Faithspotting "The Crown"

Kenny and Mike are joined by our good friend and regular Faithspotting contributor Dr. Ryan Parker for the annual Oscars preview episode where we predict winners and share our choices for who wins the Oscars. Ryan works in public relations and marketing for independent films, and is also the Executive Director for the Misssissippi Film Society.

We agreed that this was a solid year for films and nominations. We were grateful that folks had a reason to get excited again as was experienced in the "Barbenheimer" moment, we also were happy that folks are discussing cinema thoughout various genres. While we agreed on many of the awards, there were a few differences of opinions. 

Faith Spotted:

In addition to picking and justifying winners we also discussed which films most effectively and powerfully reflected faith lived and experienced in life. Subjects included the temptation and  corrosive power of evil as experienced at communal and individual levels in the past as well as seems to be recurring now before our eyes and ears. The most significant question that emerges from several of the nominated films is, reminded now of the past sins of commission and omission by society, nations, and faith traditions, how will we respond as individuals and communities of faith? Will we be taken by, or stand against, the tide that seems set to pull many away from the rightsouness God desires as presented in Scripture and the life and ministry of Jesus?

Mike and Kenny discuss and spot faith reflected in the biopic about civil rights leader Bayard Rustin. Starring Best Actor nominee Colman Domingo, Rustin, directed by George C. Wolfe and co-staring Chris Rock, GlynnTurman, and fellow 2024 Academy Award acting nominees Jeffery Wright and Da 'Vine Joy Randolph, tells the story of Bayard Rustin, the organizer and driving force behind the 1963 March on Washington. The March is best known for Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech and is considered not only one of the seminal moments in the Civil Rights movement, but in modern American history. 

Faith Notes:

The nature of servant leadership, that leaders are to serve and not be served as demonstrated by Jesus' life and ministry, and His washing the feet of the disciples.

As seen in the film and lives of Bayard Rustin, MLK, and Medgar Evers, the need of and call to prophetic speech and action and the accompanying risks, suffering and sacrifice.

God using those who are imperfect to accomplish God's righteousness.

The temptation to allow ego and pride to damage or sabatage God's calling and mission. 

The seeds or racism that are blooming again and that they are incompatible with the teaching and life example of Jesus.

Hosts Mike and Kenny review and spot faith elements reflected in the Academy Award nominated film by Celine Song. Past Lives stars Greta Lee (Nora) and Teo Yoo (Hae Sung) who were childhood friends and first loves, separated suddenly when Nora's family immigrated from South Korea to Canada. The film co-stars John Magaro (Arthur) who meets and marries Nora after she moved to New York. Nora and Hae Sung reconnect via social media after 12 years. Following another 12 year gap Hae Sung travels to New York to see Nora and meets Arthur. 

Faith Reflected:

The importance of pursuing one's passion and perhaps one's life calling. Then the importance of accepting the life you have and are blessed with rather than sacrificing the life you should have for the life you had and or did not have. Mark 1:35-39  

Paul's teaching in 1st Corinthians 13 that one puts away the things of childhood when one becomes an adult. One can easily covet the past life or the life that might have been rather than accepting and embracing the life one has been blessed with.

Understanding that the persons, relationships and experience in our loved one's past life has made them the person one now loves.

Kenny and Mike discuss and spot faith issues reflected in the Academy Award Best Picture nominated and Palme d' Or winning film by writer/director Justine Triet.  Anatomy of a Fall is a French legal drama surrounding the suspicious death of a husband and father (Samuel Theis) and his wife and prime suspect Sandra (Sandra Huller) and the impact on their son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner.)

Faith and Life Issues Spotted: 

What do we value in life and how does that impact one's life and the life we share with others? To what extent do we value ourselves and others by what they accomplish professionally and the notoriety or material success and stature achieved? How do we value work and accomplishments and that are less public or profitable but yet still impactful in one's life or the lives of others in one's family or community?

To what is one called and equipped to do in and with their life? While some persons achieve fame and notoriety in their professions and lives, all persons have a calling and purpose, and have gifts to lead meaninful lives of impact and import for their life and the lives and of others.    Proverbs 19:22-24 1 Corinthians 12

Seek first the Kingdom of God. The less one seeks to please one's ego, and the more one seeks to bring joy to and receive approval from God in making the most of the life, gifts, and calling God has offered, the less emphasis one places on pleasing and gaining respect and notice of others. In measuring success in life by living into God's calling rather than by worldly definitions of fame, one is more likely to be aware of the quiet, yet great impact one has on the lives of those in one's community or life circles. Such is part of the teachings of Jesus regarding earthly and Kingdom treasures.    Matthew 6

Additional Connections and thoughts:

Consider the film through the lens of the fall of Adam and Eve as described in Genesis 2, and visa versa. What was the motivation behind their actions that led to their fallsIn ?

What do we do with dreams we had as children and young adults that are not fullfilled? Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 13 that there comes a time when we put away the language and perspective one has of the world as a child and takes on the language, perspective and responsibilites, and we could add dreams and pursuits. 

Hosts Kenny and Mike discuss and spot faith reflected in Alxander Payne's and Paul Giamatti's latest collaboration (Sideways).  Set in a northeastern boarding school in 1970, the film portrays a dishovled and grumpy classics teacher Paul Hunham (Giamatti) at Barton Academny who is assigned the unpopular duty of supervising the boys who are heldover the Christmas break at the school.  Da Vine Joy Randolph (Mary Lamb) and Dominic Sessa (Angus Tully) join Giamatti in delivering strong, memorable performances worthy Academy Award and Oscar consideration. 

Faith Spotted:

As there was no rooms for Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem, for Paul and Angus, there is no room for them in the lives of family nor friends. 

Paul is a Christ Figure in his sacrificial act for Angus. The need to address and work through pain, loss and anger through grief, and the consequenses of letting those feelings linger, grow, and shape an individual. The nature of grace that community of broken persons can restore hope and wholeness through their care and love for one another. 

Mike and Kenny discuss MAESTRO and faith reflected in the Bradley Cooper directed film about the life and career of composer / conductor Leonard Bernstein and his marriage to Felicia Montealegre. Cooper also co-wrote the screenplay and co-stars with Carey Mulligan in the film now streaming on Netflix. The film also stars Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, and Matt Bomer. Bradley Cooper, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Todd Philips.

Faith Spotted:

Various types of love, Eros, Philia, Agape, and Philautia. While eros /passionate, philia / deep friendship, agape / selfless, are love strengthens and binds persons together. Philautia / love of self is important and ordained by Jesus in His great commandment, Matthew 22, Mark 12, Luke 10. Love and care for one's self is necessary for a person to offer the other types of love, but when it grows too strong and the drive for attention, praise and love from others becomes greater than the love one has for others (narcissism) it negatively impacts relationships and the lives of others. 

Kenny and Mike interview director Sean Durkin and review his latest film The Iron Claw. The film chronicles lives, careers and tragedies of professional wrestling's Von Erich family.  The film stars Zac Efron as Kevin Von Eric, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons as brothers Kerry, David and Mike Von Erich. Holt McCallany also stars as patriarch Fritz Von Erich. 

Faith Elements Reflected:

The power of the resurrection as the utlimate victory against death and loss by providing new life. 

Power of resurrection faith as the source of healing and resiliency in the midst of trauma and loss.

The purpose of the grief process in healing and the negative impact of avoiding grief by denying the process through hyperfocus on other things, getting stuck within, or moving too quickly.

Notes from interview with Sean Durkin:

The pacing of the story as a tool for viewer engagement. 

The place of fear in driving Sean's storytelling and filmmaking. The place and impact of generational trauma and breaking the trauma cycles within families.

The importance of details in telling the stories and establishing connections with the audience.

Sean's shares the films that made him.

The hope and vision of peace in a life of trauma.

Mike, Kevin Von Erich, Kenny at The Iron Claw world premiere afterparty.

Hosts Kenny and Mike interview Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, the Emmy Award winning directors of the documentary film The Mission, which explores the life of the 26 year old American missionary John Allen Chau who attempted to contact and evangelize indiginous people on the isolated North Sentinel Island. The filmmakers also directed the 2020 documentary film Boys State, also featured on Faithspotting.  The Mission is available on Disney+ and fubuTV.

Faith Issues Spotted:

Amanda and Jesse discuss what attracted their attention and desire to document John's story, the call, nature and impact of evangelism to indiginous societies. Colonial evangelism and the Biblical call to evangelize and the agency of the recipients. The difference of ministry to vs. ministry with persons. 

   Daniel Everett  former Missionary

Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss Directors

Kenny and Mike have an extended interview with Paul Michael Angell, the director of the film Medicine Man: The Stan Brock Story. The film documents the life and life mission of Stan Brock, who following a career as a television host on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, a filmmaker, cargo pilot, director of zoos, founded a medical mission organization, Remote Area Medical (RAM) that has provided free health and dental care to over 800,000 people in the United States. In addition to Paul, Poppy Green, a member of the RAM staff, also participated in the interview and provided additional insight into Stan's amazing life and the important mission and work of RAM.

Medicine Man: The Stan Brock Story will be released nationwide through Fathom Events for a one night presentation on November 14th. Purchase tickets directly through Fathom Events at link below

https://www.fathomevents.com/events/medicine-man/

Stan Brock

Faith Spotted:

Having determination and faith to follow a calling. The importance of mission. Seeing and treating all people as persons of sacred worth. 

Paul Michael Angell

Faithspotting hosts Kenny and Mike review and spot faith reflected in Martin Scorsese's latest film, "Killers of the Flower Moon."  The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro, and tells the true story of the "reign of terror" inflicted upon the Osage Indian population following the discovery of oil on the land they were sent to live following their ejection from Kansas. The film chronicles the murders and suspicious deaths of many members of the Osage population that was part of a plan to steal the "headrights" due them and their decendents. 

Faith Themes Spotted:

The power and corrupting nature of greed in th which the appetite power and wealth and wealth is limitless.

Despite the Christian teaching that all persons are beloved children of God and therefore worthy of love from others, the reality of racism is that it dehumanizes and lables as "others" persons of different races, cultures and backgrounds on both the societal and individual levels. 

The nature of evil is that it often presents itself through the apprearance of concern and words and acts of love and community.