Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of The Eyes of Tammy Faye, we’re counting down our favorite movies featuring Judeo-Christianity! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
I need to show my cards here: I am as atheist as they come. So as you can imagine, a movie called The Two Popes didn’t intrigue me that much the first time I heard the title alone. But then I learned it’s Sir Anthony Hopkins in a match of wits against Jonathan Price and I was sold. And to my surprise, this movie isn’t about religion, or at least, it’s not the main focus. Sure, they are both Popes, and almost the entire movie takes place in the Vatican; that part is as religious as seeing Jesus rise on Sunday just before Easter. But this movie mostly focuses on the story of Price, how he differs from the “old fashioned” Pope, and the conflict between the old (Sir Anthony portraying Pope Benedict) and the new (Price portraying Pope Francis). But again, it’s more about life itself, what shaped them, and why they believe what they believe. That is what The Two Popes did so well, by having a bulletproof script that juxtaposes religion against their life stories. It’s the scripts and the performances of these two fine gentlemen, who make this film not just watchable, but a must watch. Believe me (pun intended) it was a surprise for me too, realizing how much I enjoyed this film, once it was over. And again, that’s coming from a person, who doesn’t believe in any higher entity. A great movie is a great movie, plain and simple. (Luke Burian)
Have you ever had doubts about anything? Anything major? Like, I don’t know, religion, or whether a rumor, you heard that one time, is true or not? If yes, you are human. Congratulations! If not, watch Doubt. This masterpiece in acting shows how to take a concept that (unfortunately) sounds like a punchline to a dirty joke (because as we know, priests can be inappropriate towards kids) and makes it into a riveting drama that comments on the concept of faith itself — doubt. It is still a powerful and uncomfortable movie to watch, even as the topic might seem niche (priest might or might not take an advantage of a young boy), but at the same time, the concept of allegations, rumors, and “trial without a proof” is more known to all of us (have you been on Twitter lately?). Doubt is unique in that you truly don’t know whether something happened. I need to come clean: I’ve only seen it once, around the time it came out, but I still remember that the movie plays it very well, making you the judge, jury, and the executioner. It’s up to you, once the credits start to roll, whether you believe the priest’s innocence or not. And when that priest is portrayed by the late (I hate the fact I need to write the word “late” alongside his name) Philip Seymour Hoffman, you know you will see something extraordinary. Plus, in my eyes, this is the film that once and for all cemented Amy Adams’ status to “leading Hollywood actress,” where she has stayed til this day, deservedly so. Doubt is truly a masterclass on how to act, and more importantly, how to make an amazing drama about a really uncomfortable topic. (Luke Burian)
You had best be a penitent soul if you haven’t seen the Indiana Jones trilogy by now, and to my mind, the third film is easily the best of the three. Definitely the most comedic, the addition of Sir Sean Connery to the series was something of a stroke of genius. Delving into the search for the Holy Grail, complete with the Nazis and competitive archeology of Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Last Crusade is rife with biblical references spread across mediterranean Europe and the Middle-East in search of the cup Jesus Christ supposedly personally drank from. It’s a fantastic blend of adventure and deadpan comedy that sees our heroes flying, sailing, driving, and running from landmark to landmark to thwart yet another comically evil villain’s plot, and it finishes with an honest to God riddle-filled dungeon to cap off a D&D campaign of a movie. So strap in, remember your Charlemagne, and choose wisely. (Chris Bakker)
Martin Scorsese is of course most well-known for his mob flicks like Goodfellas and The Departed, but I think his absolute best work is Silence. This movie feels introspective and quiet unlike any of his other movies. It follows two Portuguese priests (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) as they head to Japan to try to find their mentor (Liam Neeson), who has supposedly apostatized (or renounced his Christian faith). Completely unlike anything else Scorsese has done, Silence is a slow-moving meditation on faith, morality, selfishness, honesty, and really just Christianity as a whole. It’s creeping up on three hours in length, but it is absolutely worth a watch. I have seen it about four times and I’ve been out of commission for the rest of the day each time I’ve seen it because I just need to think on everything I’ve just seen. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s without a doubt a worthwhile one. (Robert Bouffard)
The Exorcist is a narrative of struggling with one’s fate and battling against internal demons, both metaphorically and literally. When a young and vibrant girl, Regan (Linda Blair) begins to act erratically and her wellbeing is spiraling out of control, her mother Chris (Ellen Burstyn) goes to great lengths to cure her beloved daughter’s ailment. When every possible modern medicine outlet is taken, she then leans on a more spiritual approach to this quandary. In parallel to Regan’s struggle for her eternal soul, Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller) is battling his own struggle with his faith and the loss of his dear mother weighing heavy on him. Though hesitant at first, with proof stacking up that Regan is possessed by a demonic entity, Father Karras can no longer turn a blind eye to Regan’s plight. Along with the far more experienced Father Merrin (Max von Sydow), they are combating for the very soul of Regan and her struggle with the demon, Pazuzu. Armed with only the power of faith these two priests pay the ultimate cost to ensure Regan is restored to her former, loving self. The Exorcist‘s longevity is largely due to the complexity of it’s thematic elements concerning faith. (Joe Vargas)
Portraying Christ himself on film is always a heavy task, and I personally don’t think anyone has done it better than Willem Dafoe in Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece, The Last Temptation of Christ. Christianity teaches that Jesus was fully human and fully God at the same time, which can be a difficult idea to wrap your head around. But the way that Scorsese and Paul Schrader, who wrote the screenplay, depict Jesus’ internal struggle with who he is supposed to be is incredible. It’s not a simple or straightforward portrayal of the Messiah, but it’s one that is different from any other that you’ll see. While it’s not the most simple, it very well could be the most meaningful. (Robert Bouffard)
I think I’m one of those rare people that like Monty Python’s Life of Brian morethan The Holy Grail. Both are great, in that they are endlessly quotable and hysterically funny, however, for me, Life of Brian is a more intellectual outing, and although not devoid of absurdity, it has far less to it that the aforementioned Grail. I’ve always enjoyed movies that make me think, and Monty Python’s second full scale film definitely did that for me. Having seen it for the first time during my formative teenage years (the ‘90s — I’m not that old!) during a time where I was questioning my religious beliefs, I have to admit, this film did help me on my path toward atheism. I know that sounds ridiculous, but there is so much subtext to Life of Brian that I couldn’t ignore. I will assume that you have seen it by now, but either way, the tale of how it came to get its funding, is both fascinating and hilarious. In short, the Monty Python crew were not able to obtain funding. Eric Idle let George Harrison read the script who after a time said he would provide the two million pounds to make it. When asked why, his simple reply was “Well I want to see the movie.” How brilliant is that?! (Adam Ritchie)
1959’s Ben-Hur is one of the few films which truly merits the often overused phrase, “They don’t make them like this anymore.” Epic beyond belief, this Best Picture winner follows its title character (portrayed excellently by Charlton Heston) as he takes on the Roman empire. Interestingly, Judah Ben-Hur’s story is set against the backdrop of Jesus’s life and ministry, drawing parallels between their two journeys. Beyond the not-so-subtle Christian imagery, Ben-Hur is perhaps best known for its famous chariot racing scene, and rightfully so! If you don’t tense your body in nervous anticipation throughout the entirety of the chariot race sequence, then you simply aren’t paying attention. The entire film is beautifully shot, well performed, and epic in scale. The film’s plot structure and visual aesthetic had an influence on countless films, from Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus the following year to Ridley Scott’s Gladiator in 2000. With its intimidating 212 minute runtime, Ben-Hur is certainly a substantial time commitment. But if you have not yet crossed this classic off your list of shame, I can assure you that it is a worthwhile investment. (Foster Harlfinger)
Of the Best Picture winners from the past decade, Spotlight may be in the competition for the one that has left the greatest impact on me. In a movie that could have had so many things go wrong, I think it might just be borderline perfect. Movies about investigative journalism are quietly one of my favorite genres, but few come even close to the feat Spotlight pulls off. Detailing the events of how the Boston Globe uncovered and exposed the massive hidden scandal within the Catholic church is by no means an easy task. The audience knows the true story, or at least the things that follow. So director Tom McCarthy has to instead pull us in by getting us invested in the investigative process and in how these journalists were able to finally get to the bottom of the story. There also can’t be enough praise heaped on the all-star cast. Each and every one of them are giving career-defining performances that are incredibly grounded, yet still powerful and gut-wrenching. I specifically think of a scene with Rachel McAdams where she is going door-to-door asking questions where her face tells a complete story all on its own. For a subject material as complex and intense as this, it’s a marvel how McCarthy crafted a movie that I so often want to revisit. I would highly recommend you give this one a watch if you haven’t been able to catch it yet. Maybe just take a few breaths beforehand. (Nashua Doll)
What is the most compelling conflict ever presented on film? Most films see conflict grow between people and audiences become invested in their stories. But sometimes what starts simply as a human conflict grows to thematic heights that compel well beyond the realm of the film. Paul Thomas Anderson has made a career out of deeply thematic sojourns and There Will Be Blood is (to me) the pinnacle of his great craft. Daniel versus Eli… Planview versus Sunday… business versus religion! The long-reaching arms of both reach beyond their bounds and come to blows with each other, fighting for the soul of humanity. This striking, eerie, and unnerving epic combines breath-taking visuals, atmospheric score, and some of the greatest acting to ever grace the silver screen to deliver a film that became an all-time great immediately upon release. Strap in and join PTA on this great descent of Daniel Plainview and his inevitable collision with Eli Sunday with one of the more shocking and poignant finales in film. (Shane Conto)
First Reformed
After establishing himself as a prominent filmmaker with films such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Last Temptation of Christ (and before the seemingly disappointing The Card Counter), Paul Schrader came out with First Reformed, a film about a small-church pastor in upstate New York. After a bizarre encounter with a community member, Ernst Toller (played brilliantly by Ethan Hawke, and largely believed to be based on Theologian Thomas Merton) begins to question all that he believes his duties to be as a Christian, a pastor, and a human. First Reformed comes in as one of my favorite A24 films and really high on my favorite faith-based films list, which is shocking because this movie has an ending that normally I would hate, but it is pulled off so brilliantly and so powerfully that it really elevated this movie to one that continuously sticks with me. (Aaron Schweitzer)
The Prince of Egypt
Dreamworks animation swung for something quite special when they put together their second ever feature, The Prince of Egypt, and the result is a movie quite unlike any other animated feature I’ve ever seen. Jeffrey Katzenberg had pushed for a Ten Commandments-style feature for some time while working for Disney, but to no avail. Now, under his own banner, Katzenberg had the freedom to pursue this goal and ended up assembling an absolutely staggering amount of talent for this adaptation of the rise of Moses. The voice cast is comprised of almost every actor working in the late ‘90s, including Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Steve Martin, Helen Mirren, and even Sir Patrick freaking Stewart. Had this been a live-action film, it would have probably been one of the most expensive casts of the ’90s. The crew itself totaled 350 strong from 34 different countries, including a swathe of former Disney animation artists. Oh, and a score by Hans Zimmer, of course. It is one of the universe’s great mysteries that this film is hardly spoken of today and not held up as an astonishingly creative and heartfelt imagining of a biblical classic. Perhaps it never truly found the right audience. The film was certainly marketed toward children, but it is hard to call this a children’s film at all. With an unapologetically serious tone and very little frivolity, it isn’t exactly Shrek. But what it is, is a fantastically beautiful film that mixes traditional hand-drawn animation with some very cleverly overlayed CGI that easily holds up against even modern animation. I am not, even remotely, a religious individual, but if more religious stories were communicated with this amount of passion and creative flair, then they would certainly have my attention, as much as this film deserves yours. (Ian Whittington)
Kingdom of Heaven
This week, I decided to watch the director’s cut of Kingdom of Heaven, because frankly, I think the original is a fantastic movie, and this is a hill I am willing to die on (feel free to change to “this is the cross I chose to bear” if more applicable). While I greatly agree that the director’s cut roadshow version is superior, this movie has a message that resonates with me: it is not about what you say you believe, but in how you act and treat others. While this may be a fictionalized version of actual events, this is still a beautiful story with fascinating characters. Not to mention the fact that this movie has a deep cast of some of the best actors and actresses of their generations. When Martin Sheen is a small character, you know that this cast is huge. So if you haven’t seen the director’s cut or the original version, I would highly recommend both, for what man is a man who does not make the world better? (Joseph Davis)
The Tree of Life
Terrence Malick is nothing short of a miracle of a filmmaker when coming into terms of current auteurs. He is not making films to impress a crowd, nor is he trying to stir any attention towards himself (even though he has become more famous for his introverted lifestyle), but he makes films to tell a story that will speak to those who are willing to give into his direction. Ever since his directorial debut, Badlands, he’s been an enigmatic filmmaker, one where nobody knows what direction he will turn into next. Until suddenly, his passion project was released. The Tree of Life is not only Malick’s opus, but it’s one of the defining pieces of media from the 2010s. Malick and DOP collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki create shots that are acrobatic, beautiful and fully express the definition of artistic expression, crafting the beginning, middle, and end of a lifetime. The Tree of Life is not a movie about faith, but how faith could impact us, and how regret could torment our future and more mature selves. Like Malick’s previous efforts, The Tree of Life is a very layered film. It is a thematic powerhouse, combining elements of family, trauma, masculinity, idolization, and so much more, while Malick allows us to see inside of his personal life, which would be the basis of his films to come after this, but I digress. The Tree of Life is one of the most talked about films of the past decade in the film community; love it or hate it, you cannot deny its ambition and Malick bringing something so powerful to life. (John Bizub)
The Ten Commandments
It takes a special kind of movie to become an annual tradition. That’s exactly what’s happened with Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments. The director’s second attempt at telling the story of Moses leading the Hebrews out of Egypt is the definition of a biblical epic — and a broadcast staple to lead into Easter. This cast is stacked with classic Hollywood names, headlined by commanding performances by Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Rameses. With a broadcast runtime longer than the Israelites spent wandering the wilderness, it can be an intimidating undertaking — but one worth investing in. So let this entry be written. So let this entry be done. (Jake Bourgeois)
Easy A
Ahh, the movie that launched a thousand careers. Well, one namely. But boy, is it worth a thousand in its own right. I’m speaking, of course, of now-Academy-Award-Winner, Emma Stone in Easy A. But let’s backtrack a bit, and answer how this fits in with the theme of this week. So, for those of you that don’t know, Easy A is a modern retelling of the literary Nathaniel Hawthorne classic, The Scarlet Letter. Explained within the film, it’s story is about a woman who is ostracized from society when she bears a child out of wedlock, in a time when Puritan Christian society reigned supreme. There are plenty of religious characteristics and stereotypes that are heavily satirized, mostly in the form of Amanda Bynes’ pseudo-villain, Marianne. All that aside, this is just an excellent movie, with it being up amongst other God-tier teen movies such as Mean Girls and Clueless, adaptations in their own right. The dialogue is quippy and fantastic, the story weirdly relatable and entertaining, and our heroine — Emma Stone’s enigmatic Olive — is a strong, funny, charismatic high schooler who we all can sympathize with, even a little bit. Overall, just a roaring good time, I highly recommend you check it out if you haven’t already. (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)
Dogma
It’s time to talk about one of my favorite movies from one of my favorite directors: Kevin Smith’s Dogma. Dogma tells the story of two fallen angels — Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck), who are seeking to return to heaven. And along the way to stop them are Bethany (Linda Fiorentino), the 13th apostle (Chris Rock), and as always, Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith). When this movie came out, it quickly received tons of criticism regarding its use of religion, specifically the Catholic faith. As with all of Smith’s films, Dogma is incredibly funny and should not be taken seriously. Damon brought us a version of Loki that was insightful and intelligent years before Tom Hiddleston made the character popular. When Smith is firing on all cylinders, the movie just becomes that much better, and this movie is better for it. Now I will always recommend this movie to anyone — especially fans of Smith — but because of distributing and ownership rights, this film is not available to stream and is difficult to find on DVD. If you are lucky to find a copy, then watch it, because it is one of his best films, and all the actors involved help elevate this film for many of Smith’s fans. This is one great addition to the View Askewniverse, and I wish more people could see and watch this movie. (Austen Terry)
The Passion of the Christ
I saw The Passion of the Christ four times in theaters. I normally don’t see movies that many times in theaters. However, I wanted to watch it after my church’s Ash Wednesday service and had a few friends who wanted to go at different times. This falls into a category of movies that are tough films to watch, but are important to experience nonetheless. Mel Gibson made the choice to have the film in Aramaic and show the absolute brutality Jesus went through. The violence is a little over-the-top and the end sequence with the temple breaking in half was an odd choice, but I felt the experience makes this movie stand out. The part where Jesus is being nailed to the cross while saying, “forgive them, they know not what they do” is crushing to witness. Reading up on some of the behind the scenes issues, especially for Jim Caviezel, is another interesting tidbit to read about. (Mike Hilty)
Bruce Almighty
I might be alone on this, but Bruce Almighty might be my favorite Jim Carrey comedy. Here, he plays a self-absorbed television reporter who is given God’s power after a particularly terrible day. Carrey’s style of humor just works like magic with a premise like this. I mean, he splits a bowl of tomato soup like the Red Sea and makes his rival (an early Steve Carrell role) spout gibberish on live TV. It’s just immensely watchable. Among the humor, though, is still an excellent message about faith. Bonus points for the most perfect casting in movie history. Morgan Freeman as God? He certainly has the perfect voice for it. (Jake Bourgeois)
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code is the first film adaptation of Dan Brown’s book of the same name. The movie tells the story of symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) who is in Paris speaking when called to a murder at the Louvre because he is the main suspect. The mystery that unfolds is extremely clever and involves an age-old secret society protecting an age-old secret. Without spoiling anything, it seems Langdon is on the hunt for the Holy Grail, but this is so much more than an adventure looking for a cup. Director Ron Howard brings this incredible mystery to life in a truly amazing piece of storytelling. Langdon is not the Indiana Jones action hero, but someone who interprets the clues before him to solve the mystery. I enjoy dialogue-heavy movies because it makes you have to listen to what people are saying to determine their motives, rather than just judging their actions. Also along for the ride are Paul Bettany, Ian McKellan, Alfred Molina, and many others round out this cast to bring this story from page to screen. Out of all the Robert Langdon stories, this one was closest to the source material and is a great adaptation from page to screen. If you haven’t watched any of the Robert Langdon movies, The Da Vinci Code is currently on Hulu and I recommend you check it out. (Austen Terry)
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