“Coin”-incidence?
December 8, 2011
Did one misshaped penny really have such an effect on the lives of intertwined characters? 
Jack, the ex-detective, has a painful past with his police job – he’s still harboring regret over his partner’s death, a mishap which occurred while they were out making an arrest. He’s now a mailman and a caring husband and dad – although his wife’s health is failing and he can’t seem to reach his daughter, Kate. Kate is struggling with influence coming from friends at school - along with the feeling that her dad cares more about spending time with her little brothers than herself.
Darrel the detective is grasping at anything to get leads on a new murder case. He’s already messed up a few times and his boss has ordered him to stay out of the case until he has evidence, but the desire to get out on the case has got the better of him. Dan, who owns a gas station that is financially unstable, is trying to go through a divorce with his wife, who is at fault but is trying to make amends. Rick and Curt are roommates, both with pasts of their own, but are trying to get back on the right track. Rick gets pulled into doing one last job for an old gang he has ties with, and Curt gets reluctantly sucked in as they are both threatened for their lives if they don’t get the job done in time.
It all boils down to one night in Dan’s gas station – “suddenly these strangers are thrust together by what some would call luck, chance, fate, coincidence, or even destiny. But is it something even bigger than that?”[1]
This very well filmed and acted Christian movie gets you thinking… about Providence, everyday happenings, and taking life for granted. (There’s even a few surprise twists at the end.) Yes, we’ve all seen those types of Christian movies with horrible film-quality and lousy actors, but this one is truly making progress to reclaim the film industry. A suspenseful action, thriller, and drama for highschool-ages and up.[2]
[1] http://thepennyfilm.com/about-the-penny-movie
[2] Some intense scenes (guns, alley shootings, gangs) but nothing graphic. There are scenes at a bar and drinking hang-out; Dan has a shot of something, but Kate declines to participate in partying and drinking.
“Is it the flywheel, Dad?”
October 19, 2011
This heartwarming family film is great for anyone: a chronicle of the life of Jay Austin, a used car salesman that is just learning the ‘tricks’ of the trade. Literally.
Meanwhile, on the home front, his wife Judy and son Todd feel privileged to walk on the carpet beneath their feet as they delicately try to avoid stepping on Jay’s toes. Judy is frustrated at the way her husband has been selling cars dishonestly, and Todd feels unimportant to his father.
One day, Jay’s pastor comes to visit the lot and purchases a car for his daughter. As the minister leaves, he pauses to pray a prayer of blessing over Jay. The only thing is, for Jay it’s a blessing with a catch. After some serious thinking about his actions, Jay starts to turn in a new direction - but consequences come as he makes important changes in his life. Will Jay stick to his word?
You will find yourself both laughing hysterically and crying joyfully (not at the same time, of course) as you watch this great film. As Stephen and Alex Kendrick have noted, this first movie from Sherwood Baptist Church doesn’t necessarily have the same film quality as their more recent projects… yet this is one movie you won’t want to miss.
Kelsey’s favorite quote:
Vince: “Oh, yeah, like I need to get on the ball.”
Bernie: “What you need to do is get on the treadmill.”
Cory’s favorite quote:
Katie: “Don’t you talk back to me. I’m tired of the lies, the deceit, the confection, and everything else.”
Jay Austin: “The confection???”
On a personal note, our family was able to drive by Sherwood Baptist Church and “Jay Austin Motors” (Mac George Motorcars) on a roadtrip last year 
“You can’t take it with you, Mr. Kirby.”
October 17, 2011
Meet lovable old Mr. Vanderhof (a.k.a. – dad, grandpa) and his colorful array of characters. Mr. Vanderhof lives in a little old house with… his daughter Mrs. Sycamore, who types plays on a typewriter (“just because it got delivered accidentally; if it had been a plow, she would have taken up farming”); son-in-law; 2 granddaughters, Essie Carmichael and Alice Sycamore, one who wants to be a ballerina and dances around the house making candies which she calls something like ”love-dreams”, and the other who is a stenographer, and the only “sensible” one in the family. Also included are: grandson-in-law Ed Carmichael, who was a football player and now plays the xylophone and runs a printing press from home; an enthusiastic inventor who spends all day in the basement, making fireworks with the afore-mentioned son-in-law; Reba the maid, and her fiancé who lives on relief (“Reba put the forks on the left, forks on the left, forks on the left…”); Mr. Kolenkhov, the Russian ballet teacher (“Confidentially, she stinks”); and soon to come, an eccentric toy-maker, to join the others in the basement.
Enter Tony Kirby, the famed rich banker Anthony P. Kirby’s son, soon to inherit his father’s business, and move up in the ranks of the family bank… “The Kirby’s have been bankers for nine-thousand years…” When Tony falls in love with Alice, the two families are bound to clash. And clash they do. The climax comes when Tony brings his parents to visit the Sycamores and various extended relations on the wrong night… and what happens is history. Well, not really. But Kolenkhov was sure that it was the beginning of the second Russian Revolution, or something like that.
A good ol’ black-and-white film for all to enjoy.
Kelsey’s favorite quote:
Kolenkhov: “Ah, life is running around inside of me like a squirrel!”
Cory’s favorite quote:
Penny: “I don’t feel guilty. Do you feel guilty?”
The educational qualities include lessons on government, taxes, and Socialism. The Christian qualities include 2 really heartwarming dinner prayers.
