We need to talk about Get Out: CT Entertainment

[Also: Welcome to Mercy Street.] Also: Welcome to Mercy Street. | [View online]( [ChristianityToday.org]( [Christianity Today Entertainment Newsletter]( Friday, March 10, 2017 We need to talk about Get Out. Each week CT's most prestigious critics will offer suggestions for art and entertainment they found encouraging, valuable, or generally reflective of the good, the true, and the beautiful in God's world. Not every suggestion is suitable for everyone, and each reader is encouraged to investigate the ratings and accompanying content warnings of each suggestion. Becoming a father has the odd side-effect of making you feel completely detached from society, sometimes. I've especially heard from a lot of dads who wake up one day and realize they haven't seen a film since 1972 or something. It's happening to me too. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to see a few movies in the last few weeks. It turns out I now tend to fall asleep in about 75 percent of them. Two of the movies I didn't fall asleep during: La La Land and Get Out. It's hard to think of two more dichotomous films, but both are well worth your time. La La Land is, on the surface, a simple nostalgia trip, but look deeper, and you might find a full-on exploration of the concept of nostalgia itself and the things that cause us to doggedly seek out a fantasy-land version of our own lives. In the end, I think the movie acknowledges reality in a subtle but striking way. I'd love to hear what you think. "Somewhat predictable, but engaging nonetheless," said one of you when I asked for thoughts on Get Out. It's not a totally wrong assessment, especially if you've seen the extremely unrestrained trailer already. Still, this was probably my favorite movie in a long time. It kept me on my toes because of all of the places I thought it might go. I knew what it was doing, but seeing how and what it would all mean in the end was part of the fun. Ultimately, I found myself thrilled and slightly gutted by the film. It's the rare film that aims to make a socio-political point but manages to do so in a way that feels more true and resonant than pedantic. I left not feeling guilty (white guilt: it can only go so far) as much as I felt more acutely and empathetically aware of the struggles of those unlike me. This, when it comes to a film about race issues, is a feat. As always, I'm anxious to read your feedback! Send it along to rclark@christianitytoday.com. [Richard Clark](mailto:rclark@christianitytoday.com) [Richard Clark](mailto:rclark@christianitytoday.com) [Richard Clark](mailto:rclark@christianitytoday.com) Managing Editor Christianity Today, Online [@TheRichardClark]( Mercy Street | TV Show Historical fiction often provides more insight into the people reconstructing the past than it does into the characters represented in it. It is no surprise then that the PBS original series about a Civil War hospital comes to us at a time when America feels more polarized and divided than it has been in decades. In such a historical moment, the value of a drama that represents characters on either side of a political divide as multifaceted can't be understated. A Union doctor insists Confederate soldiers deserve treatment but has blind spots about treating Negroes. The daughter of a Confederate sympathizer appeals to—and receives a surprising reply from—someone she doesn't even acknowledge as her president. Righteous men and women find their political certainties tested by suffering so great it cares not where relief comes from. Mercy is one of the highest attributes of man; practicing it is one of the final safeguards against becoming the ugliness we decry. — [Kenneth R. Morefield]( [Available on Amazon Prime] [Rhiannon Giddens: Freedom Highway]( | Album Since her days of fronting the bluegrass trio Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens has been exploring the American folk tradition through the lens of an African American woman, shedding new light and perspective on much of our history and the American songbook. Giddens continues this on her second solo album Freedom Highway, which combines reviving both old favorites like Mississippi John Hurt's mournful "The Angels Laid Him Away" and The Staple Singers' Civil Rights anthem "Freedom Highway" with new originals by Giddens in the style of blues, spirituals, folk, and bluegrass to shed light on the African American trajectory from oppression to freedom. — [Wes Jakacki]( [Available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, etc.] The Great British Baking Show | TV It may sound a bit contradictory, but The Great British Baking Show is a truly kind-hearted competition show. The show's entire ethos is uplifting in nature, where fellow contestants joyfully cheer each other on and experience genuine heartache when competitors are sent home. The finale of each season brings back former contestants for a big lawn party; the focus is less on cutthroat ambition and more on community, personal growth, and celebration. Hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc use their quirky British humor to keep spirits high, and baking judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood offer solid constructive criticism and encouragement as they taste each baker's wares. It's inspiring to see the creativity and personality of each baker, and the show truly emphasizes the artistic essence of baking, while also being accessible and fun. Featuring delicious-looking baked goods described in baking jargon this theologian finds baffling every time I hear it (Kouign-amann? Kransekake? Spanakopita?!), seasons two and three of TGBBS are now streaming on Netflix in the US, and every episode is just plain scrummy. — [Joel Mayward]( [Available on Netflix and PBS] [In 'Logan', Wolverine Confronts the Wages of Sin]( Hugh Jackman's final performance as the iconic mutant brings him face to face with his own mortality. Wade Bearden [The Story Behind the World's Most Complete Graphic Bible]( A conversation with the Kingstone Comics editor who oversaw the massive effort to adapt sacred Scripture into comics form. Interview by Jelani Greenidge [Does 'The Image of God' Extend to Robots, Too?]( On-screen depictions of artificial intelligence like 'Westworld' complicate our understanding of the imago Dei. Douglas Estes ['Moonlight' Is a Flawed, But Rewarding Exercise in Christian Empathy]( The Oscar favorite's portrayal of black, gay experience is at odds with a biblical sexual ethic—but for some, it might be worth the discomfort. David Roark Follow Us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Google+]( [RSS]( [Subscribe to this newsletter]( IN THE MAGAZINE [Current Issue]( [The Benedict Option's Vision for a Christian Village]( [Gene Yang: A Graphic Novelist Caught Between Two Worlds]( [In the Image of Our Choosing]( [View Full Issue]( [Subscribe Now]( More from Christianity Today [(Im)Possible: One-on-One with Lon Allison about His New Book on Evangelism]( Chicagoland pastor encourages believers to Prayer-Care-Share. [Jen Wilkin: Let's Make This a Golden Age for Women's Ministry]( The Bible teacher and author says we've reached a new crossroads for women in the church. How can we chart the best path forward? [China Kicks Out Korean Missionaries in 'Unprecedented' Numbers]( Scores of Protestants expelled near North Korean border as tensions rise over THAAD missile defense system. Related CT Newsletters [The Galli Report]( Weekly must-reads from the editor of CT. 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