An analysis of faith professions inside the Oval Office
In a charged environment where primary presidential hopefuls such as Mitt Romney, a Mormon, and Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, acknowledged their religious beliefs while at the same time made it plain that for them church and state are sacred but separate entities, Randall Balmer’s book, “God in the White House”—an examination of the U.S. presidents’ responses and reactions to religion from 1960 until 2004—is a timely release.
Published in Books : Jan 31, 2008
In a charged environment where primary presidential hopefuls such as Mitt Romney, a Mormon, and Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, acknowledged their religious beliefs while at the same time made it plain that for them church and state are sacred but separate entities, Randall Balmer’s book, “God in the White House”—an examination of the U.S. presidents’ responses and reactions to religion from 1960 until 2004—is a timely release.
Published in Books : Jan 31, 2008
"Rambo" (Lionsgate), the latest offering in a franchise begun in 1982, is remarkable only for the toxic level of graphic violence enabled by recent advances in special effects.
Published in Movies : Jan 25, 2008
"Untraceable" (Screen Gems) is a grimly unpleasant thriller concerning an Internet killer who tortures kidnapped victims on a Web site he calls "killswithme.com."
Published in Movies : Jan 25, 2008
1893 Exposition is backdrop for young woman’s coming of age
With a flavor and style reminiscent of Victorian writer Jane Austin and a hint of Nancy Drew in the protagonist, author Lynn Austin has fashioned a novel likely to appeal to readers who appreciate a blend of history and fiction.
Published in Books : Jan 17, 2008
With a flavor and style reminiscent of Victorian writer Jane Austin and a hint of Nancy Drew in the protagonist, author Lynn Austin has fashioned a novel likely to appeal to readers who appreciate a blend of history and fiction.
Published in Books : Jan 17, 2008
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage/Miramax) is an extraordinarily fine drama loosely based on Upton Sinclair's 1927 muckraking novel, "Oil!" set during the early 20th century.
Published in Movies : Jan 7, 2008
Answers and questions
Two books, one about answers and the other about questions, make a nice coupling for family perusal during the Christmas season, as folks relax a bit and ponder the past, enjoy the present and prepare to plunge into the New Year.
Published in Books : Dec 20, 2007
Two books, one about answers and the other about questions, make a nice coupling for family perusal during the Christmas season, as folks relax a bit and ponder the past, enjoy the present and prepare to plunge into the New Year.
Published in Books : Dec 20, 2007
At the start of "I Am Legend" (Warner Bros.), a grim but effective thriller, Emma Thompson, in a delicious cameo, plays a self-satisfied doctor informing an incredulous news interviewer that she has found the cure for cancer.
(WARNING: Review contains a possible spoiler!)
Published in Movies : Dec 14, 2007
The movie "The Golden Compass" has prompted a blizzard of words assailing the movie and the books on which it is based, as well as defenses of the film.
Published in Movies : Dec 14, 2007
Whoa! Armored warrior bears! How cool is that! Add flying witches and airborne schooners along with one’s soul which lives outside of your body in an animal shape called a daemon (demon) that walks by your side—and ...wow! You’ve got yourself one heck of a Christmas film. Simply beautiful to look at—sort of like the forbidden fruit on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. Looks great but in the end, nothing there, only despair.
Published in Movies : Dec 7, 2007
"The Savages" (Fox Searchlight) is a strongly acted, perceptive study of middle-aged brother and sister Jon and Wendy Savage (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney), called upon to care for their emotionally and geographically distant father, Lenny (Philip Bosco), who has had a stroke at his Arizona home and is being kicked out by the owner, the daughter of his late live-in companion.
Published in Movies : Nov 30, 2007