The Star (2017 film)
The Star is a 2017 American computer-animated Christian comedy film directed by Timothy Reckart. Based on the Nativity of Jesus, an original idea by Tom Sheridan, the screenplay was written by Carlos Kotkin and Simon Moore, it is produced by Sony Pictures Animation, with partnership from Walden Media, Affirm Films and The Jim Henson Company. It stars the voices of Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Keegan-Michael Key, Kelly Clarkson, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Tracy Morgan, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey; the film was released by Columbia Pictures through its parental label Sony Pictures Entertainment on November 17, 2017 in the United States. The film grossed $62 million worldwide and received a nomination for Best Original Song at the 75th Golden Globe Awards but lost to This Is Me. In "9 months B. C.", Mary is visited by an angel telling her. A pygmy jerboa named Abby overhears and tells the other animals as a star begins glowing brightly in the night. Six months a young donkey is tired of milling wheat and wishes to join a traveling caravan so that he may feel important.
An older donkey helps him escape the miller who owns them and he ends up with an injured ankle at the house of Joseph and Mary who just celebrated their wedding. Mary takes the donkey in and names him Boaz, or Bo, reveals to Joseph that she is pregnant, with Joseph accepting Mary's situation after praying to God. During this time, Bo and his dove friend Dave, plot to escape despite Mary's kindness, but end up staying three more months. Meanwhile, the three wise men and their camels, Felix and Deborah, arrive at the home of King Herod; the wise men reveal their gifts of gold and myrrh, but when they reveal that it is for the "new King", he sends them on their way to meet him, but secretly sends his hunter and his two dogs and Rufus, to find and kill the new King. As Joseph and Mary leave Nazareth in order to head to Bethlehem, Bo and Dave try another escape, but are confronted by Thaddeus and Rufus, who knew of the home by interrogating Abby. After learning that Joseph and Mary are not home, the hunter and his dogs leave to look for them.
Feeling guilty, Bo decides to warn them with Dave joining him. Along the way they meet a friendly sheep named Ruth, they catch up to Joseph and Mary in time to warn them, hide them in a market place where the hunter ties up his dogs. Bo releases the cart Joseph and Mary were using to roll down and cause a chain reaction that knocks the hunter down a well. However, he creates severe damage to the market in the process, Joseph, unaware of the danger, berates Bo for his actions. Upset with being rejected, Bo leaves and Dave follows until they arrive at the caravan. While happy to have found it, Bo realizes that he liked being with Mary and tells Dave, who admits that he isn't upset and that he just wants Bo to be happy with his decision. Together, the two return and make up with Ruth, convince a frustrated Joseph to talk to Mary. Mary admits that it has been difficult for her and that she is scared of the importance of the baby, Joseph and she make up when the latter begins having contractions, they arrive at Bethlehem.
The miller, who just so happened to be there, kidnaps Bo with Ruth leaving to rescue him. The wise men arrive as well. Bo ends up in a stable where he meets a horse named Leah, a cow named Edith, a goat named Zach, they reveal that they haven't been able to sleep because the star's bright light has been shining through on their manger. Realizing that this is where the baby is supposed to be, the animals help Bo escape and he catches up with Dave and Ruth while spotting the hunter and his dogs. Bo finds Joseph and Mary and gets them back to the stable while Dave runs into Cyrus and Deborah and helps them escape. Ruth finds her flock, tries to convince them to help, but gets unexpected help from the angel who informs the shepherds and the sheep that the Savior is coming. Bo is outdone by the hunter. Ruth and her flock, the camels and Dave arrive and dispatch with them by having them hang from a cliff; the hunter lets his dogs fall, but they are saved by Bo while it's implied the hunter himself falls to his death.
All of the animals and three wise men arrive to see baby Jesus. Bo realizes. Deborah predicts. During the credits, it is shown in pictures that Joseph buys Bo from the miller, both Bo and Dave help him and Mary raise Jesus. Steven Yeun as Bo Zachary Levi as Joseph Gina Rodriguez as Mary Keegan-Michael Key as Dave Kelly Clarkson as Leah Patricia Heaton as Edith Kristin Chenoweth as Abby Tracy Morgan as Felix Tyler Perry as Cyrus Oprah Winfrey as Deborah Aidy Bryant as Ruth Anthony Anderson as Zach Kris Kristofferson as Old Donkey Christopher Plummer as King Herod Ving Rhames as Thaddeus Gabriel Iglesias as Rufus Mariah Carey as Rebecca Joel Osteen as Caspar Delilah as Elizabeth Joel McCrary as Angel, Zachariah Phil Morris as Balthazar, Miller Fred Tatasciore as Melchior, Pottery Vendor Lex Lang as Hunter Roger Craig Smith as Chamberlain Joe Whyte as Scribe William Townsend as Horse, GoatInnkeeper voices provided by Gregg Berger, Roger Craig Smith, Melissa Sturm, Fred Tatasciore, Joe Whyte; the film's script was developed during the late 1990s by the Jim Henson Company inspired by the success of the 1995 film Babe.
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Overcomer (film)
Overcomer is a 2019 American Christian drama film directed by Alex Kendrick and written by him and Stephen Kendrick. It is the Kendrick brothers' sixth film and their second through their subsidiary, Kendrick Brothers Productions, it is scheduled for release on August 23, 2019. John Harrison is a high school basketball coach whose state championship dreams vanish when he receives some unexpected news. Meanwhile, the largest manufacturing plant in his town closes, he questions what his and his family's future will be. John agrees to take a job as a cross-country coach, inspired by a friend's prayers, decides to help one of the least athletes win the biggest race of the year. Overcomer was filmed in Columbus, Georgia. In the summer of 2018, Affirm Films and Provident Films announced that they had wrapped up filming and were now in post-production. A teaser trailer for the film was released on October 31, 2018. Overcomer received a pre-screening on March 28, 2019 at the National Religious Broadcasters' Proclaim 19.
The film is set to be released on August 23, 2019. Official website Official website Overcomer on IMDb
Moms' Night Out
Moms' Night Out is a 2014 American faith-based comedy film directed by the Erwin Brothers, written by Jon Erwin and Andrea Gyertson Nasfell. The film stars Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton and Trace Adkins; the film was released on May 2014, in 1,044 theaters. Allyson Field is a young mother, having a most unhappy Mother's Day. At first glance, she seems to have a life, she is married to her loving husband Sean and they have three lively, adorable children. However, as Allyson types on her "mommy blog", she is beset with anxiety and feelings of unworthiness, she describes herself as a "freaky clean freak" who sees beauty in a padded cell. She has paranoid delusions about her children getting salmonella and child welfare workers taking them away, she realizes that she is living her simple dream of being a decent wife and mother and feels like a horrible person because of her inner demons. Allyson finds comfort in her two best friends Izzy. Sondra is a pastor's wife, the pillar of the community, whom Allyson describes as her Gandalf and Doctor Phil.
Sondra has a rebellious teenage daughter Zoey who acutely feels the stigma of being a pastor's daughter. Izzy is Allyson's high-school friend who has twins and is married to the lovable but bumbling Marco who has an irrational fear of bikers and small children. Allyson is affected by a sermon that Sondra's husband gives about the high calling of motherhood and the sacrifices that are entailed. Sean recommends a night out for his overstressed wife, she and Izzy and Sondra plan one that starts with dinner at a fancy Chinese restaurant. However, the evening is a disaster from start to finish. Sean's loopy half-sister Bridget asks Ally to babysit her son Phoenix. Sean agrees to shoulder the responsibility with Marco and his friend Kevin, who loves video games and hates kids. In many ways Sean and Kevin are arrested adolescents; when Ally and her friends arrive at the restaurant they're told that their reservation has been lost and Ally has a mini-meltdown and throws away their cellphones. The three friends go bowling and Sondra tries to comfort the frazzled Ally telling her that God is always with her.
The evening degenerates with further accidents and misunderstanding as the babysitters take the children to a video arcade which results in a trip to the emergency room and the men inadvertently taking the women's van. Things go from bad to worse; the four travel across the city looking for him, all four end up in a jail cell and Sondra gets tased. The film ends with everyone being reunited and Ally typing a happy blog proclaiming that while her life is stressed and crazy it is beautiful, she finds the true meaning of a video. Sean reminds her of the old saying that "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." Sarah Drew as Allyson Sean Astin as Sean Patricia Heaton as Sondra Andrea Logan White as Izzy Trace Adkins as Bones Robert Amaya as Marco Abbie Cobb as Bridget Harry Shum, Jr. as Joey David Hunt as Cabbie Alex Kendrick as Pastor Ray Anjelah Johnson as restaurant hostess Kevin Downes as Kevin Manwell Reyes as Desk Guy Sammi Hanratty as Zoe Jason Burkey as DJ Michael Leone as Brandon Filming started in June 2013 in Birmingham and wrapped up on June 24, the Erwin brothers announced.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 17% approval rating based on 41 reviews, with an average rating of 4/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Cheap-looking and kind of sexist to boot, Moms' Night Out is a disappointment from start to finish." On Metacritic, the film has a rating of 25 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews."Moms' Night Out won an award for Best Film at the 46th GMA Dove Awards. The film grossed $4.2 million in its opening weekend. As of July 13, 2014, the film had grossed $10.5 million. Official website Moms' Night Out on IMDb Moms' Night Out at the TCM Movie Database Moms' Night Out at Rotten Tomatoes
Sony
Sony Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Kōnan, Tokyo. Its diversified business includes consumer and professional electronics, gaming and financial services; the company owns the largest music entertainment business in the world, the largest video game console business and one of the largest video game publishing businesses, is one of the leading manufacturers of electronic products for the consumer and professional markets, a leading player in the film and television entertainment industry. Sony was ranked 97th on the 2018 Fortune Global 500 list. Sony Corporation is the electronics business unit and the parent company of the Sony Group, engaged in business through its four operating components: electronics, motion pictures and financial services; these make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. The group consists of Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures, Sony Mobile, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Financial Holdings, others.
Sony is among the semiconductor sales leaders and since 2015, the fifth-largest television manufacturer in the world after Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, TCL and Hisense. The company's current slogan is Be Moved, their former slogans were The One and Only, It's like.no.other and make.believe. Sony has a weak tie to the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group corporate group, the successor to the Mitsui group. Sony began in the wake of World War II. In 1946, Masaru Ibuka started an electronics shop in a department store building in Tokyo; the company started with a total of eight employees. In May 1946, Ibuka was joined by Akio Morita to establish a company called Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo; the company built Japan's first tape recorder, called the Type-G. In 1958, the company changed its name to "Sony"; when Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo was looking for a romanized name to use to market themselves, they considered using their initials, TTK. The primary reason they did not is that the railway company Tokyo Kyuko was known as TTK.
The company used the acronym "Totsuko" in Japan, but during his visit to the United States, Morita discovered that Americans had trouble pronouncing that name. Another early name, tried out for a while was "Tokyo Teletech" until Akio Morita discovered that there was an American company using Teletech as a brand name; the name "Sony" was chosen for the brand as a mix of two words: one was the Latin word "sonus", the root of sonic and sound, the other was "sonny", a common slang term used in 1950s America to call a young boy. In 1950s Japan, "sonny boys" was a loan word in Japanese, which connoted smart and presentable young men, which Sony founders Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka considered themselves to be; the first Sony-branded product, the TR-55 transistor radio, appeared in 1955 but the company name did not change to Sony until January 1958. At the time of the change, it was unusual for a Japanese company to use Roman letters to spell its name instead of writing it in kanji; the move was not without opposition: TTK's principal bank at the time, had strong feelings about the name.
They pushed for a name such as Sony Teletech. Akio Morita was firm, however. Both Ibuka and Mitsui Bank's chairman gave their approval. According to Schiffer, Sony's TR-63 radio "cracked open the U. S. market and launched the new industry of consumer microelectronics." By the mid-1950s, American teens had begun buying portable transistor radios in huge numbers, helping to propel the fledgling industry from an estimated 100,000 units in 1955 to 5 million units by the end of 1968. Sony co-founder Akio Morita founded Sony Corporation of America in 1960. In the process, he was struck by the mobility of employees between American companies, unheard of in Japan at that time; when he returned to Japan, he encouraged experienced, middle-aged employees of other companies to reevaluate their careers and consider joining Sony. The company filled many positions in this manner, inspired other Japanese companies to do the same. Moreover, Sony played a major role in the development of Japan as a powerful exporter during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
It helped to improve American perceptions of "made in Japan" products. Known for its production quality, Sony was able to charge above-market prices for its consumer electronics and resisted lowering prices. In 1971, Masaru Ibuka handed the position of president over to his co-founder Akio Morita. Sony began a life insurance company in one of its many peripheral businesses. Amid a global recession in the early 1980s, electronics sales dropped and the company was forced to cut prices. Sony's profits fell sharply. "It's over for Sony," one analyst concluded. "The company's best days are behind it." Around that time, Norio Ohga took up the role of president. He encouraged the development of the Compact Disc in the 1970s and 1980s, of the PlayStation in the early 1990s. Ohga went on to purchase CBS Records in 1988 and Columbia Pictures in 1989 expanding Sony's media presence. Ohga would succeed Morita as chief executive officer in 1989. Under the vision of co-founder Akio Morita and his successors, the company had aggressively expanded in
Mercy Streets
Mercy Streets is a 2000 Christian action/drama film written and directed by Jon Gunn. It starred Stacy Keach, among others. Mercy Streets is the story of twin brothers, John, a con man and Jeremiah, a pastor, who are forced to switch lives. After being released from prison, John is looking to make a new start, agrees to work for his father figure and mentor Rome; when John attempts to double cross Rome, it sets off a chain reaction which turns the lives of both brothers into turmoil. While on the run from Rome, John steps into the calm suburban life of his twin brother Jeremiah and turns his good life upside down. Jeremiah, a well-loved and respected priest, is forced into the criminal underworld of his brother when he is taken hostage by Rome and blackmailed into taking part in a counterfeiting scam. Haunted by the guilt of what he believes to be his brother's death, Jeremiah struggles to atone for his wrongdoing and redeem his faith by going along with the plan. However, Rome's simple plan begins to go horribly wrong when Jeremiah escapes and comes face to face with the brother he thought was dead.
They both cannot turn away from the consequences of their actions or the love and forgiveness of God. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 13% based on eight reviews, not enough to form a consensus; the average rating was 4.1/10. Metacritic, another review aggregator, assigned the film a weighted average score of 28 out of 100, based on five critics. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times said, "Despite a competent cast and all the energy Roberts in particular contributes, the filmmakers cannot sustain enough momentum to keep their film from seeming contrived and preachy." Ted Baehr of Movieguide said, "Mercy Streets is a masterful piece of moviemaking with a strong Gospel message." Official website Mercy Streets on IMDb Mercy Streets at Rotten Tomatoes Mercy Streets at Box Office Mojo Mercy Streets at ChristianCinema.com
The Moment After
The Moment After is a Christian film released through the Christiano Film Group in 1999. The film stars David A. R. White and Kevin Downes as FBI agents caught up in the world of the Rapture. Written and directed by Wes Llewelyn, the film was a popular success, becoming a bestseller among Christian film audiences warranting a sequel, The Moment After 2: The Awakening, seven years later, it was a Crown Award Winner for Best Evangelistic Film and Best Drama film made for less than $250,000. The movie opens up at an empty house. A phone has been dropped, with the dial tone still going, a pot is still cooking on the stove, a television is still on, indicating a person was still watching it, clothes are still on the seat. Outside the scene is chaotic with a panicked mother frantically looking for her daughter and a man looking for his wife after a car crash; the movie switches to the house of Adam Riley, visited by his friend Charles Baker. They are FBI agents working at the same field office. At the FBI headquarters, agents are briefed and are given an assignment, a folder containing names, told to interview the relatives of the missing people.
These include Mr. Fulton, a live in nurse named Peggy, Katherine, George’s wife; as they are leaving, Charles is called back to the emergency room when finds that his wife has miscarried. A Jewish rabbi named Jacob Krause is at Synagogue performing a ritual, picks up a Bible upon hearing the news report on the radio. Jacob takes up residence in an abandoned Christian homeless shelter. Katherine at the hospital is told that four months have passed and she has shown improvement in her performance. While waiting outside on a bench, Krause preaches the Word of God; the President makes a State of the Union speech. He declares a One World Currency and the installation of a B-chip, implanted through the palm and “acts as a credit card”. Just when Adam and Charles are close to finding answers to the puzzle, the President orders all FBI agents to be taken off the case. Adam and Charles are given the task to capture Krause, considered to be a “dangerous criminal”. Adam and Charles proceed to Krause’s last known location, but the only evidence they find is a picture.
An argument erupts between them. That night, Riley goes to see Dr. Wilkins at his church, he asks him about his theory of the rapture, mentioning a debate between him and two scholars on television. Wilkins deduces that Krause is one of the 144,000 who will convert those left behind to God himself. Adam and Charles go back to Krause’s location, Charles is angry that Riley is going on a “hunch” based on the picture, he reveals some writing on the back, that the message was for him to find: SEEK, AND YOU SHALL FIND. However, on their way, they meet up with the military as Riley squares off with Lt. Fredricks, they discover that the military has captured Katherine, Adam breaks her out. She is soon discovered and a standoff occurs at a diner. Katherine has both agents lower their weapons and says she’s ready and that God will be there to protect her, she sings. Adam and Charles arrive at the mountaintop. Adam tells him to go easy on Krause, however Charles arrests Krause at gun point, citing his orders.
Krause is able to convince Adam, but not Charles, that the “B” in the B-chip stands for Beast and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. They stop at a local gas station. Krause gets Adam to believe in God, helps him out in his escape, he drives the car off. Charles calls Adam’s cell, after getting a nonsensical answer from him, borrows a car; the military blocks Adam’s car from proceeding further. The guard reveals it has been blocked. Before Adam could proceed further, Charles stops him and convinces the military he’s harboring a fugitive; when they look in the trunk of his car, they find nothing. Charles knows Krause was released, Adam is taken to prison by the military; the final scenes show Charles packing his stuff at his desk, indicating he was fired, Adam receiving his dinner from a fellow prison guard Adam takes the bread, finds a piece of paper with Bible passages. He goes to the window with his arms spread out. Krause goes back up to the mountain. Portions of the film were shot in the Coachella California.
The Moment After on IMDb The Moment After at AllMovie
Not Easily Broken
Not Easily Broken is a 2009 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Bill Duke. The film is written by Brian Bird based on T. D. Jakes' 2006 novel of the same name. Dave and Clarice Johnson have reached a breaking point in their marriage; when Clarice is injured in a car accident, her mother Mary intervenes. The obvious truth that more than just her injuries need immediate attention is exposed. Clarice begins to be treated by a physical therapist. Dave develops a friendship with her teenage son Bryson; the acceptance and comfort Dave finds in the two stirs his longing for a family and a passionate partner. When Bryson unexpectedly dies in a swimming accident and Julie's relationship grows closer as Clarice pulls farther away. Dave and Clarice must confront whether their marriage vows are or are not broken. Dave visits Julie after she calls him, he comforts her in her grief, they begin to kiss, but Dave realizes it is Clarice he wants. The couple reunites once Clarice expresses to him the reasons for her mother having such a big input in their marriage.
They reunite and Dave finds out that Clarice is pregnant. Morris Chestnut as Dave Johnson Taraji P. Henson as Clarice Clark-Johnson Maeve Quinlan as Julie Sawyer Kevin Hart as Tree Wood Harris as Darnell Gooden Eddie Cibrian as Brock Houseman Jenifer Lewis as Mary "Mama" Clark Niecy Nash as Michelle Cannon Jay as Bryson Sawyer Albert Hall as Bishop Wilkes Henry Brown Jr. as Mr. Reid At the Black Reel Awards, Bill Duke was nominated for Best Director, Brian Bird was nominated for Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted. Taraji P. Henson won Best Actress at the BET Awards for her role in the film combined with two other performances in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Family That Preys. Albert Hall won the Grace Award for Movies at the 2010 Movieguide Awards; the film has received mixed reviews from critics. As of December 20, 2014, Rotten Tomatoes reported that 33% of critics gave positive reviews from critics based on 38 reviews. Another review aggretator, gave the film a 43/100 approval rating based on 18 reviews.
On its opening weekend, it opened #9 with $5,600,000 in 724 theaters with an $7,735 average. In total it made a domestic gross of $10,572,742 millions. Official website Not Easily Broken on IMDb Not Easily Broken at AllMovie Not Easily Broken at Box Office Mojo Not Easily Broken at Rotten Tomatoes Not Easily Broken at Metacritic Morris Chestnut: The Not Easily Broken interview with Kam Williams
