Customer Reviews

Through a Screen Darkly: Looking Closer at Beauty, Truth and Evil in the Movies

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I really enjoyed this book, and how Jeffrey showed how to expand a Christian view of film in two ways: by looking beyond simple moralizing to take a deep look at how film can convey the spiritual longings and journeys taken by film characters, and by looking beyond Hollywood to explore the finest works from world cinema. I have had the chance to view a few of the films Jeffrey mentions in this book, but this book has helped me want to revisit these films to study them again using the artistic and filmic languages that were unfamiliar to me. I also have gained a list of films I want to add to my Netflix account. Seeing the best of world cinema, and learning how to view these films, nourishes the soul and expands my view of how God moves both in the human heart, and throughout the entire world.

About 20 years ago, I gave myself a gift while I was in a Protestant seminary: during my last semester, I took a course entitled "Celluloid Theology" which was offered at a nearby Roman Catholic seminary which brought me to new understandings of faith and cinematic arts. Since then, I have dabbled in movies and theology, offering a movie discussion here and there in my ministry setting. Since that time long ago, I have kept in mind the lens of theology as I view movies even if I wasn't actively using the lessons I learned during that time with Father Tom Kane.

This book, though, has brought a whole new perspective to that journey. Jeffrey Overstreet has written a very readable, and often times moving, book about the intersection of Christianity (our culture's most apparent religious expression) and film (our most noticeable artistic expression these days). I especially appreciated the way that he modeled the use of movies in discussing how they reflect faith and sometimes expose us to divine truths.

I realize that the author and I probably come from somewhat different theological perspectives and I have to let go of my only frustration with the book. I feel that he spent too much of his writing explaining away why he appreciates and endorses movies that may be too over the edge for some Christians. I do understand and appreciate the fact that he gets way too much email criticizing him for pointing out the good of a particular movie that has too much violence/sex/foul language/you-name-it for the email writer. But I did grow a little tired of the repeated justifications that began to sound like apologies.

I especially commend the second chapter, "Viewer Discretion Advised," for the best essay I have ever read about the intersection of faith and the arts, and not just cinematic arts. His viewpoint is clearly written and can be applied to how we might look at any art form as a window into a bit of understanding about God.

I am rejuvenated in my interest in movies by this book and highly recommend it.

I'm the kind of guy who watches all the extras on DVDs. I like to know how things are made, why things were done a particular way, how other creative types think, the history of a project.

I'm also the kind of guy that likes to ponder what things mean. I don't often find this type of discussion in DVD extras. But I do find it in Jeffrey's book Through a Screen Darkly. He deftly weaves a tapestry of meaning based on movies--our national art form. He discusses faith and film thoughtfully, and personally. From his childhood with the Muppets, to his daily work as a film reviewer, Jeffrey talks about things and their meaning in a personal way--not abstract, not theoretical, but through the use of his own coming-of-age-as-a-movie-viewer story. Jeffrey is insightful on many levels--he knows many of the people he writes about, and has conversed with them over time. He watches their films and discusses their deeper meaning. He also has a lot of fun discussing what he cares so passionately about. His is not a dry read, but one filled with light and truth.

I'd encourage you to get a copy; see what you've been missing. Things mean things, and Jeffrey's insight will help you see better, too. Even in the dark.

This book has opened my mind to the ideas behind the movies we watch and the ways they influence how we think and judged those around us. Overstreet is a Christian movie critic who has been accused of liking movies others find offensive. In this book he defends his position on some of these movies.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

(Art) reflects our mistakes, our flaws, and our pain back to us so that we must acknowledge them and find hope to move beyond them.

Sometimes music is like one of those programs you run on your computer to optimize your hard drive: it heals a million little broken things you didn't even know needed attention.

Two erroneous extremes: 1 that there is only one proper interpretation and 2 that the meaning is arbitrary. Error comes from ourselves - not the work.

Movies mirror our experience in time and space; reflecting our world back to us, it gives us the opportunity to explore and revisit moments.

This is one of the amazing achievements of films; they can reveal something that you can't actually see. The invisible is powerfully working in movies.

It's strange, especially for a director, to find out that you are not the creator. You have to acknowledge that you could not have done it alone.

We have watched several of the movies listed in the back of this book as having Christian themes and/or a redemptive message. Additionally, we have learned to look for what the director is not saying and what the filming perspective is revealing. Excellent book to make you think about art and artist and how we learn about other cultures by studying their art.

Would I/Did I buy it? Yes
Would I read it again? Yes
Would I recommend it to friends? Yes

This book will be of great help in sorting through the plethora of movie choices available. I am very impressed by the author's recommendations,and the intelligence and spirituality behind them. I will most definitely be using this resource in choosing films to watch.

This little book is a great gift to those of us who value understanding cultural consensus. I don't have time to watch all the movies that Jeffrey does. Yet his insights guide me in what stories I want "to get into." These reviews are invaluable to me. "Through a Screen Darkly" is one of the best "how to watch a movie" books I have seen.

Hey, I'm not a movie reviewer. I'm a Flight Attendant who loves reading good books. And this new book THROUGH A SCREEN DARKLY by Jeffrey Overstreet, is fantastic. Well written, poetic in prose (I mean, how often do you find that in a movie reviewer) and in general a great read! My copy just arrived today from Amazon.com and I'm already calling all my friends to get them to buy the book as well! You'll love it!

As a filmmaker and a Christian I am always striving to find an articulate voice able to handle the spiritual as well as the cinematic. With Jeffery Overstreet's Through a Screen Darkly I have found a strong one. The book traces Overstreet's own experience with cinema as an artist, a Christian and a human being. The book serves to open readers' eyes not only to their own experiences, but to the larger questions of artistic as well as moral excellence. Highly recommended.

Have you ever wondered how some people can just soak in movies? They go to the threater and its like they just made a new friend with the film they just saw. While you go and enjoyment some entertainment. Both ways of viewing are good but hey, we all could use a new friend. Jeffery Overstreet helps us bridge the gap between just watching another movie and connecting to another perspective and deeper meaning through viewing movies as art.

Overstreet writes a very accessable and enjoyable journey in film through the book Through a Screen Darkly. He is not a film snob in belittling popular movies. He actually helps the reader see some great themes in mainstrean movies that he or she may have overlooked. But he also is ready to challenge the reader with films that a "normal" person may not have come across. The greatest part of the book is that he doesn't just suggest movies that one should experience. He instead walks you through his personal journey in movie appreciation and helps the reader to learn what can be gathered in extraordinary movies.

Jeffrey Overstreet expertly guides readers on a cinematic journey, thoughtfully raising questions and broaching issues to help Christians and non-Christians alike challenge their traditional views on art, faith, culture and cinema.

Overstreet demonstrates remarkable skill in providing a comprehensive and thoughtful reflection on a wide variety of films. He discusses them in fresh ways, displaying cultural relevance in his interpretation while also dramatically illustrating the spiritual principles and biblical truths that surface in the themes of each film.

Overstreet's masterful work will offer you a fresh look at beauty, truth, evil and redemption in the movies. A must-have for any film lover!