Movies/Scenes
Representing
the Seductive Power of Evil/Sin
- A Beautiful
Mind (2001)
- When Nash & others tried to cure the disease of schizophrenia by using medications/shock treatments, the "genius" of Nash was also destroyed. (His genius really was in many ways a part of his illness, and was attractive. The delusions were positive responses at first, to needs in Nash's life. Later, they "turned on him.") Instead, he learned to let the delusions live and just let them be - not entertain them but not try to get rid of them either. He accepted the good in them while resisting the ways that they represented and caused illness & evil.) Difficult tension for him but one that allowed him to be more whole than an attempt to destroy the delusions.
- Chocolat (2000)
- The Comte has broken into the Chocolatarie on Holy Saturday to destroy it. He is in the display window breaking things. He has been severely fasting all during Lent. A piece of chocolate lands on his lip. His tongue reaches out and tastes it. He loses control, stuffing himself with every kind of chocolate until he passes out, to be found in the morning by the priest headed to church. (Darrel Manson, Artesia Christian Church, Artesia CA)
- Boiler Room (2000)
- The "legitimacy" of Seth's illegal home casino compared with his "legitimate" job as a high-pressure salesman of questionable stock.
- "Because of the routine racism at the firm, Seth observes it must not be a comfortable place for a black woman to work. Abby points out she makes $80,000 a year and is supporting a sick mother." (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times Review)
- The
Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
- I find "The Talented Mr. Ripley" to be a fascinating exploration of the insidious power of sin. The main character makes a serious of decisions, first a simple lie, then a more complicated one, each step leading him almost inexorably to murder. Yet he seems unable and unwilling to get out of the trap he's setting for himself. Brilliantly done. (The Rev. Stacy E. Alan, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Kalamazoo, MI)
- A Simple Plan
(1998)
- Hank and Sarah are increasingly seduced by the prospect of having the money (which becomes a symbol for evil).
- The
Devil's Advocate (1997)
- A stunning depiction of the seduction of power and money, and the twisting of reality to fit whatever goals we, personally might have. Good for illustrations of the satanic, greed, not recognizing evil when it stares you in the face, and our failure to discern what is evil from what is good.
- Natural Born Killers
(1994)
- Mickey and Mallory are glorified as heroes, mirroring our culture's continuing glorification of violence. Because there is no war to turn the violence out on "them," it is turned in on "us," but it is still glorified. Killers become "stars".
- Time Bandits (1981)
- I am using Time Bandits this week for Lenten discussion on the Fall and Redemption, the power of good over evil, the human propensity for trying to be God rather than acting fully as human. The theology is excellent (I think, anyway) and the film is SO much more than its cover blurb says. It helps to watch it more than once, since the dialog is British, and the dialog and action both move very fast. The elements of the film are very tightly constructed, with scenes inter-related one to another; i.e., the game show that Kevin's mother and father watch at the beginning of the film becomes Satan's enticement and trap later on. The Supreme Being is so perfectly a low-church Anglican cleric, that we Episcopalians feel right at home. (submitted by Mary Goshert)
