friends,

it's oscar night, and i'm here with my annual list of top ten movies from the previous year. episode 369! if you have time, i hope you'll listen, visit the links, and discover (if you haven't already) the movies linked below. between the lines, i want to apologize to the many beautiful movies from 2013 i haven't yet seen. the value of a list like this isn't so much in the illusion of gradation, but the opportunity to think and explore what moves us and why. together. the improbable/beautiful fact that movies can do this is one of my most favorite things. :)

thank you for being here. truly and sincerely.

the "runners up" (in no specific order):

- emperor - (peter webber).
- the great gatsby - (baz luhrman).
- the perverts guide to ideology - (sophie fiennes).
- philomena - (stephen frears).

the top ten - in descending order:

10 - enough said - (nicole holofcener).
09 - to the wonder - (terrence malick).
08 - the spectacular now - (james ponsoldt).
07 - her - (spike jonze).
06 - the wind rises - (hayao miyazaki).
05 - stories we tell - (sarah polley).
04 - like father, like son - (koreeda hirokazu).
03 - all is lost - (j.c. chandor).
02 - before midnight - (richard linklater).
01 - lore - (cate shortland).

love,
russell

still haven't seen ps - quite possibly missing from this list is sophie huber's - harry dean stanton: partly fiction (as mentioned in earlier episodes). i'm still actively seeking it out… and will see it. more soon.

music ps - for more norway house and kris hauch check out norwayhouse.bandcamp.com

Posted by russell at 09:43 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

friends,

episode 386 is here! interestingly, i had a kernel of a different idea in mind for tonight, but, upon uncovering a few old demo songs from 2011, things went a bit askew. which brings me to memory and emotion and the need for faith and thought and community. the circuity of it all is a bit of a mystery. for which i'm thankful.

i'm glad you're here, and hope you'll listen. :)

love,
russell

Posted by russell at 06:51 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

friends,

good evening to all, and welcome to episode 385! this week finds me with a few songs and some musings inspired by the world of debate, religion, and opposing worldviews in general. i certainly don't have the big answers. but i'm sincerely humbled and happy you're here. i hope you'll take a listen… :)

for those interested, below are some links to related things:

- the evolution/creation debate - ken ham v. bill nye
- "the place" with - with lawrence krauss
- another episode about - presuppositional apologetics

love,
russell

Posted by russell at 05:06 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

friends,

episode 384 is here and brings us to some thoughts inspired by harry dean stanton and the recent documentary about him called partly fiction.

my reaction to mr. stanton's conclusions and stance toward the world, reality, etc., is mixed and somewhat still-evolving. but his persona fascinates me - both as a person and the roles/characters he's played. and (maybe most of all??) the broad lines of connection that seem to exist between the two.

i hope you'll listen! and check the links below:

the interview - with the man
the trailer - for partly fiction
one of my - favorite movies
a great scene from - the straight story

love,
russell

Posted by russell at 06:47 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

dear friends,

this week's podcast is here, and finds me a bit quiet and thoughtful. mostly because of the untimely passing of philip seymour hoffman. along with many many others, i've admired mr. hoffman's work for a long time. it's sad to see a strong talent leave too soon. and even more heartbreaking under these circumstances. words don't say these sorts of things. not well, anyway. but episode 383 is my small attempt.

my heart, and hope for comfort, to the friends and family most affected.

love,
russell

ps - as mentioned, i plan to talk more about harry dean stanton next week. you can see the interview i referenced here.

Posted by russell at 06:58 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)