Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 12/06/24

Fox Nation rolls out the red, white and blue carpet for America’s Heroes with the sixth annual Patriot Awards. The Oscars for people who don’t just play heroes was held on Long Island last night. Here are some highlights. My thoughts follow.

IMHO: Americans have thankfully gotten their sense of confidence and gratitude back. It’s time for the media to catch on. My suggestion is that next year the Patriot Awards air on the Fox Broadcast Network as both a means to promote Fox Nation and, more importantly, the positive American stories the event highlights. I would go further to say that Fox Broadcasting should align its brand more with the ethos (and success) of Fox News and Fox Nation because right now the entertainment channel basically indistinguishable from the other broadcast networks. There’s a huge market for patriotic faith and family-friendly four-quadrant programming such as broadcasters used to offer in the form of shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, JAG and Touched by an Angel. Unlike its competitors, Fox Broadcasting is prepositioned to do that. I say go for it!

Turning the page. As further proof of the audience out there for this sort of fare, in its debut week Fox News host Emily Compagno’s new book Under His Wings: How Faith on the Front Lines Has Protected American Troops  has shot to #1 on the New York Times Bestsellers List. You can read my interview with Emily here.

With tomorrow being the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harber, it’s worth noting that it’s been exactly a year since I posted my conversation with author T. Martin Bennett about his historical novel Wounded Tiger which, BTW, is also available as an audio book and, IMHO, has great movie potential.

Note: The Patriot Awards will re-air on Fox News Channel Sunday night at 10:00 PM ET.
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The Book was better. That’s probably the most succinct way I can sum up my thoughts on Netflix’s Mary which, if nothing else, offers an original take on the story of the Nativity. Unfortunately, it’s a bit too original for me. While filling in the blanks in the biblical narrative is certainly understandable this movie, IMHO, takes its dramatic license a bit too far. For instance, a scene that turns Joseph into action hero fighting off Roman pursuers comes dangerously close to turning the story into the sort of comic book action adventure that I think most believers totally rejected in Darren Aronofsky‘s 2014 disrespectful misfire Noah. If Mary is aimed at believer, I’d suggest that director D.J. Caruso who I interviewed recently and, while a Catholic, is known for his work on horror films and action-oriented TV series has misread his audience and, unfortunately, seems to apply the tricks of those genres to a genre that calls for more humility and respect for the source. Aside from the aforementioned action sequence, it seemed to me that much of the story is even lit in a way more appropriate to a horror film than a biblical story meant intended to inspire an audience. Even if Mary is aimed at a so-called mainstream audience that may not be particularly in biblical fidelity, the film lacks a compelling through line. It’s simply dark and boring.

The Bottom Line: A movie that is apt to please almost nobody.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.