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Christmas

The Best Christmas Movies Ever

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your sunday drive podcast

Do you want THE definitive list of The Best Christmas Movies Ever? Want to know why they matter deeply? Look no further…

In this final Your Sunday Drive podcast episode of 2020, we reminisce and riff on some of our favorites, unpacking plenty presents along the way: What makes a Christmas movie a Christmas movie and why does Die Hard count as one? What things do these stories have in common? Why do we build such strong traditions around them? Why does flying kites suck so bad? What role does magic and belief play in these movies?

Most importantly: How do these favorite seasonal stories connect to the actual Christmas story and the gospel itself?

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

The Loss Adjuster – Job lite

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“It’s only when you’ve lost everything that you realize what you’re really missing.”

In Vincent Woods’s film The Loss Adjuster, a modern-day Job is having one of the worst days of his life. It begins with his wife leaving him and goes steadily downhill.

Martin Dyer (Luke Goss) is an insurance adjuster who spends his day dealing with other people’s bad days—burglaries and property damage. He is a kind and gentle man who tries to bring comfort to the people he deals with. His day begins when his wife, no longer satisfied with their financial issues (which we learn are her fault), abandons him. As he is sits in shock and grief, his office calls and loads him with calls to make, paying no attention to his anguish. As he goes from one meeting to the next, those he meets impart small bits of wisdom. But also at each stop there are additional revelations and suffering that he must deal with.

The film begins with a voice over about a wealthy man who falls out of a plane. As the falls the wind strips him of all his possessions. The opening of the book of Job tells of a wealthy man who is stripped of everything of value in his life. The bulk of the book is made up of theological/philosophical discussions between Job and three friends about the justice of God and suffering. There is a touch of that here, but never really seeking any depth to such serious questions. Martin doesn’t really reflect on how all this misfortune came to him.  And like the man who fell out of the plane, but the end of the day, he is near naked, stripped of everything he has valued. It is when he has given up his attachment to his past that he becomes able to move on to new possibilities.

The film is set in the Christmas season, but it isn’t really a Christmas movie. However, it does evolve into an ending that is based in hope and grace, but even that is a cheap knockoff of hope and grace.

What I find unfortunate about the film is that, like the ending of the book of Job, there is a miraculous restoration of love and wealth.  I should note that I struggle with the ending of the biblical story as well, as do many. The ending of the book of Job is sometimes seen as at odds with the overall story. There is certainly a good deal of dissonance between the last chapter and all that came before. The deus ex machina ending of this film actually makes all the struggle that Martin has been through seem unimportant. The basic of the Job story is that Job is existentially changed by what he has gone through. Martin just has a bad day, then gets a great reward.

The Loss Adjuster is available on iTunes.

Photos courtesy of Trinity Creative Partnership

6.13 Deck the HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES

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A young executive has her life changed when she’s called to a remote small town at the Christmas season and falls in love with mysterious stranger… er… wait… An attractive wannabe baker has her life changed when she runs into an ex from her past before the big baking competition… no… um… A reporter has her life changed when she meets a prince… I mean…

‘Hallmark Christmas Movies’ have become a genre unto themselves. Featuring ‘cookie-cutter’ storylines and generic plot twists, the films have grown in popularity in the last few years yet are not without controversy as well. This week on the show, ScreenFish’r Heather Johnson and newcomer Christine Embree join us to look at the appeal of these similarly dissimilar films, how their characters stand up in a 21st Century world and what they say about the Christmas season.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

6.13 Hallmark ChristmasDownload

5 Days of Christmas GIVEAWAY #3: Digital Copy of JOKER

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Forever alone in a crowd, failed comedian Arthur Fleck seeks connection as he walks the streets of Gotham City. Arthur wears two masks — the one he paints for his day job as a clown, and the guise he projects in a futile attempt to feel like he’s part of the world around him. Isolated, bullied and disregarded by society, Fleck begins a slow descent into madness as he transforms into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook. For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter and Instagram.

The winner will receive a digital copy of Joker on iTunes.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Wednesday, December 18th, 2019.

5 Days of Christmas GIVEAWAY Day 2: Die Hard Colouring Book

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Welcome yourself to the party with the Die Hard Colouring Book!

Experience Die Hard in a fresh and creative way with this authorized tie-in coloring and activity book featuring favorite scenes and quotes from the beloved classic movie. This unique prize features some of the movie’s best moments, recreated in detailed black-and-white line drawings, including:

  • Hans Gruber and his posse crash the Christmas party at Nakatomi and take the tower hostage;
  • John McClane’s limo ride with Argyle;
  • The tension-filled crawl through the building vents; 
  • John’s morbid message delivery to Hans (written on the corpse of one of Hans’ men);
  • The famous bloody footprints;
  • And of course, John leaping off the Nakatomi tower.

The winner will receive a copy of the Die Hard Colouring Book.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook. For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter and Instagram.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Tuesday, December 17th, 2019.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch: Lost and Lonely for the Holidays

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The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his loyal dog, Max, live a lonely life atop the snowy crest of Mount Crumpet. Ostracizing himself from the Whos down in Whoville (the tall and the small), his main source of frustration comes during Christmastime when his neighbors celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter this year than ever before, the Grinch hatches a scheme to steal Christmas and end the Whos’ jovial celebration once and for all.

Produced by Chris Meledandri (Despicable Me), the greatest challenge facing Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch seemed to be whether or not The House That Minions Built could tell a story that lived up the legacy of the iconic original. Thankfully, the latest incarnation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale is an engaging romp that treads enough new ground to feel fresh and—dare I say it?—even necessary. (Incidentally, what impressed me most about the film is that, despite coming from Illumination, the humor is mostly spared from going full ‘Minions’ with bathroom humor, allowing it to feel somewhat timeless and charming.) Star Benedict Cumberbatch plays the titular villain with snarling glee as he plots against the seemingly naïve Who’s (even if he isn’t quite as much of a ‘mean one’ as previous incarnations). What’s more, this film seems to have a lighter bounce and sense of play than in the past, making it more accessible to even younger viewers.

Still, The Grinch sets itself apart from previous versions through its sense of grace and support towards others. While we’ve seen the Grinch as either traumatized by lost love (live-action) or simply… well… mean (animated), this vision shows him as a lonely curmudgeon. Alone in the orphanage as a child, Cumberbatch’s Grinch has deliberately tried to pull himself away from others, not out of hatred but out of jealousy. Having never been invited to be a part of any sort of community, the Grinch simply doesn’t understand the blessing of being surrounded by people that care about you. (Or, he’s at least oblivious to it, as his friendship with Max and Fred would indicate.)

Conversely, however, the Grinch’s isolation is held in contrast to the Who’s desire to come together and, more specifically, Cindy Lou Who’s quest to help her mother. Out of love and respect for what she sees her mom sacrifice for their family, Cindy Lou sets out on a quest to [literally] wrestle Santa to the ground in order to ensure that her request gets through to the North Pole. Rather than give Santa a list of gifts, all she cares about is seeing her mother get the help she needs. Like Cindy Lou, this film has a much firmer grasp on the meaning of the holidays and, as a result, the film’s climactic reunion with the Grinch seems far more significant. This vision of The Grinch understands what it means for a community to lovingly support those in need—and the importance of grace that breaks through in its midst.

On video, the film transfers beautifully (especially in 4K which really allows the color to pop onscreen). Special features include 3 mini-movies (yes, two of them feature the Minions), Cindy Lou’s Yule Log and a sing-a-long version of “You’re a Mean One (Mr. Grinch)”. However, one of the most interesting pieces is also the most simple. A short video entitled “Any Who Can Draw” allows viewers to put their artistic skills to work to draw characters from the film, an activity that my whole family enjoyed.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch is available on 4K, BluRay, DVD or Digital Download.

To hear our podcast on The Grinch, click here.

The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) warns his dog Max and reindeer Fred about the seductive power of the Santa cookie as he trains them to help him steal Christmas in “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” from Illumination.

GIVEAWAY! Dr. Seuss’ THE GRINCH!

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Who says Christmas has to be over?

In Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, the beloved titular villain and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of frustration comes during Christmastime when his neighbours in Whoville celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realizes there is one way to gain peace and quiet. With help from Max, the green grump hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal Christmas and silence the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all.


The winner will receive a copy of the Dr. Seuss’ THE GRINCH 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Edition and a Grinch hat.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook and answer the following question in the comment section: What is your favourite Dr. Seuss story and why?

For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter and Instagram.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Monday, February 4th, 2019.

 

Dr. Seuss’ THE GRINCH will be released on Blu-Ray on Tuesday, February 5th, 2019

5.07 ReImagining THE GRINCH

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With the return of THE GRINCH in theatres, Illumination attempts to revive a Christmas classic. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular villain, this version of the famed holiday fable creates some different sensibilities from past versions. This week, Steve welcome ScreenFish’rs Heather Johnston and Alan Sharrer to talk how the story has changed, social justice and reconciliation.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, SoundCloud or on Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or more!

5.07 The Grinch

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

Thanks Heather and Alan for joining us!

Mars S2E6: Christmas on Mars?

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We found water . . . but at what cost?

One of my biggest struggles with the ending of the first season of National Geographic’s series Mars involved pacing. I didn’t feel there was enough of a discussion of potential life on the planet to justify the last-minute declaration of life on the planet. Thankfully, the producers did a much better job with the second season’s ending. Loose plot ends have been tied while questions remain, leaving open the potential for a third season.  That’s about all a viewer can ask for, right?

As the fifth episode ended, Amelie (Clementine Poidatz) was having a caesarean for her firstborn.  A huge bluish-colored baby was taken away . . . leaving her to wonder out loud if she would ever hold the baby.  The good news: the child survived.  The bad news: Amelie still hasn’t held it for two months as its been on a ventilator.  We’ll get back to this drama in a second, but there’s a more pressing issue for both the IMSF and Lukrum groups.

It seems the mining corporation is having a difficult time drilling for water and Kurt (Jeff Hephner), the leader, is as desperate to find some as Marta (Anamaria Marinca) from the IMSF.  He resorts to trying something unproven on a new planet—explosives to break the rock.  In an attempt to bring Marta into the actions (and because his daughter wants to be a microbiologist), Kurt has her make a trip to gather some water for study.  Without checking with Commander Hana (Jihae) first, he proceeds with the explosion, which succeeds in bringing forth water.  Marta grabs a few samples, but the blast triggers an earthquake that completely destroys Lukrum’s compound—and nearly does the same for Olympus Town.  Kurt feels remorse over what his actions caused and feels even more when he goes to check on the other workers, finding the buildings destroyed with numerous casualties.  While he continues his search, he is pinned by wreckage that breaches his spacesuit and kills him.

Our mistakes sometimes have significant consequences.

When Olympus Town can’t get a signal from Lukrum, they rush over to the crash site in an attempt to help. Two groups of workers have survived—one in a protected area of the wreckage; the other (including new member Robert [Sammi Rotibi] in a rover). All make it to Olympus Town safely.

Amelie notices an issue with the ventilator and must make a decision with Javier (Alberto Ammann)—take out the breathing tube to see what happens or simply watch their child die along with the ventilator.  They choose the former option.

Meanwhile on Earth, people know about the earthquake and are seriously concerned if Mars habitation is even a future possibility. IMSF Secretary General Amanda Richardson (Cosima Shaw) isn’t sure what to do, as her vote to sanction Russia for working with Lukrum failed and left her with little to no power.  Lukrum then acquired another agreement with China, making things worse for her.  But the earthquake provided her an opportunity to work alongside an extremely smug Roland St. John (Esai Morales), who suddenly has little leverage politically.  They appear in a joint news conference, where Richardson blindsides St. John with a video from Commander Hana, showcasing that the two groups can get along (this was the basic premise of the documentary sections of the episode) and that life there is possible when Amelie and Javier introduce their daughter Gabriella to the citizens of Earth. St. John vows to get her back, but the episode ends.

There are definitely questions to possibly be answered in a future season (in addition to St. John’s response to Richardson): What became of the water Marta collected? What did she discover?  Was Mike ever released from his cell or was he sent back to Earth? Did Robert return to IMSF? How was Gabriella’s childhood? How did the scientists create the first cloud using their terraforming practices?  I think we need to explore further, National Geographic.

My biggest takeway from the episode was a hypothetical situation. Knowing that Gabriella was the first person born and raised on Mars, I began thinking what it might be like to raise a child with completely different holiday traditions (sort of like Life Day was in the Star Wars Holiday Special).  There would obviously be something with the day humanity landed, the day life was discovered on Mars, and perhaps the day water was found.  But how would holidays like Christmas be handled? Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem . . . on Earth, not Mars. For kids, there would really not be a context to work with (I’m trying to imagine Joseph and Mary taking care of a baby in a cave wearing space suits, and it’s not working).  Belief in Christmas would have to be . . . on faith.  But it’s a good kind of faith—a faith in the God who created the universe and placed the moon, planets, and stars exactly where he wanted them (see Psalm 8:3-4).

Viewers now have to have faith that National Geographic adds a third season of Mars to their schedule.  If not, I’m thankful for the journey and what I’ve learned along the way.

Ben Is Back: Broken Honesty on a Bruised Holiday

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Ben is Back tells the story of Ben Burns (Lucas Hedges), a nineteen-year-old drug addict who unexpectedly returns to his family’s suburban home on Christmas Eve. From the moment she first sees him, Ben’s mom, Holly (Julia Roberts), welcomes him openly yet remains cautious of her son’s drug addiction. Over a turbulent twenty-four hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother’s unconditional love is put to the test as Holly fights ceaselessly to keep her son sober.

Written and directed by Peter Hedges (About a Boy, Dan in Real Life), Ben is Back is a gritty family drama that proves both compelling and authentic. Although the set-up of the film seems relatively straightforward, the script continues to surprise with its willingness to stare down the inner darkness of its characters. This level of nuance provides the cast with an opportunity to showcase their talent, especially Roberts and Hedges. Without question, this is Roberts’ best role in years and, arguably, one of the best performances of her career. Young Hedges’ portrayal of the damaged and conflicted Ben also holds his own up against Roberts’ powerhouse performance, proving that he continues to grow into his talent.

Throughout the film, Ben constantly reminds his mother that truth is a luxury. While he repeatedly quotes his sponsor’s call for brutal honesty, he also reminds his mother that he cannot be trusted. Committed to delving into his history with unflinching honesty about what he has done and with whom, Ben becomes a walking testament to the belief that we ‘reap what we sow’. Recounting every face, every moment, and every action of his journey, he [now] recognizes that there have been consequences to his actions in ways he could have never considered, whether it be to others or his own soul. (In addition, by setting the film through Christmas Day, the film also adds another layer of complexity by juxtaposing Ben’s battle with addiction with a time of year often seen as celebrating new beginnings.)

On the other hand, Holly’s views her son through the eyes of love and, as a result, has difficulty accepting that he is as ‘bad’ as he believes. While this type of behavior is typical for a parent in this situation—who wouldn’t want to believe the best in their child?—things become more complicated as Holly begins to blur the lines of truth and lies in order to convince herself that things are better than they are. (In fact, at one point, Holly even begins to reframe history by trying to persuade Ben that his behavior really wasn’t all that bad.) There’s a complexity to Roberts’ role as she blends her performance as Holly with both unconditional grace and blurred truth. Her love for Ben pursues him relentlessly as her ‘lost sheep’. However, at the same time, her belief in Ben also borders on manic through her unwillingness to accept the truth about his life. Are there boundaries between love and grace? Ben is Back reveals the complexities of unconditional love and commitment to one’s child, especially when addictions and mental health come into play.

Anchored by remarkable performances by its leads and a solid script, Ben is Back creates a world where one’s hidden darkness must be faced in order to step out on the other side. In doing so, it also manages to successfully subvert the ‘family drama’ by demonstrating the complexities of a parent’s love for a broken child.

Ben is Back is in theatres now.