Movies

Movie critic Phil Boatwright ranks "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" (releasing Nov. 22) one of the best films of the decade.

Movie critic Phil Boatwright offers two alternatives to the typical creepy Halloween fare. "Racetime" opens Nov. 5 and "Harriet" Oct. 31.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- The new psychological thriller "Joker" is a "dangerous" movie that glorifies violence and could spark copycats, even if it does raise important questions about mental illness and society's downtrodden, say faith-based reviewers who screened the film. The Warner Bros/DC Films movie opens in theaters this weekend, revealing the backstory to the villain best-known as Batman's nemesis.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP) -- The Marvel Cinematic Universe appears to be ready to gamble that its massive audiences are diehard enough to embrace its first LGBT superhero. Spoiler alert: It's the Asgardian warrior Valkyrie. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed July 20 at San Diego Comic-Con that fans can expect an LGBT Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson, in "Thor: Love and Thunder," set to release in November 2021.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (BP) -- Let someone walk into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church with a backpack and Polly Sheppard relives June 17, 2015. That's when white supremacist Dylann Roof walked in. "Only in that church. Other churches I can sit and be calm," Sheppard told Baptist Press in advance of the documentary film "Emanuel." "But when I go to Emanuel and they come in with a backpack and anything like that, I say it's somebody coming in to do harm, but it doesn't have to be."

DENVER (BP) -- Chonda Pierce is at a new stage in life. Widowhood and online dating give new material to her comedy routine, but her latest film "Unashamed" goes beyond her own testimony. "This time in my life, I want the testimony of this movie to be about what Jesus did, and not about what I did, not what I've been through necessarily," Pierce told Baptist Press in advance of the film's release. "I want it to be about what the cross of Christ has meant to my life. And I think we accomplished that."

NASHVILLE (BP) -- The pro-life movie "Unplanned" finished its opening weekend No. 4 at the box office and doubled its projected gross earnings -- despite a suspension March 30 of the film's Twitter account among other obstacles. "Unplanned" also may have played a role in the Georgia state legislature's adoption of a fetal heartbeat bill March 29, the film's co-directors said, adding lead actress Ashley Bratcher has been invited to appear with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp when he signs the bill into law.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- The pro-life movie "Unplanned" opens in theaters today (March 29) amid a flurry of media attention centered on the film's realistic depiction of abortion and its political implications. But pro-life advocates hope the greatest impact of "Unplanned" will be changed lives.

Three new faith-based movies have what Phil Boatwright describes as "quality technical aspects as well as entertaining story lines steeped in the Gospel message."

ROUND ROCK, Texas (BP) -- Abby Johnson was "vulnerable." Raised in a Christian pro-life home and a church that never really talked about abortion, she believed her employer Planned Parenthood was "a woman's empowerment organization." Then she became a clinic director and saw a 13-week-old fetus flinch and fight for his fleeting life during an ultrasound-guided abortion.