17 August 2009

HOW MOVIES HELPED SAVE MY SOUL

I read Gareth Higgins's book How Movies Helped Save My Soul over the weekend. Fantastic work. If this interests you, I also suggest Reel Spirituality and Eyes Wide Open.

While reading How Movies Helped Save My Soul, I made a list (without too much analyzing on my part) of movies that have deeply impacted me over the last several years. In no particular order, here's my list:

Glory, Places in the Heart, O Brother, Ray, Losing Isaiah, Shawshank Redemption, Bella, Slumdog Millionaire, Field of Dreams, Cold Mountain, Freedom Writers, Malcolm X, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Apostle, Chocolat, Life is Beautiful, Seven Pounds.

NOTE: I am hoping to teach a class at Otter Creek in January on the relationship of film and scripture. It should be fun!

12 comments:

phil said...

Curious to see what the demographics of that class will look like?

Also, to add a couple to your list for the purpose of teaching: "Grand Torino." and "Star Wars" (this is a good one because it is so popular, but also because it deals with the battle of two opposing forces)

Josh Graves said...

I hope to get Lee Camp to teach this class with me. Should be fun.

JG

Barecycles said...

Great list Josh. I'm curious, are there any books you've read that make you say, "I wish someone would make a movie about this". I have a few in mind not the least of which are some Frank Peretti books.

Josh Graves said...

Good question. KiteRunner did a fantastic job of this even though the book is almost always better than the movie.

I'll have to keep thinking about this.

TheGlissonFamily said...

Josh,
It was good to meet you Sunday at church--we are praying for your family's transition to OC. We watched "Bella" last night and I'd have to agree with you.
Rebekah

judy thomas said...

Geat to see you Sunday. I am looking forward to that class. Judy T

Josh Graves said...

Rebekah: Isn't that movie interesting. It sneaks up on you, draws you in and makes you proud to be human.

Judy: It was great to sit with you too. I think I saw your neighborhood. Kara and I (and Lucas) will meet you at the mexican rest. on Nolensville for dinner or have you over.

Unknown said...

"Reign over me"-so good!
That Adam Sandler gets me ever time...I mean Don Cheadle!

Josh Ross said...

Great list.
I'd have to add:
Crash
Hotel Rwanda
The Great Debaters
Walk the Line

Jonathan Storment said...

The stained glass windows of the day. Thanks for the book recommendation. , I agree with you on Life is Beautiful, Shawshank Redemption, and Slumdog Millionaire. Those movies blessed me on several levels. I would add Signs by M. Night and Good Will Hunting, and then I'm realy pumped about this one...http://bit.ly/ueR5C

Franklin Wood said...

Josh,
There is a little indie film called "The Quarrel" that you should check out.
It's the story of two Holocaust survivors who meet in Canada several years after the war was over.
One has become a rabbi and his faith has been strengthened. The other is a journalist who has become somewhat wordly and lost his faith.
Superb acting. Great conversations.

Josh Graves said...

Sorry I was late to respond to Franklin, Jonathan, Kyle and Josh. Great list. I'll use your thoughts for sure.

JG