Valuable Movies: The Hoodlum Priest Movie Review

The cover and title that caught my attention

I'm a fan of my local library. It's a great place to access so many different mediums of learning and entertainment. Many of the movies and things I've talked about on here have come from what I find at the library. Just like at a movie store, when I look through the shelves of DVDs at the library, I have so many options of things to choose from. Some great classics, some crappy modern schlock, some hidden gems I'd never heard of before, and some B-movies that just should've never been made. I often feel like the bad choices outweigh the good choices in most instances, but maybe I just have too narrow of movie standards, and I do really appreciate when I find some great, great pieces of cinema.

Rambling aside (hopefully) I recently came across a movie in the Dramas genre, "The Hoodlum Priest". My Catholic Movie senses began tingling, yet I didn't recall hearing of it before. I quickly looked online. No real reviews for the movie, barely a word on Rotten Tomatoes, mainly just some newspaper-type articles about the history of the making of the movie as a cheap, true-to-life B movie. The actors weren't familiar names to me (though one of them, Keir Dullea, went on to star in "2001: A Space Odyssey") and this was one of the first directing gigs for Irvin Kershner, who everybody loves now because of "The Empire Strikes Back". Unsure about the quality of the movie, I eventually decided that I was going to check this movie out, whether it turned out to be great or terrible. The reasons being:

1) It's a movie with a Catholic subject.
2) It's a real life story about a priest whose passion was helping ex-convicts.
3) It was filmed on location in St. Louis

I also knew I wanted to write a review of  the movie after seeing it, to try to either get this movie more positive reviews and credibility as a good film or to steer people away from it if it turned out to be an abysmal waste of time. My ratings below should indicate how I felt after finally watching this movie.

Artistic Value (Rating: 4)

Let's start with a little surprise towards the beginning. After we see our main ex-con Billy Jackson, played by Keir Dullea, being released from prison, a friend of his takes him to a shady part of town. They are planning a robbery and the friend, Pio, leads Billy to a third guy. The way these three interact, you think this third guy is just some other criminal in town, one who is cool, streetwise, and critical like any other typical gangster you've seen in other movies. By the end of the scene though, the man changes his clothes and you realize that the guy the cons have been talking about doing a robbery with is the priest, Father Charles Dismas Clark, played by Don Murray. It's a confusing yet interesting entrance.

At first, it feels misleading. We spend enough time with Billy and Pio in the beginning, and I'm just waiting for the priest, you know, the main character of the movie, to show up. And then this third guy who I don't think is the priest shows up and I'm like "Give me the main character all ready!" when suddenly the movie's like "He's been here the whole time" and I'm like "WWWhhhhaaaaa???!!!". This scene has unexpected value though, other than just introducing characters to us in a unique manner. It provides some context to dialogue and scenes that appear later on in the movie, so that we better understand Father Clark's reasoning and motivations in this opening scene.

The script is also surprising, confusing, and unexpected. Some dialogue can make this movie feel dated or stuck in its own time period. There's lots of lingo and slang from late 1950s used by our main characters, and you'll often hear words like "square" being thrown around in a city gangster tone. Sure, it gives you an idea of what kind of background these characters come from, but at times it could feel like how the Brady Bunch kids would throw around "groovy" or "right on" in an attempt to be hip and cool with the current audience. Don Murray's accent as Father Clark also goes back and forth. Sometimes it's a little too thick, a little too gangster, a little too specific to a particular time and place. Other times he just sounds like a regular guy at any time.

Yet, like I hinted at before, there's some good things going on in the script too. It reveals information about different characters at the right time and place. It helps you understand our main character and his motivations well, along with understanding the theme of the movie without feeling like it's talking down to its audience. The actors all say their lines with conviction and purpose, so there's less melodrama and more real life happening on screen. There are also a few moments of silent interactions, where you see people engaging in conversation, but don't hear what they're saying, or they're observing a situation without saying anything. Yet, you still clearly understand what's going on by the body language and facial expressions on the actors' faces. I liked that.

The two lead actors, Don Murray and Keir Dullea, have fantastic performances. Keir Dullea especially impressed me since he had to go through a variety of emotions and had to handle more of the quieter dramatic moments than Don Murray. Yet, even when Murray's Father Clark had to get emotional or extreme, I never found it overblown or past the point of disbelief. It sounded like a man who was convicted of his way and caught up in the passion of the moment.

It's hard to examine this movie's story and its main character without comparing to or pondering other movie priests from around this time period. Classic Hollywood is known for some great movies with interesting priest characters, and this movie matches a lot of these other classics:

-"On the Waterfront": Karl Malden's Father Barry also goes to the seedy, grimy parts of town you don't expect to find a priest at, in order to find the lost sheep and help people who would otherwise be ignored by other Christian people. There's even a powerful monologue where the priest gives an impassioned speech about helping these men.

-"Angels with Dirty Faces": Pat O'Brien's Father Jerry also has a desire to help criminals and low lives around him. He knows how to speak truth to these gangsters in a way that they understand and make them think because he comes from the same background as the criminals. There's also a scene with a criminal facing death row.

-"Going My Way/ Bells of St. Mary's": Bing Crosby's Father O'Malley is also a charismatic, streetwise priest.

-"I Confess": Montgomery Clift's Father Logan also ends up in some courtroom drama and has a surprising background for a priest.

I've even seen comparisons to other priests in movies like "Boys Town", "Fighting Father Dunne", and other movies that I haven't seen yet. I mean, here in "Hoodlum Priest", you've got a streetwise priest who devotes himself to saving needy men in criminal circumstances and ends up having to go to court or aiding someone on death row. It's hard not to think of movies with similar circumstances and made around the same time period, or in a sense paved the way for this movie to be made.

Yet, Father Clark was also a real person, with a quirky personality and strange history. They bring that reality and history of the legitimate Father Clark to the screen as well, you can feel like this all stems from a real person, not just somebody written up for the screen. Of course, as we know with any movie based on a true story, the movie isn't 100% authentic in its retelling of history, but I think this one does a good job of blending reality with the positive traits found in previous priests and stories in other movies.

The aesthetic of the cinematography worked very well. The black and white film helped to emphasize the shadows and special light effects that honed in on important moments. Also, with it being about dark subject matter and filmed on location, the black and white punched up the realism and better connected with the themes. When it came to editing the movie though, there were lots of jump cuts where they set up a scene and immediately cut in the middle of the action. You're seeing the exact same location, except the position of the actor or the angle of the camera is just a little off, just different enough to notice that something changed at a time and place that should've stayed the same.

For a film set in St. Louis, this movie shows a lot of the dirty, grimy parts of town, even back in the day before Downtown really became infamous for crime and grime. It goes through a lot of rundown buildings, shady alleyways, and seedy venues. Sure, you see some nice courtrooms, the St. Louis Zoo, and shots of St. Louis University High School (SLUH for locals), but otherwise this isn't exactly an attractive advertisement for the city of St. Louis.

The best reason for why it is acceptable for them to film in so many bad parts of town (or at least, unattractive parts of town) is because the subject of the movie is about criminals and working with people in the city's underbelly. As far as what particular locations were used and how they look similar or different today, someone more familiar with the St. Louis city and region would be better able to identify all of that than myself. For me personally, there wasn't much that helped me identify it as specifically St. Louis, but maybe that's because I'm not all that familiar with downtown architecture and history and such.

Like I mentioned before, there's plenty of scenes with some really great acting and there's some suspenseful scenes. There's a moment of great tension where Billy takes part in a crime. At first, it's just Billy and his friend Pio working on breaking into a small business vault. There's no music, just lots of shots establishing the scene and space. Suddenly, we start cutting back and forth between a truck pulling into the business and Billy slowly realizing that one of the bosses has returned to work. It's just several minutes of visuals without any background music or even much sound except for the tools used in the robbery. You know that something dramatic is going to happen and you know it's not going to be good, so you're just waiting for chaos to come crashing down and when it finally happens it's so worth it. This even leads to another fantastic scene filled with tension and terrific acting where you can see the aftereffects of the robbery scene have very deep psychological and emotional impacts on our leading characters.

Moral Value (Rating: 4)

The major theme of this movie revolves around Father Clark's desire to aid ex-convicts. His dedication to help people transition from criminal to moral citizen is inspirational to see and cunning in design. It's one part relationship-building, another part social justice, some tough love, and a dash of carefree rebellious attitude. In this movie, Father Clark really lives out Christ's call to visit the imprisoned and help the least of His brothers. We see Father Clark going into the jail and build relationships with the men inside. We see him provide people with means of escape from an impoverished life to one that provides better opportunity and rises above crime. We even see him pound the pavement for awhile just to get a guy a job.

Sometimes the testament that someone is living a Christ-like life is seeing good people cringe and think the worst of the intentions of the do-gooder-in-question. Just as the Scribes and Pharisees thought the worst about Jesus interacting with the tax collectors and prostitutes, good Christian citizens of St. Louis in this moviedon't seem to think it's good for Father Clark to engage with ex-cons. However, Father Clark brings up some good points and reasons for why he does what he does. How else are the ex-cons going to turn away from a life of sin and choose to do good? How can they do that without someone who provides resources and, perhaps more importantly, believes that they have what it takes to be more than just a common criminal?

One of the few downsides to this movie's morality stems from people who are antagonistic without much character growth. One such example is a newspaper man named McHale who is a journalist for the Times-Herald newspaper (which doesn't exist anymore fyi). He is continually trying to find ways to ruin Father Clark's plans and his life. The journalist thinks there's ulterior motives involved in Father Clark's actions. He thinks because Father Clark spends so much time with the criminals that there is something criminal about the Hoodlum Priest too (McHale is even the one that gave Father Clark that nickname).

The shame is that there is no resolution to this issue. There comes a point in a court room scene where Father Clark makes a passionate, almost confrontational, statement, aimed in part at the journalist, but that's the last that we see of the journalist and that's almost halfway through the movie. It would've been nice to see if the journalist changed his attitude towards the priest or if he remained an antagonist throughout the rest of the movie, provided there was good reason.

The other main antagonist in this movie is Mario, one of Billy's new bosses. Right from the get-go, Mario has a strong dislike and prejudice against Billy because of his past time in prison. The two never really get to know each other and whenever Mario gets a chance to vent his anger or display his strength against Billy, he takes it. At least this part of the story has a resolution, and it impacts the rest of the actions in the movie.

There are several times in this movie when characters talk with Father Clark about Saint Dismas, the thief hung on a cross next to Jesus in the crucifixion, who repented at the end. They continually connect St. Dismas with the title "good thief", constantly connecting the fact that the man had been a criminal but turned from his sinful ways in the end. The priest even goes so far as to use the story of St. Dismas as inspiration for a man who is on death row, in order to give him hope and even possibly a conversion experience at the end. I like that this man and his conversion story is used to relate to the situations the characters are going through, even if sometimes it feels like it's brought up more out of desire for the movie to sound more dramatic rather than just naturally stemming from character interactions.

I can see where some people may see this movie as preachy. It gets pretty focused on the death penalty near the end and there's a lot focus on social justice throughout the picture. It also talks about bringing dignity to men who may lack it because of their involvement in the prison system. However, if the acting was off or if it really felt like the movie was hitting the audience over the head with its themes, then maybe I can see the moral value of this movie being diminished. However, I find it all warranted based on how the audience connects to the characters and how much the story depends on the characters' connections to the themes. It's a good story that even has some relevance to today's audience.

Overall Value Rating: 4/5

As you might be able to tell, I was very satisfied with my viewing of "The Hoodlum Priest". I suggest finding it wherever you can check it out. I think it deserves more recognition and should be viewed by a wider audience. However, with that said, the fact that it is a relatively unknown movie and that there's more information online about the history of it rather than actual film criticism of the movie gives me some pause.

I wonder if I enjoyed this movie as much as I did because I have a personal connection to the region  or if it is because of my Catholicism. I wonder if someone who isn't from around St. Louis or who isn't Catholic/ religious would enjoy this movie as much as I did. Does the movie stand on its own or does it need some personal attachment in order for it to work? Sure, you can tell it's low budget, but for as quick as it was made, the fact that it was put together by a group of newbies and veterans in the movie business, and also with the understanding that it was set in a real place and about a real person, it makes up for most of its defects with lots of charm and passion.

This movie got me thinking about other movies I've seen, especially Catholic movies, and how much I appreciate when the people and philosophies of the faith are done well, as well as when things don't always get produced well. I really think this movie deserves more recognition and should be viewed by more people than just random film connoisseurs and the viewership demographic of TCM.



Sources for photos (all credit and rights to the rightful owners):

Wikipedia
The New York Times
The Riverfront Times

Top 15 Movies of the 2000s

After creating my Top 15 Movies list for the years spanning 2010-2016, I was immediately interested in creating a Top 15 list for the previous decade, 2000-2009. This was in part due to the fact that there were movies that I wanted to put on the previous list but could not do so because they were made before 2010. Another reason is that I've noticed my view on movies in the past changing, where some movies I thought were good have lessened over the course of time while others that I didn't originally care for have grown into some very enjoyable pieces. This change is especially noticeable if, after reading this list, you explore my 23 Favorite Movies lists from back in 2014.

I do not think I will make any similar lists for other decades, I just don't have as much interest or knowledge compared to movies made in this century. With such a long passage of time (10 years is long when it comes to movies), and especially with such a drastic change in my taste of movies during this specific time period, it's interesting to notice what has stuck with me over the years compared to what movies I think I missed out on when growing up.

Once again, after giving a brief rundown on the movie or my impression of the movie, I will include things you should be made aware of in terms of content before watching, as well as what makes the movie so worth rewatching. Also once again, I will include a list of honorable mentions of movies I enjoyed, just not enough to warrant being at the top, and then at the very end will be my Need-to-See list, which this time will be majorly comprised of suggestions I received from friends online.

15. Funny Crooks in London: Snatch (2000)

I was in a bit of a Guy Ritchie faze for a time, mainly by watching this movie and its predecessor, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, multiple times. This is one of those kind of movies where the protagonists are not really good guys, but the characters are all interesting. A part of the charm of both of these movies is the low budget aesthetic, so that while you're watching a movie that may not necessarily look top notch, it makes up for it with funny writing and unique avenues of character development.

Snatch features a multitude of more memorable characters, including Jason Statham as the calm and witty protagonist, Brad Pitt's mushed mouth Irish rambler, Vinnie Jones as a psycho polite guy with anger issues, Benicio Del Toro's too cool for school gangster, and Alan Ford's quietly dangerous mob boss. With colorful names like Bullet-Tooth Tony, Frankie Four Fingers, Boris the Blade, and Gorgeous George, you know you're in for a goofy fun time. There's good reasons why this and Ritchie's first movie are being used and rebooted into a TV series this year.

Watch Out for: The Pikey gibberish (It ain't exactly English, not exactly Irish, it's just...Pikey). Profanities thrown about lackadaisically. Bloody violence is involved cause it's boxing and gangster business. And (though I don't really remember this) there are some images of topless women in the background from time to time.

Why It's Rewatchable: The humor works very well because of how sarcastic it is while still not relying entirely on darkness and bitterness. The quirky characters are some of the best in Guy Ritchie's career and you come to actually care for some of these grimy, crummy jerks.

14. American Odyssey the Musical: O Brother Where Art Thou (2000)

A classic Coen Brothers comedy that I did not fully appreciate when I first watched it, but has steadily grown on me over the years. This is the Coen Brothers movie I've watched the most and where you can especially make out their style for aesthetic and humorous dialogue. Pappy O'Daniel and Ulysseus Everett McGill are two of the best characters ever created by the Coens. This is an entertaining comedy with an unusual sense of humor, where even the Ku Klux Klan are funny characters. The cinematography works very well here because the sepia, grainy tones match the Depression era southern setting. What a lot of people remember from this movie is the soundtrack, which features a lot of folk, bluegrass, and blues music performed by modern day bards and groups in those genres. This is where I first really experienced appreciating this kind of music and only wish I appreciated it more when I was younger.

Watch Out for: A man loudly stating "Well we was fixin' to fornicate" in a polite public setting (I didn't get this joke when I was younger). There is some dark menace caused by the movie's antagonist, plus not to mention a Klan meeting done very realistically (to a certain point). Also, Tim Blake Nelson gets the tar beaten out of him...which actually is both fun and sad to watch.

Why It's Rewatchable: The visuals of the southern landscape, witty dialogue, the soundtrack and the goofy characters played by the main trio of George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturro.

13. Backwards is Forwards:  The Mind Games Movie: Memento (2000)

The first of three Christopher Nolan movies on this list. Sometimes people think a movie is style over substance or vice versa. This one is both. It's a stylish movie because of the narrative framework, where the story is told backwards (the ending comes in the beginning and the real beginning comes at the end). It takes a lot of mental energy to focus enough to understand this movie, especially the first time through. The substance is the story and the characters involved.

The premise is simple: a man seeks revenge for his wife's murder. The way he goes about seeking revenge while battling his mental disorder is what gives the story conflict and substance. It also does some interesting character building by feeding us information in reverse order so that we can never really trust or empathize with anyone, even the main character.

Watch Out for: Bloody violence and profanity worthy of the R rating.

Why It's Rewatchable: The plot and story would ultimately make more sense the more you watch it. The plot is the most intriguing part, but the characters are interesting enough to keep you wanting to understand everything that's going  on. Also there's a little nostalgia involving the polaroid pictures.


12. Irish Culture 101 The Cartoon: The Secret of Kells (2009)

I mentioned its successor in my previous list now here is the first genuine article from Cartoon Saloon. I think I prefer this movie just because the Irish landscape gets more variety and attention and I prefer the historical setting. The illumination of the Book of Kells works spectacularly well in this movie because the animators give it an extraordinary appearance compared to the rest of the cartoon world. The art style kind of reminds me of Samurai Jack, but the angles are played with even moreso here. Celtic mythology and Catholic spirituality are blended as well as expected in this movie, not necessarily confusingly so but the line between reality and fantasy does get blurred some.

The voice over work is stellar, especially with the children actors. The legit Irish dialects may make it hard for audience members to understand everything, but I appreciate being absorbed in this foreign world in a time gone by. Again, what works best in this movie is the animation, where special things glow and sometimes a 3-D setting goes two dimensional and back.

Watch Out for: Some creepy or intimidating imagery involving the antagonists of this movie. Obviously nothing graphic, but just know that this movie is not all bright and colorful.

Why It's Rewatchable: Curious kid characters in a movie with a uniquely gorgeous artistic style.


11. So Much Better The Second Time Around: Shrek 2 (2004)

What's a Shrek movie doing on this list, and why is it not the original? Cause the sequel is funnier and improves upon the original that's why! Actually, this was one of the first DVDs my family owned and I watched it constantly. Seriously, EVERYTHING works better in this movie than the original, One improvement involves the multitude of pop culture references, some of which are definitely product of the times types but overall they make sense and are still humorous, even to a young teen who wasn't pop culture literate back then. Part of the success of the humor and references is because there's not as many bitter criticisms of Disney in these jokes as the original. All of the characters go through even more character building, so that we come to appreciate Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey and their relationships to each other even more than before. The new characters are fun additions and very fitting for this goofy world. The villainness here is so much better than the original villain because she is both melodramatic and delightfully charming, much better than just being arrogant. The animation is not all that much different from the first one, but the three years between the two definitely made it smoother.

The music can be somewhat distracting when you hear things like 'Accidentally in Love' and it transports you mentally back to 2004 but overall the soundtrack is enjoyable (and it introduced me to Tom Waits and Nick Cave music which I would not explore until many years later). The environment is pleasant to be in at all times, which is a part of what keeps me coming back to rewatch all the time.

Watch Out for: Some innuendos and other immature jokes that pop up in kids movies to appease to both kids and adults.

Why It's Rewatchable: Fun characters with funny things to say, the pleasant world we get to stay in, and the themes of love and friendship done in the least cheesy way possible.

10. So Slow It's Good Drama: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2006)

Sometimes I think I give people the impression that I dislike any slow pacing and long quiet moments in movies. Well, here's a movie that is full of slow pacing, long quiet moments, and even background narration, and I love it. A strange blend of western and documentary moviemaking, this gently paced movie gives you time to feel the uneasiness of these characters' lives. This movie introduced me to Casey Affleck and made me appreciate Sam Rockwell. Both actors, plus Brad Pitt, are tremendous forces in this film. It's a grim and tense movie, and yet you can feel sorrow and empathy for both Jesse and Bob at different points. There's not as much violence and gunplay in here as other westerns, but some of the imagery is more haunting here than any bloody shootout.

Sometimes I don't really have much more to say than just "It's really good and you should go watch it".

Watch Out for: A few moments of profanities and some bloody violence.

Why It's Rewatchable: The characters are just so absorbing. There are images and scenes that stick with you and keep drawing you back.

9. Top Swashbuckling British Navy Tutorial: Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World (2003)

The movie really makes you believe you are out at sea during 1803. Most of our time is spent on one vessel, a magnificent home for so many men and it was tough to always tell what was done in studio and what was done on the ship. The costumes and lighting adds to the authenticity of this voyage we go on. There's enough scenes of swashbuckling action to keep a teen boy interested while at the same time it provides some eloquent dialogue and fantastic character building for adult tastes.

The script allows multiple characters to get time to be developed in their own way, and the way they interact with each other, especially with the class and work differences, are part of this movie's charm. You get a real sense of history from watching this movie and it lets you sympathize with each of the characters it addresses to you.

Watch Out for: A bloody violent battle takes place periodically, and you vividly see the blood and dead bodies. This movie is also not afraid of getting up close and personal with injuries, bones, and brains. The ocean can be an intimidating factor, especially when it's stormy and dark.

Why It's Rewatchable: You get to see how a British Navy vessel was operated and lived on in 1803. Plus all of the action to be had on the high seas.

8. Top Middle Earth Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The best of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It relies the least on computer generated effects and the images that are there are more spectacular than the visuals we get in the next two movies (except for Gollum, of course). I like that the focus is not split on three separate storylines but for the most part is only just on one, sometimes two, which makes it easier to get invested in the movie and characters. The final battle is actually my favorite because I love how such a small group of warriors tackles an overwhelmingly large force and it's made especially epic with the redemptive last stand of Boromir. Not to mention the boss battle between Viggo Mortensen and the Uruk Hai, where Viggo literally bats away a live blade that could've injured or killed him

I will be honest and say that when I first saw this movie, I got scared. I was always frightened by Gollum as a kid (I saw the animated LOTR movies before seeing this one) and the Ringwraiths are definitely frightening. The atmosphere in this movie can get pretty dark and intimidating to young kids with crazy imaginations. I did enjoy it enough to watch the VHS multiple times when we got it, I just always skipped what I thought were the scary parts until I stopped being intimidated by them. So this was the only movie I saw in the trilogy when they were first released in theaters and it was only after they came out on home video that I began to watch them regularly.

Even after reading the books, I still find this movie to be a tremendous feat. It paces itself very well for a three hour adventure, it has both fun action and dramatic dialogue, and it is probably the best adaptation of a book that is least like its source material.

Watch Out for: Chopped off limbs and bloody violence (though not too bloody). Also, the scary parts involving Ringwraiths and Gollumses.

Why It's Rewatchable: The magnetic pull you feel for the characters. The grand battles in fantastic landscapes. The good vs. evil story done so spectacularly well.

7. Rock'n'Roll History 101: It Might Get Loud (2008)

One of the first music documentaries I've seen and the one that I hold as the standard for other rock music documentaries I watch. This movie made me appreciate Jimmy Page and The Edge more and it introduced me to Jack White, whose music and personality I obsessed over for a time. The exploration of music history and the various methods of playing various electric guitars were what gripped me and keeps me coming back again and again.

There are so many visuals of concerts throughout the years. There are so many songs and electric guitar tones that showcase the growth of rock music over the decades. We get to see how technology has influenced song writing, sounds, and creativity and how different guitarists utilize the technology at their disposal.

Each guitarist also has their personal approach and attitude towards the guitar, which is great to have such variety of character in these high profile rock'n'rollers. We get to travel to some pretty neat places , from the Heady Grange cabin that Led Zeppelin recorded in to a random rundown Tennessee farm that Jack White transforms into his personal music practice room.

Watch Out for: Footage of bombing sites in Ireland from the 70s. Jack White cuts his finger while playing the guitar and like a boss keeps playing while he bleeds all over it. Jimmy Page uses some strange vocabulary sometimes that are carnal in nature.

Why It's Rewatchable: It's a quick watch at around 90 minutes, but the stories and history of the music are the magnetic attraction for someone like me to watch over and over again.

6. Top Top Superhero Movie:  The Dark Knight (2008)

Probably the best superhero movie ever made thus far. Part of what makes this movie work is that it does not spend as much time as the first movie on describing Batman's gadgets and doodads to the audience. We just watch him move around and use whatever and we accept it because it's Batman and he's rich and smart. The times when the gadgets are described are tolerable because they become important pieces of information later on. We all know how terrifying Heath Ledger was as he portrayed The Joker and how it was probably the greatest thing about this movie, so I don't need to rehash why he's awesome.

Everything is written and shot with an extreme sense of realism. The origin of Harvey Dent and Two Face is more believable than other incarnations. The mystery of Joker's identity and origins are realistic. Even Batman's technology and crime fighting ways are all displayed in a realistic way. Another great aspect of this movie is that it is thematic. Where do you draw the line on what is good and bad when you're fighting criminals without morals or rules? How much chaos and anarchy is in our control? Are people really willing to do good even when threatened by extreme violence?

Watch Out for: Mayhem and dark images of criminal activity. Death and violence is dealt to many people in this movie, but they do not often show carnage or bloodshed. The effects for Two Face are realistic and could be too much for some people.

Why It's Rewatchable: It's Batman v. Joker done in a realistic way!

5. How Did He Do That?!: The Prestige (2006)

The third Christopher Nolan movie on my list, and some people may be surprised by the fact that I put this above The Dark Knight. I myself am somewhat surprised. When I first saw this movie in the theaters, I was not impressed. I do not know if it was all the high dramatic acting or if it was all of the twists and turns in the plot, but when the ending came around, I was just like "meh, whatever". However, since then, this is one of the few movies from this time period I've watched multiple times over the years. It gets better every time I watch it. Part of it is because there are so many secrets and hidden clues into the storyline you do not know about about upon first viewing, so seeing it again allows you to see what was hidden in plain sight before.

I like the time period and the settings. We get some nice Colorado landscapes sprinkled in along with the grungy London urban sets. The best thing about this setting though is that it really matches up with the story's connection to magic. This took place during a time where changes in technology almost baffled the average person and the changes were so new and strange that they could be manipulated to look extraordinarily like machines of magic. The actors are all dedicated to their parts, giving us a great character study in the consequences of revenge and greed.

Watch Out for: This movie is not necessarily violent, but they do have a few extremely gruesome visuals that are barely within the PG-13 range. May be a use of a profanity here and there, but I cannot recall much of it.

Why It's Rewatchable: The tense relationship between Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. The steampunk-esque technological effects. Perhaps most importantly, once you know the full story, you begin to pick up on little hints and clues earlier in the movie every time you watch it again.

4. Top Christian Movie: The Passion of the Christ (2004)

I watch this movie every Lent, during the Triduum before Easter. There have been plenty of other movies made about the final night and day that Jesus was on this Earth before His crucifixion, but none of them were done in the languages spoken during the actual time period of the events. I applaud the filmmakers' use of Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin and only after watching it and studying some Latin have I caught some distinctions between the languages. Everyone gives this movie trouble for the utterly gruesome blood and violence on display, but I appreciate that the filmmakers did not shy away from the reality that Jesus endured intense and painful whippings, scourgings, and beatings all before he was finally nailed to the Cross. While mainly drawing on the Gospel of John, all of the Gospel narratives about the Passion come together in this moving drama. The use of time jumps to tell other parts of the Gospel, as well as the spiritual warfare on display, are done very well to tell the full story or to give weight to a particular scene.

Watch Out for: Some of the harshest and most graphically realistic blood and violence stunts and effects.

Why It's Rewatchable: For the non-believer, it at least tells a tragic story while bringing an historical time and place to life as authentically as possible. For the Christian, this movie is a visual reminder of what our Savior endured in His Passion, giving some great weight and urgency to the situation because of its approach of realism.

3. Taxidermy in Motion: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

I often debate with myself whether I consider this movie or Moonrise Kingdom to be Wes Anderson's best. This is one of the movies that made me appreciate the artistry of stop motion animation, but it was shot so stunningly well and smooth that everything really looks like it's almost happening for real. This is one of the few times and places where I enjoy the word "cuss" to describe profanities because it adds so much to the humor (I dislike using descriptive terms like 'curse words' or 'swearing' in normal circumstances). This is the kind of movie that both kids and adults can enjoy because it does not stoop low to talk down to kids nor does it involve a lot of wink wink nudge nudge jokes for adults.

It's a short movie but it is paced so well and the story is so entertaining you don't even pay attention to the time. The characters are all quirky and the adventure is zany, yet the plot has enough substance to it that it still does some character building along with the visual craziness. There's some fun relationships developed between the father and son, the son and his rivalry with his cousin, and Mr. Fox with his friends. There's also the thrill of the chase as Mr. Fox messes with his opponents in absurd and fun ways.

Watch Out for: Here and there, the puppets may look a little creepy, particularly the humans and the rat. Also, again, the word 'cuss' replaces real profanities that your kids may be able to piece together.

Why It's Rewatchable: Mr. Fox is rambunctious and gets himself into all sorts of trouble. The family dynamic allows for some good character development and some redemption to play of a part of the story. The humor is much more subtle than other comedies and doesn't rely on immature or gross comedy.

2. Two Hours of Magnetic Madness: No Country for Old Men (2008)

This movie has to be experienced all at once, in one sitting, for the initial viewing. The suspense and drama just keeps building and building as everything moves along and it grips you. I couldn't believe it when the movie suddenly ended and cut to black before the credits. Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh is terrific, a believably realistic villain even if he is a nutball. The writing taken from McCarthy's book is wonderful to listen to and see come to life. It's actually kind of impressive how much of the book the Coen Brothers put onto the screen. This is the kind of movie that does not seem like a standard Coen Brothers movie but you're okay with it because it's just so incredible.

The scenery and backgrounds add some nice atmosphere to the piece, though they are not distractingly focused on for too long, unlike movies like The Revenant or even Hell or High Water. Javier Bardem is not the only great actor in this movie, just perhaps given the most memorable character. The other main characters, especially those played by Josh Brolin and Kelly Macdonald, are all very realistic and tragic. Fun fact, I randomly use a quote from one of the supporting characters from time to time: The deputy, played by great character actor Garrett Dillahunt, who is following the Tommy Lee Jones sheriff, looks at a troubling scene and says "Oh, Sheriff...that is agitatin' ".

Watch Out for: Gruesome scenes of dead bodies and some of the most realistic blood and injury effects in movies. Also some profanities are heard sporadically.

Why It's Rewatchable: The thrill of the chase as Javier Bardem tracks down Josh Brolin. There's actually something gripping and thought provoking about the helplessness that Tommy Lee Jones and other characters feel in their inability to stop the action.


1. So Serious It's Funny: Hot Fuzz (2007)

This is one of the movies on this list I've watched way too many times over the years (the only one on this list I'd say I've watched more is Fellowship). While some of the initial jokes in the movie have become too known to me, I still smile and chuckle throughout the piece. This is another movie that deserves repeated viewings after the first so that you can catch all of the inside jokes and clues you've missed along the way. This is an example of an homage and parody done well, where you understand how they are making fun of the buddy cop genre while at the same time it provides a story that can stand on its own.

People argue over which movie in the Cornetto Trilogy (this, Shaun of the Dead, or The World's End) is the best (most often people will say Shaun of the Dead) and obviously I consider this to be the best. They work really hard to present this as some dramatic action movie and it is because of its commitment to being serious that the comedy works so well. Timothy Dalton, while an underrated James Bond, must've been born to play villains because he is just the best in this movie. Simon Pegg is incredibly convincing in the dramatic serious lead role and this is the type of adorable nincompoop Nick Frost is best at, not like the vulgar character he is in Shaun of the Dead. The ensemble adds some British flavor to the comedy and even the cameos are memorable. The final quarter of this movie is essentially a climactic battle in the streets and it satisfactorily delivers on both the gunplay and the laughter.

Watch Out for: Slang and other R-rated profanities are utilized throughout the piece, mostly played for comedy. The blood and violence is not overly gory, but it does pop up here and there, especially at the end. And, for the briefest of five seconds, there's a scene where a woman wears plastic naked breasts.

Why It's Rewatchable: References and homages to particular movies as well as context clues hidden on the screen which revolve around the mystery. The comedy is spot on and the story is just pure entertainment.


Honorable Mentions

-Serenity (2004)

I have barely seen any episodes of the Firefly TV series only in the last few years (I know, I'm a bad geek), so I did not have any foreknowledge about the characters or storyline before going to the theater to see this movie. Yet, I still understood everything and I still enjoyed the way the story was told. The story focuses on a group of anti-heroes who actually go through some character development to turn them into likable good guys (at least, Nathan Fillon's character gets the most development), essentially giving us a prototype of Guardians of the Galaxy. The dialogue's dark sarcastic humor works very well here, as do the moral and philosophic questions that are played out in the midst of fun sci-fi action set pieces.

-The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002) and Return of the King (2003)

Just because I consider Fellowship to be the best does not mean I do not appreciate what great pieces of motion picture beauty both of these movies are. They help give the full story of this thrilling adventure. All of the movies work best when watching their Extended Edition DVDs. Although I may not appreciate Gollum as a character, I can appreciate the technical and acting achievements accomplished in creating Gollum. I like the development of all of the characters along the way, except for maybe Gimli, who gets turned into the comedic relief as we go further along. The strange things about these movies, and perhaps why I put them in the honorable mentions category, is that I actually prefer the plotlines revolving around the battles much more than I prefer the Frodo & Sam storyline that actually matters the most within the story

-Open Range (2003)

It has the sensibilities of real classic Westerns along with the movie making abilities of modern dramas. Kevin Costner is a great actor and plays off of the superior Robert Duvall very well in this movie, but sometimes the man just loves too much narration, quiet moments, and slow drama in a movie that should focus its attention on gritty character building and gripping action. Michael Gambon made a convincing villain and there is a cool gunfight at the end of the movie.

-Children of Men (2006)

I remember the impact this movie had because there are key scenes I can vividly remember even now. This is not exactly an uplifting movie in the usual sense, especially since this movie is set in a truly chaotic, hopeless dystopia. This was in the midst of the height of Clive Owen's movie career, where he proved what a cool, gruff anti-hero he could be. At another time, I'd consider him for the next recasting of James Bond. This movie is full of shadowy lighting and disparaging images of humanity hitting a low point. There are multiple single takes that last a long while, which adds to the feeling of tension and discomfort that you should be feeling along with the characters. What makes this movie so good is the hope that Clive Owen finds and protects in the midst of the death.

-The Last Samurai (2003)

This movie is a story of forgiveness and redemption. Tom Cruise’s Nathan Algren is haunted by evil violence he inflicted upon a tribe of Native Americans and at first becomes enslaved by alcoholism and lack of care for his life. Then, through the time spent with the samurai village, Algren finds internal peace, asks for forgiveness, and finds value in his life by protecting the lives of those who helped him. His redemption comes from a second chance opportunity. Instead of passively allowing this clan to be massacred, he stands up to fight for the clan, even if it costs his life. In a way, the Emperor Meiji also goes through forgiveness and redemption. At first, driven by a desire for a powerfully modern Japan, the Emperor allows Omura to take over governing powers (in essence), also allowing the samurai communities to be desolated. In the end, after the climactic battle, the Emperor is driven by grief over his former mentor’s death that he stands up for the first time, to drive back Omura’s ambitions and halt the cultural implosion of Japan.

Need to See (Based on Recommendations)

-The Fountain (2006)

Two fantastic actors in a movie with a complicated timeline and focused on trippy special effects.

-Wall-E (2008) & Ratatouille (2007)

I added in the second movie of my own free will because I have not seen both of these Pixar movies, both of which are usually regarded as some of the best from the company.

-Minority Report (2002)

A crazy sci-fi plot featuring Tom Cruise action and directed by Steven Spielberg.

-Gran Torino (2008)

It's not just about racial issues from what I gather, but also about values in masculinity and what it really takes to be a true man. Also, it's Clint Eastwood.

-Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)

I know, this is like some modern classic kung fu movie or something. I know I should've seen it by now. However, I've heard of and seen clips of some great action and stuntwork. And I would add some culture by watching in the original language.

-Almost Famous (2000)

This movie is on so many lists for Best Movies of this decade. I am not entirely sure if it's my cup of tea, but I enjoy rock music and historical pieces enough to give it a shot.

-Road to Perdition (2002)

A mobster flick done by an artsy director. Seems like it has some great actors in it, plus it's got some thematic examinations based on the subject material that I think I would find fascinating.

-The Fall (2006)

Apparently one of the most gorgeous and artsy movies made so far this century. At the very least I'll be able to look at lots of nice things.

-American Psycho (2000)

Mainly on my list because my friend Steve stated interest in what I would think of this movie. I hear it's a dark piece of satire, just featuring a bloody nutball with occasional violence and sex.

Being A Model of Manhood

Side note: So my computer is weird and due to complications between the blog site and my computer/ movie maker, I cannot post this article as a Vlog like I originally intended. So, for today, I will just put it down as a normal blog post and hopefully have a video blog post on something else next week for you.

I have a quick story to share. Recently I started working in an office at Lindenwood University. One of my new coworkers, after we had gotten past the basic get-to-know-you stage, sat down at my desk a couple of weeks ago. She pulls out her phone with a picture of a friend and said "Do you think she's pretty?". I was kind of caught off guard, being in the middle of work and everything, but the woman in the picture was pretty so I replied quietly "Yeah". So my coworker kind of explained things about her friend and that this friend had been dealing with a lot of jerk guys lately and that she thought that her friend and I would get along real well. And I think she even said something along the lines of "She just needs to meet a really good guy".

Pictured: A good guy, apparently

All of the sudden, there was this pressure on me because I'm just one man who is supposed to be a model for good, real manhood. Yet, that got me thinking more about the individual man's responsibility to be a model of manhood.

Here's what I mean: I have several friends who are women. Every once and awhile on social media, I'll see a post from one of these friends talking about how a guy, a total stranger, held the door open for them and how shocking that was and the post would read something like "Chivalry's not dead". These posts, however, make me just want to shout "I do that for you all the time!"

The struggle is real

All of the sudden, there's this pride that wells up inside of me that thinks "Okay, have you not noticed the dozens of times that I've done that for you?". It's strange how, in these moments, I want to take all of the credit for being a model of manhood but that moment in my story, in the office, I didn't want to take any of the credit for being the individual embodiment of manhood.

It's important for each and every man to live in such a way that we are true models of good, real manhood.

We hear the stories about how women have to deal with jerks all the time. How all the guys they date are just the wrong guy and they're waiting for the right guy. Those wrong guys, those jerks that they deal with, are not living out their role for what true manhood should look like. This can lead to extreme cases, such as what we see exemplified in the NFL player scandals. We see in our society how women have to go through many struggles trying to find the right guy because of the actions of the many jerks not living up to their full potential of manhood.

Pictured: The guy that's been ruining things for men everywhere since middle school

In my own life, I need to constantly ask myself "What must I do to live out a truly authentic life as a man?". Every day I have that responsibility of living out my role as a model of manhood. I need to treat all of the women in my life with respect and care. I often make jokes at the office about being one of the few guys around and constantly being surrounded by women. It has to be understood that that's all kind teasing so that my actions reflect my respect and care for those women I work with. I have to willingly hold doors open for everyone at all times, even if I don't get credit for it.

When it comes to something like dating, I have first and foremost ask the woman out either in person or at least over the phone if I have not met her in person. I have to be romantic and chivalrous from the first date and throughout the relationship, even if it means doing the cheesy stuff. I have to respect the physical boundaries and pursue this woman I am dating with chastity and purity.

I have to be willing to put up with stuff like this from time to time.

I need to take these actions not just for the women in my life, but for the men as well. What I mean by that is I need to be a model of manhood for the guys around me, from my godson to my brother to my cousins to my friends. Even the generation before me, I have to live in such a way that I show those men that everything they demonstrated and taught to me has actually sunk in.

As I continue this journey of discovering true manhood and how to live that out, I need to seek help from others whenever I need to and I need to look to my own role models of manhood. Naturally, majority of my role models are religious, Catholic men. Primarily, my biggest role model is Jesus Christ because He is THE MAN. As His disciple, I have to live out my life as He asks me to live it, which is not always easy but that is what I'm called to do. All of the saints and disciples that have come before me have left legacies of true manhood.

So, a reminder to myself and all the other guys I know. However much we want to take credit for doing the right things as a guy but don't want the pressure of being a model of manhood all the time, it's important to recognize that the way we live out our lives has an effect on the people around us. We don't necessarily need to take the credit all the time, but we must deal with the pressure by living authentic lives as a man.