BE REEL

(Source: IMDb )  Christian band MercyMe had a breakthrough hit in 2001, when their single, “I Can Only Imagine,” became a staple in the music industry, and an inspiration around the world. The 2018 film of the same name (courtesy Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, who later made Jesus Revolution and Unsung Hero , among other things) chronicled the upbringing of the band’s lead singer Bart Millard (played by John Michael Finley), and what inspired him to write the song. The 2026 theatrical follow-up, I Can Only Imagine 2 , continues the story of Millard, his family, and his band mates, by focusing this time on what inspired another song of theirs years later.  Amidst their growing popularity, it doesn’t take long for Millard and company to learn that the success they’ve achieved is far from the mountain top, and that their stories—and struggles—are ongoing. Bart’s rocky relationship with his teenage son, Sam (diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 3), is perhaps a slight mirr...

(Source: IMDb )   Honestly, I didn’t have much interest in this futuristic sci-fi thriller when the first trailer  rolled out. For one thing, we’ve seen this concept before in films like The Fugitive and  Minority Report . The story’s protagonist—accused of murder—is fighting for his life to prove his innocence while investigating who is really behind the central perpetration(s) and conspiracies.  Like Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise before him, Chris Pratt has shown that he can carry a tentpole flick with confidence, charisma, and gravitas. In  Mercy , he plays police officer Chris Raven, who is put on trial and has ninety minutes to prove his innocence or face execution. Beyond his wife’s murder, there’s evidence that he struggles with alcoholism, that she had an affair, and that a fellow officer’s unexpected death made it hard for him to cope.  In spite of its aforementioned generic elements—not to mention its underperformance at the box-office — Mercy is...