Movies Are Prayers : How Films Voice Our Deepest Longings

"Movies are our way of telling God what we think about this world and our place in it. . . . Movies can be many things: escapist experiences, historical artifacts, business ventures, and artistic expressions, to name a few. I'd like to suggest that they can also be prayers." Movies do more than tell a good story. They are expressions of raw emotion, naked vulnerability, and unbridled rage. They often function in the same way as prayers, communicating our deepest longings and joys to a God who hears each and every one. In this captivating book, Filmspotting co-host Josh Larsen brings a critic's unique perspective to how movies function as expressions to God of lament, praise, joy, confession, and more. His clear expertise and passion for the art of film, along with his thoughtful reflections on the nature of prayer, will bring you a better understanding of both. God's omnipresence means that you can find him whether you're sitting on your sofa at home or in the seats at the theater. You can talk to him wherever movies are shown. And when words fail, the perfect film might be just what you need to jump-start your conversations with the Almighty. "Josh Larsen brings a critic's perspective to the way movies function as expressions to God--expressions of lament, praise, joy, confession, and more. Whether he's discussing a recent release like 12 Years a Slave or a classic like Chinatown, Larsen's expertise and passion for the art of film, along with his thoughtful reflections on the nature of prayer, will bring you a better understanding of both. God's omnipresence means that we can find him whether we're in a church or in the seats of the movie theater. And when words fail, the right film might be just what we need to jump-start our conversation with the Almighty."--Back cover Movies are prayers? Movies as prayers of praise Movies as prayers of yearning Movies as prayers of lament Movies as prayers of anger Movies as prayers of confession Movies as prayers of reconciliation Movies as prayers of obedience Movies as prayers of meditation and contemplation Movies as prayers of joy Prayer as journey. Movies do more than tell a good story. Filmspotting co-host Josh Larsen brings a critic's unique perspective to how movies can act as prayers--expressing lament, praise, joy, confession, and more. When words fail, the perfect film might be just what you need to jump-start your conversations with the Almighty