The Renaissance of artistry and Reformation of content marches on in movies, television, and streaming in October. Mojo Box Office on October 12 reports that good family movies remain in theaters at the top of the box office that include: Pan, War Room, and Shaun the Sheep. This week the top pick for families is the redemptive movie based on a true story, Woodlawn, also now playing in theaters.
Variety has reported that Mark Burnett and Roma Downey are executive producers of Woodlawn. The movie features veteran actors Jon Voight and Sean Astin. Woodlawn is produced and distributed by Pure Flix and Provident Films. The film is about a high school football team in 1973 Birmingham, Alabama, which has experienced turmoil in the midst of government-mandated desegregation. The team has a successful turnaround after, an outsider who urges players to follow the teachings of Jesus.
The team’s star player, played by newcomer Caleb Castille, winds up attracting the famed University of Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, played by Jon Voight. Downey said of this movie, “It’s an exciting and emotional look at how faith changes the fortunes and hearts of a football team, a high school and an entire city. This story is an important reminder of what faith in action looks like.”
Pan (suitable for older children through adults) is another good family movie pick. As an origin story that accounts the history of Peter Pan before and when he first encounters Neverland, it is a delightful spectacle for families. It features Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard. War Room (suitable for older children through adults) is a story about the power of prayer to bring reconciliation and redemption to a family that continues screening in theaters to standing ovations and applause of audiences. Shaun the Sheep (suitable for all ages) is a delightful family comedy about sheep who have lost their shepherd and go to great lengths to find him.
Beyond the Farthest Star (appropriate for teens through adults) is still showing in select theaters and on-demand. It has recently been screened at the Values Voters Summit, where many presidential candidates and national leaders spoke. It is a story about the reconciliation of a pastor’s’ family in the midst of a crisis in the national spotlight over destruction of the church’s property and the pastor’s fight for the right to public religious expression. Reviews, interviews, trailers, and behind-the-scenes videos can be found for these movies on Sonoma Christian Home.
There is an ever-increasing release of redemptive, family movies for theaters, television, DVDs, and streaming for various ages. Promising redemptive family movies to anticipate for this fall include: The Peanuts Movie, The Good Dinosaur, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, and Star Wars: Episode VII, The Force Awakens.
Hopeful movie releases to theaters next year include: The Masked Saint, Risen, Kung Fu Panda 3, Ben-Hur, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, God’s not Dead 2, Miracles from Heaven, The Jungle Book, I Am Not Ashamed: Rachel Joy Scott Story, Same Kind of Different as Me, Finding Dory, Providence, Left Behind 2, The BFG, and Full of Grace.
Redemptive family movies in development include the following: Young Messiah, Do You Believe 2, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, Ten Commandments, King David, Apostle Paul (with Hugh Jackman), Pontius Pilate, Butterfly Circus, The Adventures of Tintin 2, Touchdown on the Tundra, Wanted, Full of Grace, HD Texas movies, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Mulan, Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Tinker Bell, and Chip ‘n’ Dale. (For all movies, even remakes and reboots, it is important to check out good reviews as to what is appropriate.)
Today there are many good choices in artistic redemptive programming in theaters, on television, on DVDs, as well as through streaming. Stay tuned to Austin Movie Examiner for the following for redemptive, family films and programs: suggestions, tips, insights, exclusive interviews, and up-to-date news.
Written by Diane Howard, Ph.D. (Performance Studies), dianehoward.com
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