Colleen Stein

Saved! (PG-13)United ArtistsDirected by Brian Dannelly

Who’s down with G-O-D?

At American Christian High School, you are not cool unless you are friends with Christ. For Mary (Jena Malone), believing in the power of Christ was all she ever knew until her senior year of high school. After her boyfriend Dean tells her he is gay, she naively sacrifices her virginity to sleep with him in attempt to “steer him back onto the path of the Lord.” When she discovers she is pregnant, Mary begins to lose faith in God.

With the help of a rebellious Jewish girl named Cassandra and the wheel-chair-bound Roland (Macaulay Caulkin), Mary becomes more accepting of herself and others as she sees the world in a new light, concluding, “Why would God make us all so different if he wanted us all to be the same?”

Final Verdict: This movie does a great job of poking fun at modern Christian enthusiasts without disrespecting them. Mandy Moore does well in playing Hilary Faye, the hypertensive, self-righteous, yet sympathetic snob and Malone embodies the lost little lamb who learns that some days, you have to be your own shepherd. If you like high school flicks like Mean Girls or Can’t Hardly Wait, you’ll enjoy being Saved!

Fahrenheit 9/11 (R)Lions Gate FilmsDirected by Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine, Canadian Bacon)

This documentary follows George W. Bush from the controversial presidential decision in 2000 to America’s present-day war in Iraq.

Moore delves deep into the stinky bog of politics to unearth hidden details of W’s life, such as the fact that Bush’s brother is the governor of Florida and when the 2000 election came down to Florida’s decision, his first cousin was working in the decision booth and his campaign leader was the vote counter.

Moore also traces Bush’s family connections back to when he started an oil business and signed on the Bin Laden family as key investors. Along with the September 11th attacks that never get easier to watch, Moore interviews congressmen, soldiers, and people walking on the street to create this amazingly informative and disturbing piece.

Final Verdict: Even if you do not have a firm grasp on politics, Michael Moore, with his average-joe attitude, makes the issues plain and simple to understand.

If you enjoyed Bowling for Columbine or have a beef with Bush, this documentary is worth renting.

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