Our Favorite Movies

 Just in case we don't get around to all of them on the podcast!

Inspirational

• Babette's Feast — A huge underlying message about God's unexpected and overflowing generosity and Jesus' complete self-sacrifice ... all wrapped up in a woman who gives all her lottery winnings to cook a perfect meal for a village. (Julie) [Good Story episode 221)
  
• Into Great Silence — A quiet documentary that portrays lives of Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse, a monastery in the French Alps (Chartreuse Mountains). (Scott)
  
•  A Man for All Seasons — A biopic about Thomas More. Worth watching if only for the moment Thomas More says, "And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned around on you -- where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?" (Scott) [Good Story episode 88]
  
• The Mill and the Cross — Painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder (Rutger Hauer) explains the meaning of his painting, The Procession to Calvary,  to his patron (Michael York) from within the painting itself. As Roger Ebert said, "If you see no more than the opening shots, you will never forget them." (Julie - review)
  
• Of Gods and Men — A group of Trappist monks in Algeria must choose between the practical choice to abandon their monastery when extremist Muslims terrorize the area ... or following spiritual calling even when there doesn't seem to be any reason to do so.  (Scott) [Good Story episode 58]
  
• Ushpizin — A tale of love and living your faith to the fullest. As well as a template for how marriage should work. Simply charming. (Julie - review) [Good Story episode 66]

Lenten Movies

• Groundhog Day — A story of the change and redemption of a man who leaves a lot to be desired. By experiencing the same day over and over, he learns how to live. (Scott) [Good Story episode 14]
  
• Lady in the Van, The — What does true charity look like? What do we expect in return when we are charitable? (Julie)  
• The Island (2006) — "Ostrov" in Russian. This film is focused on Father Anatoly, who is a fool for Christ. As he repents of a sin from his past, he affects the lives of others. (Scott) [Good Story episode 128]
  
• Les Miserables — How can we balance justice versus mercy? How much of ourselves do we give when seeking true redemption? How far will we go when keeping a promise? (Julie) [Good Story episode 117]
  
• Matchstick Men — A story about the sheer potential for change and transformation available for even the most dishonest of us, especially when we're being dishonest with ourselves.  (Julie)
  
• Quiz Show — The true story of Charles Van Doren and his involvement in a Quiz Show scandal in the 1950s shows us all how easy it is to fall into sin. (Scott) [Good Story episode 6]