We look at some of the most anticipated movies, books and album releases of the coming months—and yes, Will Ferrell’s new flick is in there too.
Books
Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw (March 18)
Shane Claiborne (author of The Irresistible Revolution) and Chris Haw present a modern day application of the life and teachings of Christ in the context of our current political state. The authors look at how Jesus confronted political issues, served the poor and enacted social and spiritual change in tumultuous times.
Into the Dark: Seeing the Sacred in the Top Films of the 21st Century by Craig Detweiler (July 1)
In Craig Detweiler’s (A Matrix of Meanings) latest book, he attempts to answer the question, “What do today’s most highly-ranked films say about God?” Detweiler uses the top 45 highest-ranking films from the users of IMDB.com and dissects their spiritual meanings and analogies about faith. But it’s the author’s perspective that makes his book stand out—along with his PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary, Detweiler is also the co-director of the school’s Reel Spirituality Institute, and has even penned several Hollywood screenplays. His knowledge of subtle filmmaking techniques, cinematography and plot devices help you read between the lines of some favorite films to see the deeper meanings.
The Great Awakening by Jim Wallis (Jan. 22)
Jim Wallis, author of bestseller God's Politics, is at it again. The Great Awakening stems from the idea that faith has been the driving force behind some of our nation's greatest reforms, and now is the time to once again initiate change for a country that is on shaky ground. Wallis provides inspiration for reform as well as a solid plan to combat some of the greatest issues of our day, from poverty and human trafficking to global warming and healthcare. ??Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice (March 4)?A follow-up to Out of Egypt, The Road to Cana (the second installment in the Christ the Lord triology) is a novel that follows Jesus in His less-discussed years: from the last winter before His baptism in the Jordan to His miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. With pain-staking research, Anne Rice depicts Jesus in a human light—dealing with rainless seasons and rumors of political unrest as well as everyday problems and temptations.
Music
Chris Walla -- Field Manual (Jan. 29)
Death Cab for Cutie guitar player Chris Walla debuts his solo album, combining the same melodic indie-pop and lyrical prose that took Death Cab from indie darlings to mainstream radio stars. But don’t expect a Death Cab carbon copy. Walla mixes electronic samples (a la Postal Service) and layers harmonies with punchy, guitar-driven rock ‘n roll.
Nada Surf -- Lucky (Feb. 5)
Ever since their mid-90s hit “Popular” put them on the rock radar, Brooklyn alt outfit Nada Surf has made some of the most unique and compelling albums in indie-pop. Their latest effort, Lucky, picks up where 2007’s The Weight Is a Gift left off—chiming guitars, haunting vocals and Americana garage rock at its best.
The Myriad -- With Arrows, With Poise (March 3)
The Myriad’s underrated debut You Can’t Trust a Ladder gave fans just a preview of what the future of rock could sound like. Now The Myriad, fresh off winning MTV2’s 2007 Dew Circuit Breakout artists, is returning with Arrows. Drawing comparisons to Muse and Radiohead, The Myriad is poised to claim their title of The Next Big Thing.
Leeland - Opposite Way (Feb. 22)
Leeland’s sophomore album Opposite Way has already stirred a buzz among industry insiders possessing a unique draw of Christian music loyalists and mainstream pop aficionados. Although the group is still seen as a progressive worship band, Opposite Way tares down genre walls with soundscapes that channel Brit-pop energy and Top-40 sensibility.
Movies
Stop Loss (March 28)
So far, movies about the Middle East conflict haven’t faired well at the box office (The Valley of Elah, The Kingdom), but that hasn’t stopped studios from continuing to roll the dice on audiences’ receptivity toward them. Stop Loss tells the story of a soldier who refuses to return to Iraq after the government extends his tour of duty—it’s a situation that has happened to many in the armed services. But if the film can stand alone on the strength of the story or if it will become politicized because of its controversial nature is yet to be seen. And the film’s director, Kimberly Peirce, is no stranger to controversy—her first film was 1999’s Boys Don’t Cry.
Expelled: Intelligence Allowed (Spring)
Ben Stein narrates this documentary about the intelligent design vs. evolution debate and looks at how the public school system is at the center of it all. Because it’s a documentary, expect a limited a release, but because of the hot-button nature of the film, this one should get a lot of press.
Be Kind Rewind (Feb. 22)
Combining the visionary direction of Michel Gondry and the collective comic genius of Jack Black and Mos Def, Be Kind Rewind may be the comedic darling of the season. The premise is a little on the absurd side (a magnetized Jack Black accidentally erases all the videos in the store he works at, inspiring fellow co-workers to shoot remakes of classic films), but Gondry’s cinematic track record is promising. By paying homage to great films, Rewind is more light-hearted commentary than satire, and its jokes look like genuine laughs, not cheap gags.
Semi-Pro (Feb. 29)
Another sports comedy starring Will Ferrell? Yep, because if it isn’t broken, why fix it? Coming off two monster hits (Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory), Ferrell returns to the genre with a movie about a player-coach trying to get his team into the NBA. Sure, we don’t expect any Oscars, but Ferrell’s quickly become the comedian of our generation and for fans, Semi-Pro looks like another addition to the goldmine of his post-SNL career.
