Join Ken and Todd every two weeks as they explore films that are about or advance our understanding of issues of faith and spirituality. Some films may do so overtly, through a direct examination of these themes as subjects; others may be more subtle or even opaque in the way they prompt us to think on such things. Still other films may serve primarily as a catalyst for dialogue or discussion. Insights can be gleaned from a part of a larger whole, a scene, a shot, a moment. As the title suggests, such moments can be elusive, fragile, or obscured. ...
Latest episodes
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26 min ↗
Episode #46: Violence in The Edge of Tomorrow
Back after a hiatus, Ken and Todd discuss Doug Liman's sci-fi film, The Edge of Tomorrow. Why is the way violence is represented in the film particularly disturbing? Are we intende…
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43 min ↗
Episode #45: Lessons Learned From Philomena
Just in time for the Academy Awards, Ken and Todd look at one of the nominees: Stephen Frears's Philomena. How does the film depict its protagonist's Roman Catholicism, and what ca…
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41 min ↗
Episode #44: Two Views of Wall Street
Ken and Todd talk about depictions of Wall Street in Oliver Stone's film of the same name and, more recently, in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street. What does Stone's dedica…
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46 min ↗
Episode #43: Looking For God in 12 Years A Slave
Todd and Ken examine 12 Years a Slave. Is God absent from the world of slavery? Are there contemporary lessons or themes to be drawn from this historical drama? Why is the singing…
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50 min ↗
Episode #42: To Be or Not To Be and Comedic Dis-ease
Todd and Ken take a look at Ernst Lubitsch's To Be or Not to Be. Should some topics be off limits for comedy? What line did even Lubitsch's team fear went too far? Who is the film'…
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43 min ↗
Episode #41: The Devil's Backbone
Ken and Todd discuss Guillermo del Toro's horror film that has recently received the Criterion treatment. What is the difference between horror and Gothic? When is violence tragic…
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50 min ↗
Episode #40: Gravity--Good or Great?
Ken and Todd are back, and they are discussing one of this fall's most anticipated films: Gravity. Is it a thriller or a drama? What do we mean when we call something a "good" film…
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46 min ↗
Episode #39: Umberto D. and the Limits of Empathy
Todd and Ken discuss Vittorio De Sica's poignant saga of an aged pensioner trying to avoid eviction. What are the differences between empathy and pity and which does the film invok…
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38 min ↗
Episode #38: Vengeance and Redemption in The Searchers
Peter Waldron drops in on The Thin Place to sub for the vacationing Todd and to render Ken momentarily speechless with his take on one of the more iconic climactic moments in Holly…
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48 min ↗
Episode #37: Death and Sacrifice in Gojira
Ken and Todd look at the original pacific rim monster and compare the theme of sacrifice in Gojira to that presented in modern disaster films. SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro and summary.…
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45 min ↗
Episode #36: Genre Conventions in White House Down
Ken and Todd examine the conventions of action films and how White House Down uses them. Do action films promote American exceptionalism? How does the use of comic relief undercut…
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49 min ↗
Episode #35: Love and Masks in The Magician
Todd and Ken look at Ingmar Bergman's The Magician. Is the film about the conflict between rationalism and faith or the conflict between performers and critics? What did Bergman sa…
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34 min ↗
Episode #34: At Any Price
Ken and Todd discuss Ramin Bahrani's At Any Price. Which family member did Todd want to see more of? What connections does Ken see between this film and Chop Shop? Is the film's cl…
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46 min ↗
Episode #33: Timeless Truths in Stromboli
Todd and Ken discuss the films of Roberto Rossellini, focusing on Stromboli. How sympathetic is Karin? What does the film's reference to the book of Isaiah mean? Is the ending posi…
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51 min ↗
Episode #32: The Feel Good Mediocrity of 42
Ken and Todd discuss Brian Helgeland’s hagiography of Jackie Robinson. SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Christian Movies vs. Thinking Christian 4:30 - General assessments. 13:00 - Historical for…
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40 min ↗
Episode #31: Predestination in Wreck-It Ralph
Todd and Ken look at Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, and ponder whether or not being written into a computer program is an apt metaphor for predestination. Also, what makes Ken compare Wr…
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51 min ↗
Episode #30: On Finally Watching The Last Temptation of Christ
Todd and Ken discuss Martin Scorsese's (in)famous imagination of the life of Jesus. Is it really blasphemous? Is it any good? Do you have to watch a movie to be able to boycott it?…
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44 min ↗
Episode #29: Zero Dark Thirty and Historical Fiction
Todd and Ken examine the morality of making stories about other people’s lives. What is the difference between "truth" and "accuracy," and is accomplishing one ever an excuse for n…
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38 min ↗
Episode #28: The Grapes of Wrath
Ken and Todd look at John Ford’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel. What is the difference between poverty and destitution? Who is the audience surrogate? How is mythologizing t…
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53 min ↗
Episode #27: The Hobbit: A Not-So-Unexpected Travesty
Ken and Todd claim that Peter Jackson doesn't really understand the material that he is adapting. Is there any way they can back up such a claim? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro; "certain…