Faithspotting friend Ryan Parker joins Mike and Kenny for the annual Faithspotting Oscars Prediction and Preview episode. Overall we thought 2026 was a good year for films as represented by the nominees. Of course there are some films and performances we would have liked to see get more attention but overall it was a strong, diverse year for cinema. Check out the Faithspotting episodes for 6 of the 10 Best Picture nominees: Frankenstein, Bugonia, Train Dreams, Marty Supreme, Sinners, and F1, where we discuss the film and spot faith elements they reflect. We are looking falready looking forward to the films that will be up for Oscars 2027.

Kenny and Mike review and disuss faith elements spotted in Guillermo del Toro's latest film and passion project. Frankenstein stars Jacob Elordi as the Creature and, Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, and co-stars Mia Goff and Christoph Waltz. The film received 9 Oscar nominations including best Picture, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay.

Frankenstein is a passion project for del Toro as he weaves elements from the Mary Shelley's novel, James Whale's original 1931 film, as well as his reinterpretation of the story.

Faith Spotted:

Humanity's temptation to play or challenge God. This tempation dates to the book of Genesis 3 where Eve and Adam were tempted to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This desire was rooted in a mistrust of God to care for them.

For Victor Frankenstein, the drive to play or become like God was rooted in Victor's loss, grief, and pain associated with the death of his mother and the abuse and rejection from his father, and his father's inability to save his mother. He wanted to reverse his father's failure by not only saving life but restoring and recreating life. Such pain cannot be soothed by satisfying ego and pride. These motivations to create are in direct contrast to God's desire to create which was and is grounded in God's desire for love and community.

The film shows the place and purpose for processing grief and not rushing or suppressing the grief journey. Such processing can involve faith, theology as well as counseling and psychological tools. In Philippans 4 Paul speaks of peace which passes understanding, which includes peace in the midst of the pain and grief of loss of loved ones.

Victor's abuse of the creature models the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, reflecting the cycle of abusive relationships being passed down to future generations as taught in Exodus 20 and 34.

The contrast of the music played during the process of Victor dismembering body parts to be used in the creature reflets the contrast between creation born out of love and that born out of anger and pain. Victor's comment, "It is finished" also reflects on the contrast of Christ's crucifixion which leads from death to eternal life and that of the eternal death the creature experiences in the life given from Victor.

Martin Luther's concept of simul iustus et peccator (simultaneously saint and sinner). The human and monster qualities within both Victor and the Creature reflects the saint and sinner within humanity. This concept is at the core of Luther's teaching that righteousness is a gift of grace received through Christ and received by faith. It is Christ who justifies as an act of love and grace.

The film shows the power of forgiveness to bring about transformation and true peace.

Mike and Kenny review and spot faith presented in the Academy Award nominated and latest film by director Yorgos Lanthimos. Bugonia marks another colaboration between Lanthimos and two time Best Actress winner Emma Stone, whose second Oscar was for Lanthimos's film Poor Things. Stone stars as Michelle Fuller, a powerful CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Jesse Plemons, a 2021 Best Supporting Actor nominee co-stars as conspiracy theory obsessed beekeeper Teddy Gatz. Aiden Delbis also co-stars as Teddy's autistic cousin Don. Likening her actions to Cology Collapse Disorder where healthy beehives suddenly collapse, Teddy believes Fuller is an Andromedan alien who is intent to destroy or force humanity into subserivence. Teddy convinces Don to assist him in kidnapping and holding Fuller hostage in an effort to be transported to the Andromedan spaceship.

Faith Spotted:

As with bee hives, communities, whether faith or societal, can function, grow and live for an extended period and then quickly become dysfuntional collapse and die. Typically growth happens when the wellbeing of the collective is prioritized over the needs, fears, or desires of the individual. Fracturing happens when in response to the community facing challenge or change, and individuals or portions of the community begin to act in ways that offer them comfort and assurance based on memories of past glory and success.

Teddy resembles in the description of John the Baptist who comes in from the wilderness with a new message. While John was preparing the way for the new message that was the Gospel of Christ, not every outsider with a new message is to be followed.

The patience of God not to do away with creation or humanity even though it is likely what is derserved. Although there is the flood account in Scripture, there have been other times when God has been tempted to do away with nations or communities, yet resisted the temptation. The continued rejection by humanity of God's grace, love and righteousness (desire) is a source of unimaginable pain to God. Because God's love is complete and perfect, the loss and pain God feels when we reject and retaliate are immeasureable. Yet God continues to love.

Dysfunctional communities such as cults etc. are based on and grow out of fear of real or perceived threats and challenges facing members. Such fear leads to a desire and need to seek to control or to follow those indviduals and groups who promise stability and control over that which is unknown or unstable, regardless of the cost.

The promise of the Gospel is that life does not end in death, collapse and a tomb, but rather continues through the hope and assurance of ressurection to new life.

SOME SPOILERS.

Kenny and Mike discuss the multiple Oscar nominated film by director Clint Bentley and starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Kelly Condon, and William H Macy. Set in the early through mid 20th century, Train Dreams documents the story of Robert Grainer (Edgerton) a common man who life knows simplicity, peace and joy and as well as tragedy and loss.

Clint Bentley and production partner Greg Kwedar are nominated for an Oscar for best Adapted Screenplay. The film is also nominated for Best Song, "Train Dreams" as well as Best Cinematography and Best Picture. The film is currently on NETFLIX

Faith Spotted:

While Train Dreams is not considered a faith film, or faith based film, it is a film of faith lived out, both as individuals as well as communities of faith. The film addresses, the joy of living a simple, contented life as well as working through grief and loss. Train Dreams also demonstrates the place of community and how persons of faith are called to notice and care for those in the midst of loss and grief and offer the ministry of presence, their presence and also the presence of God.

Not mentioned in the podcast, the film also presents guilt and how one's action or inaction an follow one throughout one's life.

Mike and Kenny review Marty Supreme, the latest film by writer / director / producer Josh Safdie and Timothee Chalamet who stars as Marty Mauser, a shoe salesman who has greater ambition, to be the best Table Tennis star in the world. Gifted with great talent, Marty's determination leads him to take advantage of any and all situations and people to get what he believes he deserves, fame and money.

The film has so far received many awards nominations including 3 Golden Globes and 8 Critics Choice Awards and it is expected to receive many more Oscar nominations. Chalamet has won a Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards for Best Performance. The film co-stars Gwyneth Paltro, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, and Fran Drescher.

Faith Spotted:

A life of Contentment: There is more to life than fame and fortune, Hebrews 2, 1 Timothy 6, Psalm 46, The stillness and contentment of a righteous life of faith in and with God.

Golden Rule: Matthew7, Luke 6 Treat others as you would be like to be treated.

Regareless of the selfish, unrighteous life one has lived, there is always the hope and promise of Redemption, if one will receive and repent from the life one has led.

Kenny and Mike discuss and spot faith in the hit Apple TV series from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan. Set in Albuquerque Plur1bus stars Better Call Saul co-star Rhea Seehorn (Carol) and co-stars Karolina Wydra ( Zosia) and Carlos-Manuel Vesga (Manousos)

Carol is one of 13 people world wide who are immune from an extraterrestrial derived virus that has united all the worlds population into "The Others," a mind hive where everyone is interconnected, content and peaceful. Every individual "Other" can communicate with all "Others" and have knowledge of everything ever known.

While 11 of the immune are content with the change, as the Others provide everything they need or want, Carol and Manousos resist and are determined to reverse the virus and restore the world to the way things were prior to the arrival of the virus. Season 1 of Plur1bus is currently on Apple+TV.

Faith Issues Spotted:

Freedom to Choose: God's willingness to give people agency to make their own life decisions and act in ways that are counter to the life and desires God has for them. Such freedom is a part of the brokenness and suffering of creation and is the source of pain and suffering to all of creation as well as God. This freedom to choose is also part of what makes humanity the highest level of creation as it is a part of being in the image and likeness of God.

Purpose and Power of Community: When individuals gather together to work together for the benefit of the community, suffering can be greatly reduced for persons inside and beyond the collective. Acts 2:44-46, Acts 4:32-35

Individuality: While community is important and part of God's desire for humanity, each person is an individual, given unique interests, gifts, talents, and calling.

The place and purpose of Grief in being able to move through loss.

The importance of satisfaction in life, being able to enjoy one's life and accomplishments.

Kenny and Mike review the Prime Video documentary The Merchants of Joy and speak with the director Celia Aniskovich. The Merchants of Joy offers a look into the people and work behind the Christmas tree stands that seem to magically popup the day after Thanksgiving. Ankisovich presents the stories of the families, the competition that begins in the Summer as they bid on stand locations, their work the with tree farms, the financial risks, the month of 18 hour days managing and selling the trees that play an important part in their customers celebrating the joy of the season, and the community they have developed.

Faith Reflected:

The nature of calling, as represented by the five families as they not only to profit by the stands but help spread the joy of the season. Additionally, Kenny and Mike discuss with Celia her calling to likewise work long, hard and take financial risk to tell the story of the merchants.

The fullness and complexity of joy. Joy is more than happiness, it is also resistance and this aspect reflects the joy of the nativity, God's resisting the brokeness of the world through the inauguration of the Kingdom through the birth of Jesus.

Faithspotting co-hosts Mike and Kenny are joined by writer / director Max Walker-Silverman to discuss his newest film Rebuilding, which stars Josh O'connor, Lily LaTorre, Meghann Fahy, Kali Reis, and Amy Madigan. Set in Max's home state of Colorado, Rebuilding is a moving story of a family and community coming together in the aftermath of a wildfire that destroyed their homes and scorched their land and lives. Max drew upon his experience of losing a family home and acerage to a fire when he was growing up. Rebuilding is distributed by Bleeker Street.

Following Kenny and MIke's discussion of the film and faith they spotted, there is an interview with Max Walker-Silverman. In addition, Mike's co-teacher Michael Logan and one of their students, Trip Breslin join in the interview.

Faith Topics:

Hope in Rebuilding: Hope is grounded in faith in the possibility of new life and community plays an important role in rebuilding. Community can be family, friends, neighbors as well as strangers.

Rebuilding New Not Same Lives. Though the temptation is to seek to rebuild life just as it was before, new life will be different, and even if it seems less, it can often be a more fulfilling life.

Faith is change, and the Paradox of Home. Individuals, families, and communities often seek out "home"because it is known, comfortable, and predictable, yet home is typically changing or under threat of change. Part of faith is growth and accepting and embracing change. Seeking to avoid change and growth is based in fear and the opposite of faith.

Non-Anxious lives. Faith fosters a life that is non-anxious in the midst of change and even struggle. While everyone experiences anxiety in life and seasons of struggle and loss, faith, including the support of community, is an instrument in releasing anxiety.

Resurrection follows Good Friday. As witnessed in the Gospels, Jesus had to experience the suffering of Good Friday and the tomb before the resurrection. Most people will also experience suffering prior to the new life of resurrection. People of the Christian faith are Easter people prior to their death and passage from life unto life.