Author Archives: davetcourt

Film Journal 2023: The HoldoversDirected by Alexander Payne Plays like a warm blanket with a hot drink. Cosy, pared back, simple, heartfelt. It’s also smart, or Aasmartly written character study that gives its two central characters, a cynical aging professor and a castoff delinquent student, plenty of room to develop. One of the potential dangersContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: The Holdovers”

“If we imagine that ‘law’ simply means a moral code- as many readers of Romans have done- we will miss much of the point.” 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;Continue reading “The Law of Life and Death: Discussions in Romans 8”

Welcome to the falloutWelcome to resistanceThe tension is hereThe tension is hereBetween who you are and who you could beBetween how it is and how it should be Switchfoot (Dare You to Move) The Dream Years ago I had a dream. A dream to make music.A dream to make a living making music. A onceContinue reading “Beautiful Letdowns and Unexpected Dreams: A Musical Pilgrimage”

The subject of necessary awe is still one of the most fascinating subjects to me when it comes to my dialogue with those who do not hold to belief in God. The basic question is this: if awe was not there, if it was stripped away, proven to be false, not attainable, would we stillContinue reading “The Question of Necessary Awe”

Film Journal 2023: A Million Miles Away Directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella One of the most remarkable things about this space odyssey, based on a true story, is that for as many miles as this travels it never strays far from the thing that really matters- home. There are so many points in this storyContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: A Million Miles Away”

Film Joutnal 2023: A Haunting in Venice Directed by Kenneth Branagh Death was only the beginning. Thus reads the official tagline for the latest entry from Branagh into the famed Hercule Poirot saga, which includes Murder On the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. Each of those films has it’s own distinct style andContinue reading “Film Joutnal 2023: A Haunting in Venice”

Film Journal 2023: The Equalizer 3Directed by Antoine Fuqua I noted in my review, an element that earned my deep appreciation, an intentional shift in The Equalizer 2 away from a stand alone premise about a man and his need for revenge towards a slower paced and invested character study. Given that it was theContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: The Equalizer 3”

Film Journal 2023: The Nun 2Directed by Michael Chaves There are definitely some issues with the screenplay, which are most notable in moments where the editing is trying to balance an interest in exploring the story with a need to move the story forward. There are also moments where the dialogue feels a bit clunkyContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: The Nun 2”

Reading Journal 2023: The Sickness Unto DeathAuthor: Soren Kierkegaard I have a nephew is pursuing a university degree, an currently taking a course in phillsophy, and more specifically on the existentialists. He inspired me to dive back in myself, as its been a while since I’ve spent good time with some ot these iconic voicesContinue reading “Reading Journal 2023: The Sickness Unto Death”

Reading Journal 2023: Moral Grandeur and Spiritual AudacityAuthor: Abraham Joshua Heschel (edited by Susannah Heschel) One of the great spiritual and relgiious minds of his (and our) time. This publication of essays explores the intersection between faith and ethics, with the two groupings of essays at the beginning and the end (Existence and Celebration andContinue reading “Reading Journal 2023: Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity”