Kris Rasmussen: January 2008 Archives

Just last week, I proclaimed my renewed loyalty to "Friday Night Lights" as it righted some of its obvious wrongs from earlier in the season. I still stand by that decision, but last Friday's episode frustrated me because it highlighted another "FNL" weakness this season: The Christian characters on the show are really boring.

Now I know Beliefnet editor Michael Kress cited Coach Eric Taylor and his wife Tami as two of the top Christian characters on TV, but their religious convictions are more implied than overtly stated. No, my beef is with what "FNL" has done lately with former sexpot cheerleader turned goody-two-shoes Lyla's conversion, and the meek and mild Christians she has surrounded herself with. They sit clustered together in the cafeteria away from the other teens to better discuss their desire to be holy. Lyla goes to a nice megachurch where everyone is always happy from what I can see. Then Lyla falls for Christian DJ, Chris, who is always understanding, and so perfect that he feels a little sleazy.

I'm glad Lyla gave up the pom-poms, and I am not necessarily in the camp that thinks Riggins and Lyla should hook-up. However, I'd like to see Lyla--who has been through so much on the show between her ex-boyfriend's paralysis and her parents' divorce--ask some tough questions and do some real soul searching. I'd like to see Lyla and company do something signficant at school to fight social injustice--in Dillon and around the world. In other words, I am, once again, simply looking for television to show me Christians I might actually recognize from my own world.

Several documentaries have focused on the plight of the people of Darfur recently ("Darfur Now") but one that has made the top ten list of several of my favorite film critics is "The Devil Came On Horseback".

While it is not exactly an uplifting, Friday night, kick back with some popcorn kind of movie, it may be one of the most important films of the past year. But "Devil" proves once again the importance of film as a medium to bear witness to the value of the helpless and disenfranchised. "Devil" is the haunting, unforgettable eyewitness account of Brian Steidle, a former U.S. Marine who naively signs on to become an "official military observer" in Sudan. Unprepared for the atrocities he encounters, Steidle moves from shock to frustration to outrage as he begins to document the devastaton and destruction of the African Sudanese. His story is not only an indictment of the Arab government that is systematically committing genocide, but an indictment of the U.S. government which empowered him to do absolutely nothing, even upon his return from Sudan. Though this movie is not easy to watch, this is an eyeopening story, and I have to recommend it as my DVD pick for this week.

Unlike some of my other bloggers, try as I might, I just can’t be cynical or grumpy about this year’s Oscar nominations. They are a far cry better than last year’s popular choices of “Little Miss Sunshine” and “The Departed.” Sure I could rant about such politically correct movies as “Michael Clayton” receiving too many nominations when other movies were shunned. And I certainly go on another tirade about the overrated documentary “Sicko” setting Michael Moore up for a possible win. Then there were foreign films like “Four Months” that were completely overlooked.

Still, I am thrilled that relative unknown Amy Ryan is nominated for “Gone Baby Gone.” The same goes for Casey Affleck being recognized for “Jesse James.” I am excited than a movie as uncynical as “Juno” has made the short list and that “Away From Her” didn’t totally escape attention. In a tough animation category I am glad "Ratatouille" is receiving the props it deserves over a film like "The Simpsons Movie".

And while I don't think Oscar has exactly grown-up, I do think the Oscars are like your typical narcissistic teenager. The Oscar voters want all the other cool kids in Hollywood to think they're cool, too, so they nominate the "important" films, regardless of quality, just so they other cool kids will hang out with them and they can be cool together.

However, just like a teenager, the Oscar voters occasionally do the right thing. Which is why, just like when I was a teenager, I can never really give up on the drama that is the Oscars.

With the ongoing writers' strike depriving me of my favorite television shows, I have finally joined the masses in checking out the vast material on YouTube and similar sites to find some entertainment. Idol Chatter has already covered the irreverent web series “Mr. Deity” , but I have come across a new satirical web series that is a spot-on spoof of Christian subculture, “Jesus People.” The series is currently being featured on Will Ferrell's comedy video website, and the Hollywood rumor mill (okay, by "Hollywood rumor mill," I mean a few of my industry friends who are usually in-the know) has it that "Jesus People" may become an indie film or a full-fledged TV series should the WGA strike ever end.

With only one original episode left, it might be a little late for me to say that "Friday Night Lights" has finally returned to at least a semblence of its former greatness. Now that Landry/Tyra murder storyline is finally over, the show has slowly attempted to return what made it great to begin with: stories centered around the daily choices we have to do the right thing. In recent weeks, Coach Taylor had to turn the other cheek, repeatedly, when another coach made his life particularly difficult. Smash had to decide what to do when he goes on a date with a white girl and realized racism isn't exactly dead in DIllon. Riggins did the right thing when he took Julie home after she got drunk at a party, but he found himself in trouble anyway.

"FNL" has also returned to the other theme which I have always said makes the show special: the examination of an entire generation of fatherless teens trying to raise themselves. The audience sees this with Buddy Garrity adopting a teenage boy fresh out of jail, with the relationship between Riggins and Coach Taylor, and even in the relationship between Smash and his mom.

Though there are still some missteps -- Lila turned Christian d.j. on last Friday's episode is a great example-- it is clear that the Dillon Panthers are returning to winning form. Too bad the Writers' strike may be the latest reason this series won't have another championship season.

While Christian publishing has profited greatly from the trend of major movie studios looking to capitalize on the Christian marketplace, the average evangelical movie buff can't say the same. Instead, we are treated to low-budget, unchallenging fare such as Fox...

New DVD releases have provided slim pickings for anyone looking for some quality movie watching, so I have decided to go back in time and mention a little-seen but favorite movie of mine that is great viewing for the whole...

It's no wonder the Writers Guild brokered a deal with actor Tom Cruise recently to make him the only studio head who can cross the picket line. According to Andrew Morton's new book (Morton is best known for his Princess...

I have wondered often to myself in the last week how long it would take for another celebrity to borrow David Letterman’s strategy of creating an independent agreement with the striking Writers Guild of America so their production company can...

Last night, I was doing a victory dance in my PJs as I watched David Letterman’s return to late night TV. I have not only become a rabid fan of the Letterman writers’ strike blog, where the writing staff of...