Act of God is a feature documentary about the metaphysical effects of being struck by lightning. The event represents the paradox of being singled out by randomness, and so precipitates questions about chance, fate and meaning in life. The film explores seven stories from around the world that raise and respond to these questions, while keeping the sky and what comes out of it as a central visual metaphor and thread. Paul Auster, who was struck as a teenager, philosophically anchors the film, along with Fred Frith, the improviser, who both imaginatively underpins it and personally demonstrates the ubiquity of electricity in our bodies and the universe.

So I finally saw The Objective last night, and I gotta tell ya it didn’t leave me disappointed like many of the posts I’ve read online. It’s definitely a thinking man’s movie though. You’re not going to be spoon fed. Director Daniel Myrick sets up the story and lets the audience decide much like he did as the co-creator of The Blair Witch Project.

It almost begins like any war/espionage film would as we catch a ride into post 911 Afghanistan with a crew of colorful special op guys and one determined CIA agent. The mission, make contact with a Muslim cleric. Hmmm, “OBL” maybe. So then we get into some really good combat scenes to feed the action hunger but that’s where it starts to slow down. But it works, because it starts to deliver the creepiness and develop the desert as it’s own character. And this is where we start to learn CIA guy hasn’t been completely honest and the paranormal begins.

Technically, there isn’t much to criticize in The Objective. The cinematography was absolutely stunning, it almost felt like something you would see on PBS or National Geographic, which means if it sees a full week in a theater, it’ll be a miracle. And that’s only if The Objective gets there at all. I couldn’t find this flick playing anywhere and according to the IFC website it had a release date of February 4th.

In the making of video on the official website Daniel Myrick is seen explaining to his actors that he didn’t want them to look like they were acting. And he obviously got that across to his lead specifically, one of the professional actors,  because he was pretty weak. The military guys, some which were actually ex-military, I thought were really good. But again the look, feel, and story more than made up for the acting.

The ending, again, I’ve read tons of comments whining that it was a let down, basically a wet fart. I couldn’t disagree more. Yes, it’s a little open ended but it brings up some really good questions as to what just happened and what is really going on in the world around us, and behind government doors.

Overall, a must see for anyone interested in the paranormal or even someone looking for a good thriller for that matter. Hopefully you can find it in a theater before it hits DVD.

And one last note, I noticed that General Wesley Clark’s son was involved in The Objective. Maybe this movie isn’t too far off from the “real” reason the U.S. went in. What do ya think? [objectivemovie.com]

The Shack is the fictional tale of a man named Mack who has to deal with a horrible family tragedy. Within a year Mack heads out to his mailbox to find an invitation from the one and only, yes you guessed it, the big man up stairs, God, to the shack where the tragedy occurred. But this is where it gets interesting, God isn’t exactly a man, or so it seems. Young really explores an interesting take on God, Jesus, and the afterlife (again the primary reason I cranked through this book). He breaks every religious mold you can think of, bringing together elements from the book When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner and the 1998 film, What Dreams May Come.

Mack gets the deep questions answered many of us ask everyday as well as meeting long lost relatives. But just when you think you know where the story is headed you get slammed for a turn that begs the question of what really just happened or did it happen at all.

For those of you non-bible folks (and believe me, I can’t even remember my last confession), check it out just for what we might be in store for in our next life. God supposedly cooks bacon. Bacon is good! [The Shack]