Prayer in school, oh boy, I can't think of another high-tension issue that surpasses this one. Although God's Club is not necessarily about this particular subject, its premise is bound to have some big arguments on both sides of the fence. I'm sure most of us know them already, but for the sake of my word count, let's run them down. On the one hand, this great nation of ours was founded on the ideal of religious freedom; however, the separation of church and state has much to say about the matter as well. Needless to say, this is a topic that garners a lot of attention and must be handled with care. Fortunately, I believe that to be the case with God's Club.

Before the death of his wife, Michael's attitude in regards to the bible club was tolerant at best. Believing the extracurricular activity was not worth the pushback that it was receiving from outraged parents, he was supportive, albeit unenthusiastic. Following her passing, he makes it his mission not only to reinvent the club but spearhead it as well. It does not take long before he finds himself up against the same backlash that plagued his late wife. Only through perseverance and dare I say faith will he be about to survive the onslaught.

A spaghetti western with a bit of supernatural tone. I not exactly sure that those two go together, but they give their best shot in Killed or Be Killed. This film shows how far man will come in pursuit of a fortune, as the group sacrifice almost everything including their lives. A band of outlaws, after breaking one of their number free from a chain gang, set about a long trek across the great state of Texas in order to claim a fortune that will allow them to retire from their outlaw ways. Not long after beginning their trek, misfortune strikes the gang in the form or several situations which will decrease their number and create dissent among the gang.

Soon bodies begin dropping left and right with every town the group hits. A tremendous bounty is placed on the group’s heads, attracting the attention of several lawmen looking to collect on the payday. Who will survive to make it to the fortune?

Maybe it’s simply just a part of growing up, but when I listen to the radio and I hear what is topping the charts I just roll my eyes and wonder, “What is this crap I’m listening to?”  We’ve all experienced this at some point, I’d imagine, and as I’ve gotten older my music tastes have seemed to move to before my time, as I’ve moved past my days of listening to strictly metal and rock that ruled the 90’s to now embracing the music of the 60’s and 70’s.  I listen to the pop music that floods the airwaves now and hear “music” that lacks substance and meaning, as it is just noise to play on the dance floors of clubs.  It’s here where I feel the series of documentaries Penelope Spheeris should conclude her saga of music over the decades.

In 1981 Penelope Spheeris came out with a documentary that captured the LA punk scene, a scene that was filled with such rebellious nature that for some it was the last stand against the corporations taking over our music.  These young men and women are pretty much the unsung heroes of music; whether you’re a fan or not of punk, it has made its mark on music to this day, and it did so without flashy music videos and without the Twitter-verse; it did so as a unified force that wasn’t afraid to stand up to its oppressors.

Life was financed by Canada and Australia with a Dutch director, but the subject matter was strictly American. I’m burying the lead because I want to give the film’s subject a proper buildup. Life is about one of the most famous people who ever lived. He was a person who was loved all over the world and whose face is the preeminent icon of youth and rebellion. One could argue there are others who could vie for the crown, but for different reasons I would insist that James Dean is the man. James Dean is unique for many reasons, but the main one is that he died at 24 at the cusp of a very big wave of fame. His talent and charisma was obvious, and he nailed it three out of three times on the big screen, East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant. He was the next Brando but became the only James Dean. There are many screen legends, but no one burned brighter and faster with a light that shines to this very day. He died September 30, 1955 from a car crash.

Life is the story of a photographer who spent a few days with Dean just before he became insanely famous. Denis Stock (Robert Pattinson from the Twilight movies) took some of the first candid and most iconic photographs of Dean before he was swallowed by the studio system. Dean ( Dane Dehaan, who James Franco has tweeted is stalking him since he’s made James Dean, Allan Ginsberg, and Green Goblin movies after Franco did) is an elusive and skittish character in this film. Its obvious Dean knows he’s special but is not really suited to being famous. He has come from small town in Indiana and life on a farm with a very supportive religious family.