: The American Society of Magical Negroes”