ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Jack Black

GIVEAWAY: Digital Copy of JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL

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When Spencer goes back into the fantastical world of Jumanji, pals Martha, Fridge and Bethany re-enter the game to bring him home. But the game is now broken — and fighting back. Everything the friends know about Jumanji is about to change, as they soon discover there’s more obstacles and more danger to overcome.

To enter, tell us your favourite video game film and why. For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram.

The winner will receive a digital copy of Jumanji: The Next Level on iTunes.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Thursday, March 26th, 2020.

To hear teenFish’s episode on JUMANJI, click here.

teenFish#8 JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL

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Welcome to teenFish, a podcast series that lets teenagers speak about media that matters to them in their own voice. Hosted by Daniel Collins (Infinity Warm-Up), teenFish airs every month and invites local youth to engage the truth and lies of the shows and films that excite them.

When Spencer decides to re-enter the world of JUMANJI, his friends follow in order to save him from the dangers inside. However, when glitches in the game push the boundaries of their experience, the team is forced to take a hard look at themselves in order to decide who they really are and what they’re capable of. This month, Daniel and Jacob delve into JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL to talk about finding our identity, purpose and reconnecting.

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

The House With a Clock in Its Walls: The Magic of Healing

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Ten-year-old Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) goes to live with his oddball uncle in a creaky old house that contains a mysterious `tick tock’ noise. He soon learns that Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) and his feisty neighbour, Mrs Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), are formidable magicians. When Lewis accidentally resurrects a deceased enemy, the town’s sleepy facade suddenly springs to life, revealing a secret and dangerous world of witches, warlocks and dark magic.

Designed to emulate the Amblin films of the 80s and early 90s, House balances a tone of youthful playfulness with outright terror throughout. Billed as a vehicle for Jack Black, the true star of the film is Cate Blanchett who sparkles in every scene she is given. Diving into the character of Mrs. Zimmerman, Blanchett is clearly enjoying herself as the quirky and feisty neighbour and her enthusiasm is palpable. Though the film never quite lives up to the standard of the Amblin legacy, director Eli Roth does manage to create a world of wonder, even if he clearly revels in the moments where the horrifying comes to the forefront. (In fact, Roth makes one scene where the cast are surrounded by dolls to be particularly memorable.)

Magic is just a passing fez: Lewis (Owen Vaccaro), Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) and Mrs. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett) in The House with a Clock in its Walls.

Thematically, the film speaks into one’s journey of grief and their willingness to let go of the past. Dealing with the death of his parents, Lewis is left shaken. Though he has moved into his uncle’s home, he feels displaced and abandoned. As he discovers the world of magic, his world begins to see colour once again—yet he still remains tied to the death of his mother and father. Echoing the journey of the film’s villain, Lewis is constantly reminded of what he has lost. For him, there is a cost to moving forward and he fears fully embracing his new life. In these moments, the film expresses the damage done when our world is shaken by tragedy. Is it ever truly safe to move on? Does embracing life mean forgetting or owning our past? By asking these questions, the film recognizes that holding onto our past, whether filled with joy or pain, causes us to remain stagnant in our growth and ability to love others. In other words, House understands that healing begins when we release the things that hold us back emotionally and spiritually.

While Roth seems to struggle with the more childlike aspects of the story, The House with a Clock in its Walls is an enjoyable film for older children. (The film’s scarier moments may be too much for younger viewers.) Performances by Black and especially Blanchett create an atmosphere of magical beauty where anything is possible, even if the film’s script remains uneven in places. In the end, House reminds us that, in order to heal one’s heart, they must be willing to let go of the past and embrace life at its fullest.

The House with a Clock in its Walls is available now on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download.

GIVEAWAY! THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS in 4K!

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Ten-year-old Lewis goes to live with his oddball uncle in a creaky old house that contains a mysterious `tick tock’ noise. He soon learns that Uncle Jonathan and his feisty neighbour, Mrs Zimmerman, are powerful practitioners of the magic arts. When Lewis accidentally awakens the dead, the town’s sleepy facade suddenly springs to life, revealing a secret and dangerous world of witches, warlocks and deadly curses. 

The winner will receive a copy of the The House With A Clock In Its Walls 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Edition and a commemorative book.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook and answer the following question in the comment section: What is your favourite Jack Black film? Why?

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

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Monday, December 17th, 2018.

 

A House With A Clock In Its Walls will be released on Blu-Ray on Tuesday, December 18th, 2018

Magic is just a passing fez: Lewis (Owen Vaccaro), Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) and Mrs. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett) in The House with a Clock in its Walls.

Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far On Foot: Hope, Healing and Higher Powers

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Directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Elephant), Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far On Foot tells the story of controversial cartoonist, John Callahan. After nearly dying in a car accident, the last thing Callahan (Joaquin Phoenix) intends to do is give up alcohol. Reinvigorated by his girlfriend and a charming sponsor, Donnie (Jonah Hill), Callahan reluctantly enters Alcoholics Anonymous and discovers that his passion for drawing. The budding artist soon finds himself with a new lease on life when his edgy and irreverent newspaper cartoons gain a national and devoted following.

In its best moments, Don’t Worry… provides Phoenix ample opportunity to showcase his incredible ability to disappear into a role. His portrait of Callahan balances both pride and brokenness in an engaging manner. However, it’s Jonah Hill who continues to surprise. As Callahan’s sponsor, Hill steals the film, depicting Donnie as a complex picture of truth and grace. Interestingly though, it’s director Van Sant’s decision to break the film’s narrative structure that creates the most conversation. By juxtaposing moments of death with moments of hope and personal breakthrough, Van Sant seems to want us to understand that each moment of our lives informs the next. In other words, by presenting the life of his subject to the viewer seemingly all at once, the film serves as a reminder that Callahan’s battles also mirror and enlighten his successes. (For instance, in one particular scene, Van Sant parallels Callahan’s tragic car accident with a moment when he falls from his wheelchair, reminding us that his past has created his present.) While jarring in some places, the technique proves effective for the majority of the film, offering context to Callahan’s journey in a unique manner.

Since much of the film chronicles Callahan’s journey with Alcoholics Anonymous, Don’t Worry…is imbued with intriguing conversations about reliance on a higher power. Callahan’s journey to sobriety takes him on a genuine wrestling match with God—although, to be fair, what God looks like here is entirely subjective and even unorthodox. (For example, Donnie’s vision of a higher power takes the form of psychotic doll Chucky, because “he’s unpredictable”.) For Callahan, his journey towards healing begins with his acknowledgement of his own weakness and his need for help from someone more powerful. In the strangest of realities, there is a healing that takes place when he understands his own human frailty and accepts the spiritual strength from Another. (As a pastor, I can relate to this truth on any number of levels.)

However, Callahan’s story is not merely one of healing through group therapy either. In fact, his journey also shows the power of finding your voice. Known for his political cartoons, Callahan found his true calling by speaking on behalf of a generation that was struggling to find itself. Though frequently controversial in his content, Callahan committed himself to expressing himself in ways that challenged the cultural norm. In doing so, his voice also gave him sense of hope and purpose that had eluded him throughout much of his life.

In the end, Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far On Foot is a poignant character piece about one man’s fight for self-discovery. Anchored by Phoenix but buoyed by Hill, the film is often engaging in ways that are both challenge and entertain. Though not his best work, Van Sant can still create well-rounded characters that don’t shy away from their frailties but still highlight their hopefulness as well.

The Masked Saint: Bringing Good To Others

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1465914_10153531839760557_1008715661_o-2Saturday mornings, for me, were opportunities to enjoy a bowl (or two) of cereal and sit on the couch, television remote in hand. After I had my fill of Shirt Tales, Snorks, and Smurfs, I often had to decide what to do next. Should I watch a new episode of Dungeons and Dragons or enjoy some wrestling? Normally, I just turned the TV off and went to play, but one morning, I changed the channel to professional wrestling and entered a new world.

I would sit, transfixed, as the likes of Ric Flair, The Ultimate Warrior, and Hulk Hogan took part in battle. Afterwards, my friends would gather and attempt the moves on a trampoline or with the action figures we received for Christmas.  We all knew the stuff was fake, but it didn’t stop us from having hours of fun imagining we were the world champions.

In the new film The Masked Saint, wrestling is brought to the silver screen—this time in the form of a pastor named Chris Samuels (Brett Granstaff—check out my interview with him here).  Yes, I said pastor.  It’s a unique idea based on a true story and has the potential to connect with a cross-section of Americana, but it falls prey to slow pacing and trying to accomplish too much.

Samuels is a professional wrestler who looks similar to NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and wears a mask (a la Jack Black in Nacho Libre) and goes by the stage name The Saint.  He’s extremely popular and has made promoter Nicky Stone (the late ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper) a lot of money.  But the script is about to change, as Samuels is set to retire and a new wrestler is selected to beat him in a title match.  That fighter is The Reaper (James Preston Rogers), who looks like a clone of The Undertaker.  The fight is supposed to be fake (as one might expect), but The Reaper goes too far and breaks Samuels’ leg in the process.

Chris and Michelle, The Masked SaintThis is a setback for Samuels, who is also a seminary graduate and has accepted a position as pastor in Rolling Spring, MI. The church is a half-step from disbanding, only surviving thanks to the ‘generosity’ of Judd Lumpkin (Patrick McKenna), a character who is the embodiment of every bad church member rolled into one person. Judd is loud, brash, crude, egotistical, and isn’t afraid of promoting himself or throwing his congregation under the bus—sometimes all at once. After Samuels has to put him in a sleeper hold to get his attention during a rec league basketball game, he gains the attention of Ross Harper (Mykel Jenkins), a local detective in town.

Rolling Spring is a rough town, and Samuels is about to learn how rough in his first month on the job.  He’s not a fantastic preacher—actually, he’s horrible—but he’s willing to invite people to the church.  Unfortunately, in a humorous yet sad scene, Samuels and his wife Michelle (Lara Jean Chorostecki) go door to door, only to find doors slammed when they mention the name of the church (thanks a lot, Judd).  It’s not a pretty picture, and when Judd (and his money) leaves, the couple find themselves trying to survive the harsh Michigan winter. Samuels has to pull himself out of retirement and wrestle in order to keep the church afloat.

But although the congregation has no clue about his alter ego (save one lady), things are happening in town. Samuels finds himself putting on the mask to help a lady in an alley and starts doing covert acts of good. The lady in the church who knows who he is, Miss Edna (Diahann Carroll), gives him a book and acts as his spiritual mentor. He begins to find a rhythm with preaching and the people begin to listen and respond. Samuels begins to face questions of priority, ego, faith, determination, family, and his other identity.  How far will he go to do what is right for his family, the church, and others?

The Masked Saint, Brett GranstaffThis sounds suspiciously like an adaptation of the Daredevil series currently on Netflix, but it’s not; there’s only a minor focus on the vigilante crime prevention.  I do think the film could be so much more if that were the case—after all, who wouldn’t want to see a wrestler using real moves to clean up a town? Instead, the script branches out into too many topics (bullying, domestic violence, crime, corruption, to name four) and tries to become all things for all people. Limiting the scope somewhat and delving into a few character-based topics would’ve been much more beneficial to the audience.  Instead, it’s like trying to focus on everything going on in Times Square—a task that often doesn’t work.  In addition, the film drags in the second half as it builds up to a rather big wrestling match. The fighting scenes are pretty good, but way too few and far between for those people intending to see a wrestling film.

This is not to say The Masked Saint is a disaster, as it’s not.  The acting is quite good and the production values are better than many faith-based movies.  Carroll does a great job as Miss Edna, encouraging the young pastor and sometimes taking him to task for his decisions.  She gives him a journal she calls “Mastering the Gift,” which becomes his main focus for the remainder of the film—even over the Bible, in my opinion.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see copies of the journal in Christian retailers soon.  Granstaff also does well in his role as the pastor/wrestler, adding an authenticity that’s not often seen in films of this type.

One of the more interesting themes in the movie involves Samuels dealing with his past. It wasn’t an easy life, and wrestling helped him survive constantly being bullied as a kid. But when he begins to become the bully and sees himself as more than he is, things get tense. Many times in the Bible, characters found themselves dealing with the past—take Moses as an example.  He wasn’t a great leader, didn’t speak well, and had a black mark in his past by killing an Egyptian. And yet God was able to use him to lead a country through a sea on the way to the Promised Land. Even despite this, Moses didn’t learn all his lessons and eventually made himself equal to God when attempting to get water from a rock (see Numbers 20:6-12). We’re not to dwell on the past, but we’re to look and see the new things God is creating and join Him in that work. When that happens, life becomes a fulfilling journey that brings purpose and satisfaction to many.