Review: Every Hidden Thing

Reviewed by Doug Phillips

I personally know some of the principals involved in Every Hidden Thing, from writer/producer/director Fritz Green.

Fritz wrote the first draft of this script many years ago. Then, after he came to Jesus Christ in real life, he revised the story and gave it a new direction. Fritz shared some highlights of his script with me at the Real-To-Reel filmmaking seminar in Oklahoma City, June 2005. In turn, I shared a suggestion or two; I don’t know whether my suggestions had any impact on the final draft. In any case, he started filming in July of 2005 and finished around Christmas. After a couple of years in the editing room getting things “just right,” he premiered the film at the 2008 Script-To-Screen Film Festival in Tulsa, picking up Best Feature, Best Actor, Best Actress and Audience Choice awards. Since then, he’s released a revised edit which I think is an improvement on the original release.

I worked with lead actress Victoria Esher in Zero Hour, and have seen her in several other films. She makes a bad film watchable and a good film better. And Every Hidden Thing is a good film. I don’t really know starring actor Rob Boyd; I’ve just met him casually a couple of times. But his work here was well deserving of a Best Actor award.

Let’s talk about the film itself.

Jeremy Saunders (Boyd) is a nondescript businessman with a loving wife named Brandi (Esher), and good friends Rick and Melinda Jones (Michael Bush and Susan Burris). But Jeremy’s life changes radically, the day he has an experience of traveling fifteen minutes backwards in time. In the weeks that follow, the same phenomenon is repeated at random. Light flashes, which only Jeremy can see, always mark the beginning of the fifteen-minute period that’s going to be “erased.” So, once he figures out how the flashbacks work, Jeremy has the unique temptation of being able to do anything he can imagine…knowing it’ll all be wiped out. Obviously, he could engage in illicit … Continue Reading

Movie Review — When Love Walks In

When Love Walks In

Film Review

“When Love Walks In”
Available on DVD from paladinpictures.com
Reviewed by Doug Phillips

I attended the World Premiere of this wonderful Indie film, and met the Williamson brothers, at the Bare Bones International Film Festival in Muskogee, OK, in April 2005.

The film won four awards at that festival: Best Actress (Terri Moore), Best Clean Flick, Best Soundtrack (it features clips of 19 songs by Indie musicians, including several from Virginia artist Terri Allard) and Best Marketing (in addition to several other means of getting their message out, the Williamsons had a low-wattage radio transmitter in their vehicle).

Since then, the film has picked up awards from other festivals, and was granted the Dove Seal of Approval.

The Williamson brothers’ company, Paladin Pictures, is dedicated to producing quality, positive films.  They deal mostly in doctrinal and documentary material.  To my knowledge, this is their only foray into dramatic narrative film.

The plot is a variation on a common romantic-genre theme.  The lead couple is attracted to each other, but something keeps them apart until … Continue Reading

The Book of Eli is a “Christian” Film

The Book Of Eli Poster

A recent Wikipedia entry placed The Book of Eli right along side of The Blind Side as being a “Christian” film made by a major secular studio.

The story is about Eli (Denzel Washington), a warrior not by choice but necessity, who seeks only peace, but if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake.  While this graphically brutal picture might keep many away from watching it, the film has a very strong Judeo-Christian worldview.

With the book that Eli must take across country being the Bible, one member of the press asked Denzel if he anticipated significant controversy.  Denzel says, “Why is it controversial?”  The reporter, who seemed to have a penchant to stir things up, continued to push for a statement he could leverage.

Each of Denzel’s responses were priceless.  He treated the book (The Bible) with common courtesy as if it were a normal part of our lives.  To move the topic on, Denzel simply reminded the reporter that he was the only one using that word controversy.  “Well, that’s a word you used three times now, so you run with that, I’ve never used that word actually, but I think that there is nothing wrong with debate, conversation, slash argument, whatever.

Imagine that, an idea, a thought, point of view.”

It became clear to everyone present that the Bible wasn’t considered controversial, but rather … Continue Reading

The Best Christian Movie is Secular:
The Blind Side

By CJ Powers

The best Christian film of 2009 is actually a secular film. The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock (The Proposal), which depicts the remarkable true story of All-American football star Michael Oher, may go down in history as one of the best Christian stories of our time. However, it is not a “Christian” film, but a universal story about a godly family who lives up to their convictions.

Bullock was very concerned about taking on the role at first. “One of my biggest questions was how people use their faith and their religion as a banner, and then they don’t do the right thing, but they … Continue Reading

COME WHAT MAY – Advent Film Group – Review

When was the last time that you watched a movie that challenged your convictions, caused you to reflect on the choices you’ve made in life, and – at the same time – inspired you to purity and godliness? Hollywood rarely, if ever, produces movies that challenge convictions while promoting godliness, but Advent Film Group (AFG) does.

Interested in watching a film like this? Look no further than AFG’s first feature-length film, Come What May.

Not one to shy away from the tough issues that face our society, the AFG team takes one of the most controversial issues of our time head-on in their very first offering.

The film stars Austin Kearney as Caleb Hogan, and Victoria Emmons as Rachel Morton – two students who are attending Patrick Henry College and preparing for the National Moot Court Championship.

Victoria Emmons as Rachel Morton

• Their argument: Overturn Roe v. Wade. … Continue Reading