Reflections on Faith, Feasts, and Film

Review by Father Scott Archer March 12, 2020 Emma , a film directed by Autumn de Wilde, is a surprisingly faithful adaptation of Jane Austen’s comedy of matchmaking and love of the same name. Credit is to be given to Eleanor Catton, the screenwriter, for not modernizing the story to placate contemporary tastes. The acting, set design, score, and costuming transport the audience to a time when life and its pleasures were simple; thus, planning other people’s lives took center stage in the world of Emma Woodhouse, who is “… handsome, clever, and rich... and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.” Emma is played delightfully by Anya Taylor-Joy. She is perfectly cast in the lead role and is brilliant in carrying the story from beginning to end. As the movie opens, we find that Emma has arranged for a match between Miss Taylor, her governess, to Mr. Weston. With that relationship cemented with marriage, she turns her sights to ...

By Father Scott Archer March 8, 2020 “He was transfigured before them” (Matthew 17:1 Douay-Rheims Version). Today’s gospel passage from Saint Matthew recounts our Lord’s transfiguration, during which time Moses and Elias appeared alongside Him and they spoke with Him, to quote the Gospel of Saint Luke, “…about his decease that he should accomplish in Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31 Douay-Rheims Version ). In this miracle, Jesus partially showed forth His glory in order to give hope to the apostles when they would witness His crucifixion. Jesus wished to remove from them the fear of the cross and of death. He not only intended this miracle for His apostles but wished to assure us that there is hope for our future resurrection and to sustain us in our trials here on earth, since it was an image of the glorious state to which our bodies are destined. Today we are witnessing a great deal of panic in regard to the outbreak of coronavirus, so much so that people are stockpiling goods...

Review by Father Scott Archer December 31, 2019 Directed by Sam Mendes, 1917 is set in France during World War I. The premise is a simple one – two young lance corporals must deliver a message from General Erinmore (Colin Firth), calling off a planned attacked on the supposedly retreating Germans. In fact, 1,600 British soldiers, being led by Colonel MacKenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch), will be annihilated if they fall for the Germans’ trap. Lance Corporal Blake, who has a brother among the 1,600 soldiers, is played brilliantly by Dean-Charles Chapman. George MacKay gives an emotionally moving and satisfying performance as Lance Corporal Schofield, his companion on the mission. If they succeed, 1,600 men will be saved; if not, there will be no survivors. With several long takes and clever editing, the audience experiences the movie as if it were filmed in one take.  The combination of the absolute brilliance of Roger Deakins as a cinematographer and this style of filmi...

By Father Scott Archer December 30, 2019  “ For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: for he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall save it.” [1] In the annals of that dark era of persecution following the Protestant Revolution in England are written the names of the saints and blesseds who gave their lives for Christ and His Church. In the beginning, the martyrs were those who simply remained true to the faith established by Christ; the faith in which they had been baptized and raised. As the years passed, sons and daughters of the new religion began to see the light of the Church shine within their hearts and converted to the faith of their Fathers. Many of the latter, steadfast to the end, are counted today among those who shed their blood for Christ. One such convert and martyr is Blessed William Scott. William Scott was born in Chigwell, Essex, about 1578 and baptized in the Church of England. He was the son of William Scott, lord of the manor of W...