Roofman is a clever and delightful story about Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a man who resorts to robbing McDonald’s to support his family, and he does so by cutting holes in the roofs. When he’s caught and placed in prison, he escapes and secretly lives in a Toys “R” Us for six months. A ridiculous plotline, right? Well, brace yourself; it’s based on a true story.

Sunset Boulevard was one of the first classic films to truly capture my attention—thanks to my mother! I rewatched it a few weeks ago, hoping to catch something fresh, and I wasn’t disappointed. Two images stood out, one from Dickens and the other from Scripture, and they’ve both helped me better understand this excellent film.

Se7en (1995) is a very dark film—a haunting story about two detectives hunting a killer whose crimes mirror the seven deadly sins. While it’s not a movie I’d recommend for everyone, it forces a sobering reflection: are we really that different from the evil we condemn?

I usually engage with films based on three categories: craft, content, and impact, and unfortunately, it scored poorly in all three for Megan and me. Neither the quality of the film nor the storytelling stood out. The worldview felt very much like something from Quentin Tarantino—fueled by revenge and hatred.

Now here is a tender and insightful film, a straightforward redemption story about new beginnings.

What stood out to me most vividly is the world Villeneuve has created. With great irony, he has beautifully captured the ugliness of this world. It is a character in itself, and a leading one.

Over the last year, a group of writers and storytellers has been meeting at my home. It all started at a creative class hosted by our church, where I was teaching on how to write for the stage.

The Fantastic 4: First Steps is actually fantastic. Here's why . . .

And I’m ready to say it: Sketch (2024) is one of the most imaginative and creative films I’ve seen in a long time. It is a gem in a heap of mindless children’s programming.

My wife gives me a hard time about the trinkets on my desk, and she's right they clutter things a bit. But they're worth it, because they have a purpose.