Memorial Day 2024

    

(repost from 2019)

Today is the day that we honor those who fought and died for our country.  I doubt that I can add any deep, universal insight into the meaning of this day that has not already been given by those more eloquent.

I do have some friends who are cautious about the elevated status we give those in the armed forces.  They worry about the glorification of war or that it trains citizens to put too much trust in their government agents.  There are some arguments to be had there.  To be sure, while war may make soldiers into martyrs, it does not always turn soldiers into saints.

But in this moment I will not speak for them.  I will speak for myself and why this day is especially reverent for me.

Some answered the call to fight for our nation.
I did not.

Some left spouses and children to enter into violent conflict for their country.
I did not.

Some lost their innocence, their friends, or their health in the crucible of war.
I did not.

Some gave every last measure of devotion down to their lives for our country's freedom.
I did not.

I write this not as some kind of admission of guilt.  Being a soldier is not my calling.

But some did answer the call.  Some paid a price higher than I have had to pay.  I am in this present moment enjoying the fruits of their sacrifice.

Winning and preserving freedom is a bloody business.  I do not want to be in a blissful bubble where I treat my freedom too casually, not remembering that it was purchased at a price of blood.

Today as we rest from our labors, let us remember the fallen martyrs of our freedom.

Let us pray for them and for our country.

Sunday Best: Memorial Day Movies (repost)

    There are many ways to honor our fallen heroes this Memorial Day by attending parades in their honor, donating funds to their memories, and praying for their souls.

One way that I like to remind myself of their heroism is through the art of movies.  Understanding that the dramatic representation of their experiences is nothing compared to the reality, I find that I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude when I see the price of freedom presented on screen.


Here are the best Memorial Day movies to watch.

1.  Saving Private Ryan

Spielberg won his second directing Oscar for this movie and I believe it was primarily for the Normandy invasion scene.  What I saw was ordinary men doing extraordinary things in horrific circumstances.  Not only was I riveted by the awful violence faced, I was moved by acts of courage and compassion, like seeing a priest hearing a dying soldier's confession amidst gun-fire.  They paid in blood the freedom we enjoy.  And I always think of the line in the final moments of the film: "Earn this!"  That echoes with me on Memorial Day and reminds me that I have to use this dearly bought freedom to make the world better.

2.  Glory

Very few movies underscore the importance of valor in combat like Glory.  These men ran into the jaws of death with little hope of victory, but it was their courage that made all of the difference for the larger war in front of them.

3.  We Were Soldiers

Not only is this a harrowing war film, but this is one of the best Memorial Day movies that reminds us of the sacrifice that the families of soldiers must also endure during war time.

4.  13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

This story is important because it reminds us what Memorial Day is all about: we must remember those who sacrificed.  Unfortunately, this story is such a political football that people forget that it is primarily about soldiers who put their lives on the line to protect others even with no help in sight.

5.  American Sniper

A friend of mine has said that there are a lot of bad things about Chris Kyle's life that the movie glossed over.  I have not had a chance to investigate those claims yet.  Nevertheless, the film is the best one that Clint Eastwood directed and it focuses so much on the cost of fighting evil on not only the lives of our soldiers but on their souls.  And I finish the movie with a much deeper appreciation of the heroic fight against our enemies but also the fight to regain a normal life.


6.  Hacksaw Ridge


Everything that is ideal in a soldier is displayed in Desmond Doss.  He is valiant and compassionate.  He placed himself into harm's way to help others while not condemning those who used violence to defend us.  And all at the same time he witnessed to his faith in God as his guiding light while suffering through the hell of war.

7.  Midway (2019)

The thing that strikes me the most about this movie is the absolute commitment of some of these sailors and pilots like Dick Best who gave everything they had for the opportunity to keep fighting.  In one scene, a pilot is clearly injured and could take a break.  Instead, he pushes himself so that he can take the fight to the enemy.  This is a level of bravery that moves and inspires me to no end.

8. Greyhound

One of the best things about this movie is how it isolates you into the perspective of the head battleship of a convoy making its way from America to Europe.  Like the men on the boat, you have no idea where the next crisis is coming from and you cannot see where the enemy is or how many are out there.  But you have to push through and protect as many as you can.  Once again, you see amazing, sacrificial courage on display.

Film Flash: Unfrosted (Netflix)

 

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

Funny idea for a sketch, but loses its humor as it goes on too long

New Evangelizers Post: Theology and the Magisterium

                                                                    

 

I have a new article up at NewEvangelizers.com.  

A little while ago, the CDF released a document, Donum Veritatis, which addresses primarily theologians and the magisterium and how the two interact. The magisterum is the teaching authority of the Church, which is given to the pope and the bishops. Christ gave them the power and authority to teach in His name. The magisterium “must protect God’s People from the danger of deviations and confusion, guaranteeing them the objective possibility of professing the authentic faith free from error, at all times and in diverse situations.”

However, this is not necessarily the same job as the theologian. A theologian is “to pursue in a particular way an ever deeper understanding of the Word Of God found in the inspired Scriptures and handed on by the living Tradition of the Church.” The theolgian attempts to take the truths of the faith and find ways to explain them to a new generation. In our modern world, this is so important because, “In times of great spiritual and cultural change, theology is all the more important.”

In other words, the magisterium is charged to make sure the authentic truths of the faith are given. But the role of the theologian is to find the best ways to express the faith in ways that are effective. For example, as I high school teacher, I use lots of analogies to things that my students would understand: movies, social media, high school drama, etc. But when I teach the same subject to adults, I tend to pivot towards things that are more applicable to them: marriage, children, jobs, taxes, and the like. In both cases, I have to make sure that I am teaching the truths of the faith (as guarded by the magisterium), but I have to teach it in a way that my audience will understand (like the theologian).

We are all believers who are in need of the grace of Christ. Most lay people do not have the same depth of training on theological matters as the theologian or members of the magisterium. The document states that, “The theologian’s work thus responds to a dynamism found in the faith itself …Theology, which seeks the ‘reasons of faith’ and offers these reasons as a response to those seeking them…” Those seeking the reasons of faith are the lay persons. The theologian works at expressing these reasons in an understandable way. “Theology therefore offers its contribution so that the faith might be communicated.”

The relationship the magisterial authority of the bishop and the theologian is a “reciprocal relationship. The [magisterium] teaches the doctrine of the Apostles. And, benefiting from the work of theologians, it refutes objections to and distortions of the faith and promotes, with the authority received from Jesus Christ, new and deeper comprehension, clarification, and application of revealed doctrine.” This means that a magisterium should use the insights of the theologian to aid in its work of handing on the faith of the Apostles. But the theologian also is influenced by the magisterium: “Theology, for its part, gains, by way of reflection, an ever deeper understanding of the Word of God found in the Scripture and handed on faithfully by the Church’s living Tradition under the guidance of the Magisterium.” The theologian should not simply speculate in ways that are contrary to the faith of the Apostles. Instead, the magisterium offers the framework under which the theologian can gain insight into the authentic revelation of God and not merely into his or her own opinions and theories.

When St. Thomas Aquinas began incorporating much of Aristotle’s philosophy into his theology, there were many at the time who were dubious. There was a fear that this non-Christian philosophy could lead to a corruption of the truth. It was St. Thomas’s job as a theologian to explore the best legitimate avenues for teaching the faith. In this case it was using Aristotle’s language to explain things like transubstantiation. The job of the magisterium was to make sure that St. Thomas was not bending the Gospel in innappropriate ways to fit in with Aristotle’s philosophy. Sitting where we are now, hundreds of years later, we can see the benefits of St. Thomas’ project. But it is not always so obvious. For example, decades ago there was a surge in popularity of “Liberation Theology,” which was influenced heavily by the philosophy of Karl Marx. While the theologians weren’t wrong in exploring if any insights from Marx could be useful, they were wrong when they adopted the parts of Marx’s thinking that were contrary to the Gospel. This led to that famous moment when Pope John Paul II publically scolded Fr. Ernesto Cardenal when he visted Nicaragua (the situation was more complicated than that, but it was part of the issue). The Pope, acting as leader of the magisterium, saw that it was important to keep this theology from straying from the teachings of Christ.

You can read the whole article here.

Sunday Best: Rest in Peace Dabney Coleman

 

photo by Aaron Rapoport

 

On Thursday, the irreplaceable Dabney Coleman passed away.

A few years ago, I wrote an article about Coleman being the most underrated actor whose skill has never been fully apprecieated.  Much of that article will be printed below.  I still stand by this statement.  Coleman was so good at his job that he made his work look effortless.  Because of that, I don't think we truly grasped what a talent he was.  Here is what I wrote back in 2021:

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Sometimes actors jump out of the screen and burn themselves into your imaginations as bright, shinning movie stars.  Other times, there are actors who are so dedicated to their craft that they become staples of some your favorite movies without even realizing how integral they became.

Of the latter, I think of Dabney Coleman.

I mean absolutely no insult to him by not associating him with the former.  Coleman has much to be proud of, taking starring roles in several films.  But to my mind, I don't think he has ever gotten the recognition that he deserves for his skill as an actor.

Dabney Coleman is one of the finest and most underrated actors in the movies.  He had been working in film and television for years until his breakout roll as Mr. Hart in 9 to 5.  In that film he played the perfect villain as a "sexist, egotistical, lying hypocritical, bigot."  And yet even though he was the main antagonist, he brought a wonderful sense of charm to the role.  Coleman has a great screen presence which adapts perfectly to each comedic situation.

Throughout the years, Coleman proved to be an excellent comedian in films like Tootsie,  Dragnet, Hot to Trot, The Beverly Hillbillies, and You've Got Mail.  He knew how to play broad comedy with strange, over-the-top personalities like the pornographer Jerry Caesar going up against straight-laced Joe Friday.  He also knew when to hold things in with subtle contempt like Nelson Fox, the oft-divorced father of Joe Fox.  

But Coleman is also one of the few actors who is just as good in a comedy as well as a drama.  His portrayal as Dr. John McKittrick in WarGames could have been a simple heavy.  But instead Coleman gave him several layers and dimensions.  You can see the different facets of his personality depending on the person with whom he is interacting.  However, there are two roles that really let Coleman shine:

The first is Cloak and Dagger.  In this movie, Coleman plays Davey Osborne's imaginary friend Jack Flack as well as Davey's father.  It is wonderful to watch Coleman play those roles so differently.  I remember as a kid that I never once confused the two characters and that is really a testament to Coleman.  His Jack Flack has all the swagger, charm, and deadly focus of James Bond, but Bond from a child's perspective.  He is everything that an action hero should be for a kid.  But Davey's father Hal is the opposite.  He is unsure, wounded, overly protective and reactionary.  In other words, he seems in many ways to be Jack's opposite.  And Coleman never goes too far or too showy with either performance.  He knows just how to play both characters.  There is a concrete realism to the way he plays Hal towards the end of the movie as he nervously tries to bluff his way to get to his son.  All the while, Coleman never cheats by having Hal turn into or start behaving like Jack.  Instead, we get to see Hal be his own kind of hero not as a super-spy, but as a man and a father.

But Coleman's best performance, hands-down, is in the movie Short Time.  

The movie has a fantastic premise: Detective Burt Simpson (Coleman) mistakenly thinks he only has 2 weeks to live and is days away from retirement.  However, his life insurance policy is only a "line-of-duty" policy, where it only pays out if he gets killed on the job.  So Simpson starts taking on the most dangerous cases in an attempt to get himself killed and in the process becomes an unwitting hero.

This movie has some truly hysterical moments.  The funniest for me is a car chase where Simpson gets closer to a dangerous get away car.  When one of them pulls out an M-60, he shouts, "Machine guns... ALRIGHT!"  When the bad guys knock his car down an embankment he shouts for joy... until he lands safely, realizing his seat belt saved his life.  The movie is filled with moments like this that are outrageously absurd and Coleman milks every laugh out of it.

But what makes this performance stand out is that it also one of his best dramatic performances too.  In the film, he is divorced from his wife (played by Terri Gar) for all of the usual reasons marriages break up.  But as he thinks about his life's mistakes, he reconciles with her in a scene that is so incredibly vulnerable and touching that I'm shocked its in the same movie.  What starts as a heart-felt apology blossoms into a rekindled romance.  But Coleman plays the perfect amount of joy and melancholy.  Not knowing that Burt thinks he is going to die, his wife says to him "At least now we have time."  The look on Coleman's face in that one moment is devastating.  You can see all of the guilt and confusion as to what he should do, but he is unable to bring pain to her in the little time he thinks they have left.

To my mind, I don't think people are appreciative enough of Coleman's body of work.  But is just my humble opinion.

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Dabney Coleman had 179 acting credits to his name in a career that spans 63 years.  Some of his appearances may be small, but his performances are always special.  

He was married twice and is survived by his four children.  One of his children, Quincy, stated, “My father crafted his time here on earth with a curious mind, a generous heart, and a soul on fire with passion, desire and humor that tickled the funny bone of humanity.”

I do not know much about Coleman's personal life.  But as an actor, I can only think of the words from Hamlet:

"He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.  Amen.

Rest in Peace, Dabney Coleman

Film Flash: The Fall Guy (2024)

 

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

Not as clever as it thinks, the movie works because of Gosling's stunts and charisma.

Lack of Updates - May 2024

 Dear Reader,

As is common at this time of the year, there may be a bit of a pause on the content of this blog.  Several projects have been converging and my time demands continue to limit me.

So for the next few weeks, you may see only a one or two posts.  But once this current workload passes, we shall return to our regularly scheduled program.  With Summer Movie Season on the way, we will have a lot of films to review.  We also will celebrate this month the 12th year of this blog.

Thank you again for your patience and we will be back soon.

God Bless,

Catholic Skywalker