Cinema Verbi

Project Hail Mary (Full of Grace)

On the 20th episode of Cinema Verbi, Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt look back on their favorite moments, movies, and review Project Hail Mary (2026). Our hosts appreciate that the film, while not explicitly Catholic, has many positively-portrayed Catholic elements.

Playing God in "Frankenstein"

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Father Matt and Father Brian review Frankenstein (2025), directed by Guillermo del Toro. What begins as a discussion of the film's pacing and fidelity to Mary Shelley's original novel quickly turns into a deeper reflection on its rich theological and philosophical themes.

Sentimental Value and What Really Matters

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Father Brian and Fr. Matt review Sentimental Value (2025), a Norwegian film about family dynamics, generational trauma, and the healing of emotional wounds. They also look ahead to the Academy Awards, talking about some of the nominated films and actors.

Wake Up, Dead Man: How well does Hollywood portray the priesthood?

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt review Wake Up, Dead Man (2025), the latest film in the Knives Out murder mystery series. With two main characters who are Catholic priests and taking place primarily in a Catholic church, the film presents a unique opportunity for Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian to evaluate how well a major Hollywood film portrays the priesthood. (0:05) Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt catch up on the past month and briefly discuss some of the movies they've seen recently, including an animated film about King David and Jay Kelly (2025). (5:18) Fr. Matt introduces the film that's the main topic of this episode, Wake Up, Dead Man (2025), the third installment of the Knives Out series. He and Fr. Brian are particularly excited about this film because the two main characters are Catholic priests. (14:15) Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt talk about how accurately the film depicts aspects of Catholicism such as the liturgy, the ministry of a priest, etc. (41:25) Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian give their seeds of the Word ratings for the film and close the episode with a trivia game.

Goodness and Friendship in "Wicked: For Good"

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Father Matt and Father Brian reflect on the movies they watched in 2025 before diving into a discussion about Wicked (2024) and its sequel, Wicked: For Good (2025). They explore the evolution of the story from Gregory Maguire’s original novel to the Broadway musical, and finally to the big-screen adaptations. Our hosts discuss themes of friendship and debate the value of reinterpreting old stories, examining how these films reshape (or don’t reshape) our understanding of the iconic Wizard of Oz (1939) film. (0:26) Father Matt and Father Brian open the show by welcoming listeners to 2026 and reflecting on their experience hosting a live episode on It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) last month. They highlight the communal nature of cinema and the importance of gathering and sharing films together. (2:24) The priests discuss their Letterboxd stats, including the number of films watched, total hours logged, favorite actors, and prominent themes from 2025. Father Matt highlights Paul Walter Hauser as his most-watched actor of 2025, and they share their first, last, and favorite movies of the year. (12:41) The conversation shifts to the episode’s main topic: Wicked (2024) and its sequel, Wicked: For Good (2025). Father Brian explains the significance of these movies as adaptations of the Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire’s novel, noting how the story has been reimagined for a new generation of viewers. (15:25) They discuss the history of the “Wicked” novel, its 2003 Broadway debut, and its long-running popularity. Father Brian shares his personal experience seeing the musical on tour many times, while Father Matt has only seen it performed once in East Lansing. They also analyze the decision to divide Wicked into two movies, comparing it to other adaptations like Dune. They debate whether the second movie truly adds value or simply prolongs the story for commercial reasons. (19:10) Father Matt and Father Brian explore how Wicked reinterprets the original Wizard of Oz, giving the Wicked Witch of the West a more nuanced perspective. They debate moments in the film that “tip their hat” to the original Oz story, weighing cleverness and homage against fan service and overuse of nostalgia. (30:05) The hosts examine the film’s deeper themes, including power, manipulation, and the treatment of animals. They highlight how Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship develops despite their differences and reflect on the two films’ enduring message of friendship, personal growth, and the lasting impact others have on our lives. (41:33) The episode concludes with our hosts sharing their “seeds of the word” ratings for the films, based on how clearly they saw goodness, truth, and beauty reflected in the story.