The Shack

Sam Worthington Says ‘visceral Feeling’ Inspired Him For ‘the Shack

... was trying to say. WWD: What was it like filming in British Columbia? It was very beautiful, right. S. W.: Yeah, it was great! But that’s just one of the lucky things about my job. You get to travel around and go to different places. My wife loved it, with my son who was several months old and he loved being outdoors. Yeah, we had a great time up there. WWD: What’s your take on the criticism around the faith aspect of the book and film? Did you face any of the film’s criticism directly, or have you tried to not be so involved. S. W.: No, I’ve had friends mention things to me. You know, the book is quite clear and the movie’s quite clear about why God is represented by Octavia Spencer. There’s even a line about it, I think he goes, “[I thought] you’d be a man in a big white beard!” and she goes, “That’s Santa Claus, honey! I’m here in a form that is less ...

Film Review

... shack, which looks like a wintry frozen death scene, but then, just when he’s on the verge of giving up hope, along comes Jesus (Avraham Aviv Alush) — or, as he comes off in this movie, a really friendly down-to-earth 2017 dude in stylish cropped curls. The snow suddenly — literally — melts away, as Mack is led to the shack: a summery refurbished version, like the bed-and-breakfast of your dreams. (Thou shalt not commit tasteless rustic décor.) It’s here that he meets the deity formerly known as Papa, played by Spencer as an endlessly benevolent matriarch of the universe who bakes biscuits and listens to reggae on her i Pod, and whose attention is focused entirely on Mack, even though she’s got a lot on her plate (and I don’t just mean the exquisite breakfasts she presides over). She wants to help Mack heal. But to do that, he’s going to have to leave aside his agony and his anger. He’s going to ...

The Shack’ Has A Visalia Connection

... had obvious potential. Since they could find no publisher willing to take a chance on Young’s story, Jacobsen and a business partner, Brad Cummings, decided to publish the book themselves by starting the publishing house Windblown Media. "The Shack" went on to sell more than 20 million copies. The book’s popularity is due partly to its unorthodox take on faith, Jacobsen told Choices back in 2009. Papa (Octavia Spencer) and Mack Phillips (Sam Worthington) in “The Shack”. (Photo: Summit). “It deals with the timeless question of ‘Where is God when my life goes off track?’” said Jacobsen, who now lives in Southern California. “And it’s told in a way that’s accessible both to believers and those disaffected with religious institutions.”. The publishing history of “The Shack” isn’t an entirely happy story, though. New to DVD: Week of Feb. 28. In 2009, Young sued Windblown Media for $8 million over alleged unpaid royalties. Windblown Media countersued for $5 million. The case was settled out of court in 2011. Cummings is one of the ...

Logan,' 'the Shack,' 'before I Fall' Arrive At Theaters

... Mack Phillips spirals into a deep depression causing him to question his innermost beliefs. Facing a crisis of faith, he receives a mysterious letter urging him to an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. BEFORE I FALL. Starring: Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Elena Kampouris. Director: Ry Russo-Young. Rated: PG-13. Rotten Tomatoes: 69%. Synopsis: Samantha Kingston is a young woman who has it all: the crush-worthy boyfriend, amazing best friends and drop dead gorgeous looks. February 12 is just another charmed day in Sam's life until it turns out to be her last. Stuck reliving her last day during one inexplicable week, Sam untangles the mystery surrounding her death and discovers the true value of everything she is in danger of losing. TABLE 19. Starring: Anna Kendrick, Craig Robinson, Lisa Kudrow. Director: Jeffrey Blitz. Rated: PG-13. Rotten Tomatoes: 29%. Synopsis: Ex-maid of honor Eloise - ...

Dan + Shay Recall Emotional 'when I Pray For You' Writing Session

... Friday (March 3), and in advance of the film’s release,  Dan + Shay  are opening up about the brand-new song they wrote for the movie, called  “When I Pray for You.”  Readers can watch the exclusive video above to hear Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney’s thoughts on the tune and the film. After seeing an advance screening of The Shack, Smyers and Mooney wrote “When I Pray for You” with Justin Ebach and Jon Nite. Both Smyers and Mooney were going through big moments in their lives — Smyers got engaged in November, while Mooney proposed in August  and welcomed a son, Asher James , in January — and the movie, Mooney says, “had a pretty strong impact on us.”. “It was amazing to see the whole story and be able to experience that. It’s very moving …,” Mooney adds. “It really touched both of us on a deep level.”. “When I Pray for You” is simple and poignant, ...

Entering 'the Shack

... material. It took nearly a year for the novel to gain attention, until word-of-mouth and best-selling rankings finally surged it to mainstream popularity. It’s taken nearly a decade for it to receive the big-screen treatment, but plenty of other Christian books have been adapted into films. “The Ultimate Gift”. Jim Stovall’s 1999 novel “The Ultimate Gift” explored themes of greed and finding the inner good. Loosely based on real events, the book follows a young man who expects to receive millions of dollars in inheritance after his great-uncle dies. Although the rest of the family greedily receives their money, Jason is left with a mission from his loved one to discover himself. A 2006 film followed, starring Drew Fuller, Bill Cobbs, Abigail Breslin and James Garner. “Heaven is for Real”. In his 2010 book, “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back,” Todd Burpo recounts the story of how his 3-year-old son allegedly went to heaven when he had emergency surgery. The book describes how the son, Colton, supposedly ...

The Shack’ Movie Opens To Controversy

... is quoted as saying that the. “.characterization of God as a heavy-set, cushy, nonjudgmental, African-American woman called 'Papa' (who resembles the New Agey Oprah Winfrey far more than the one true God revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ – Hebrews 1:1-3), and his depiction of the Holy Spirit as a frail Asian woman with the Hindu name, Sarayu, lends itself to a dangerous and false image of God and idolatry.”. But the familiar medieval painting+s which portray God as an elderly, bearded man on a throne – while they may signify something of God's wisdom and power – also fail to adequately illustrate the God of unending glory. In a roundtable discussion with members of the media February 11, author William Paul Young explained his intent in creating the characters: “I see this as a poetic depiction of God,” Young said. “. The imagery is not, and has never been intended, to define God. Our image of Gandalf [as representative of God] has become tantamount to idolatry. It has limited God to a polarity of gender. But in Scripture, there is both masculine and feminine imagery.”. As evidence of this, Young ...

The Shack' Film Stirs Debate As Did Preceding Book

... unpack each section. Feel free to follow the prompts or use this guide as a jumping off point for your own insights. You may present the movie clips in your service or group setting.". Eugene Peterson, retired Presbyterian pastor and author of the award-winning "The Message" Bible, praised the book as comparable to the classic "Pilgrim's Progress," but Peterson is not listed among the movie's endorsers. Instead, top endorsements on the movie's website are offered by Dick Rolfe, co-founder and CEO of the Dove Foundation; Geoff Tunnicliffe, former head of the World Evangelical Alliance and Bob Waliszewski, director of Focus on the Family's (FOTF) media and culture department, among others. "The film will do a lot to point a world desperately looking for answers to a God who loves and cares," Waliszewski said at __link__/endorsements, but did not review the film on FOTF's Plugged In movie review program he directs. ...

Logan,' 'the Shack' And 'before I Fall

... are wild cards. "Shack" will prove polished but underwhelming. Watch the trailer for "The Shack". Quick Cuts. "Before I Fall" (Wide Release) — Zoey Deutch, Liv Hewson, Jennifer Beals, directed by Ry Russo-Young. Skip it. A teenager finds herself repeating the same day over and over again, dramatically trapped in a tragic loop while trying to alter her fate. Sound familiar? It is, but without the humor. Repeat: Watch "Groundhog Day" instead. Watch "Groundhog Day" instead. Watch "Groundhog Day" instead. Watch the trailer for "Before I Fall". "Table 19" (Limited Release) — Anna Kendrick, Lisa Kudrow, Craig Robinson, directed by Jeffrey Blitz. Skip it. Anna Kendrick plays an excommunicated bridesmaid who decides to attend the wedding anyway and ends up with a band of misfits at the marooned "Table 19" for singles. The trailer shows a great cast wasted on not ...