Through A Screen Darkly
by Jeffrey Overstreet
Published by Regal Books
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Reviewed by Dr. David Frisbie, author and Executive Director of The Center for Marriage & Family Studies, California.
Subtitled: Looking Closer at Beauty, Truth and Evil in the Movies
If you love the movies, you'll enjoy this lively and informative tour of more than 200 films--reviewer Jeffrey Overstreet's favorites, plus some of those he cites as the most culturally significant. Speaking to a generation raised by looking at screens, Overstreet helps the reader identify the core values and key ideas reflected in contemporary cinema.
He does so as a Christian writer. Scarcely a few decades ago, the phrase "Christian movie reviewer" might have seemed an oxymoron: entire denominations and churches shunned the theatre, believing it to be evil per se. Overstreet is a much-needed voice that helps postmodern Christians and others be fully engaged with their culture, yet move beyond its limitations to produce high-quality films. Emerging young film producers such as Dallas Jenkins, Aaron Beckum and Blake Nelson point the way toward a future in which Christian moviemakers may populate the screen with excellent, must-see fare.
The dialogue between Christianity and a secular culture draws and holds Overstreet's attention. He discovers and explores Divine images and themes in the films of Martin Scorsese, Krzysztof Kieslowski and others, finding values in these films that may not reflect the conscious decisions of the filmmakers. Overstreet is at his best as he highlights the moral conflicts and ethical choices that movies exemplify--which serve as perfect launching points for group discussions and coffee-shop conversations.
Jeffrey Overstreet draws on more than a decade of reviewing films: his work has been noted in TIME magazine and is often featured in Christianity Today. Reading through this carefully-researched and extremely well-written book is like taking a college-level course in film studies--from a Christian perspective.
Armchair Interviews says: You'll enjoy the experience of this book's message.
Author's Web site: http://www.LookingCloser.org