Joel Mayward
@jmayward.bsky.social
Asst. Professor of Christian Ministries, Theology and the Arts @ George Fox University, OR • PhD, St Andrews • Pastor-Theologian • 🍅 approved Film Critic • Author (books on Dardenne brothers, Christopher Nolan, Sufjan Stevens) • Human (he/him)
Here are some pics from last night's author event at @powells.bsky.social for my @3313books.bsky.social book, "Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell". I'm so grateful to Powell's for hosting. They now have a stack of autographed copies of the book.
November 19, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Here are some pics from last night's author event at @powells.bsky.social for my @3313books.bsky.social book, "Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell". I'm so grateful to Powell's for hosting. They now have a stack of autographed copies of the book.
And while it's not perfect, "A Sun Came" deserves honorable mention.
November 18, 2025 at 4:32 AM
And while it's not perfect, "A Sun Came" deserves honorable mention.
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
Perhaps it's cliche, but there's no contest.
Perhaps it's cliche, but there's no contest.
November 18, 2025 at 4:31 AM
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
Perhaps it's cliche, but there's no contest.
Perhaps it's cliche, but there's no contest.
It's been a good week.
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
September 27, 2025 at 1:07 AM
It's been a good week.
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
A Hidden Life (Terrence Malick)
September 22, 2025 at 6:27 AM
A Hidden Life (Terrence Malick)
What movie do you consider “perfect”?
September 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
What movie do you consider “perfect”?
Something is wrong with white AI Jesus's hands. Looks like puddles of raw chicken. Or a blobfish.
September 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Something is wrong with white AI Jesus's hands. Looks like puddles of raw chicken. Or a blobfish.
My author copies of "Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell" arrived today. Thanks to @3313books.bsky.social and Bloomsbury for publishing my book on this beautiful album.
August 20, 2025 at 1:46 AM
My author copies of "Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell" arrived today. Thanks to @3313books.bsky.social and Bloomsbury for publishing my book on this beautiful album.
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
I haven't done this in awhile. Another eclectic week of movie-watching, with a lot of ★★★½ ratings.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
I haven't done this in awhile. Another eclectic week of movie-watching, with a lot of ★★★½ ratings.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
August 15, 2025 at 5:03 PM
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
I haven't done this in awhile. Another eclectic week of movie-watching, with a lot of ★★★½ ratings.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
I haven't done this in awhile. Another eclectic week of movie-watching, with a lot of ★★★½ ratings.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
Your favorite film for each life stage?
1) Birth
2) Infancy & Toddlerhood (age 0–2)
3) Childhood (age 3–10)
4) Early Adolescence (age 10–14)
5) Late Adolescence (age 14–18)
6) College (age 19–24)
7) Early Adulthood (age 25–39)
8) Middle Adulthood (age 40–64)
9) Late Adulthood (age 65+)
10) Death
1) Birth
2) Infancy & Toddlerhood (age 0–2)
3) Childhood (age 3–10)
4) Early Adolescence (age 10–14)
5) Late Adolescence (age 14–18)
6) College (age 19–24)
7) Early Adulthood (age 25–39)
8) Middle Adulthood (age 40–64)
9) Late Adulthood (age 65+)
10) Death
July 15, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Your favorite film for each life stage?
1) Birth
2) Infancy & Toddlerhood (age 0–2)
3) Childhood (age 3–10)
4) Early Adolescence (age 10–14)
5) Late Adolescence (age 14–18)
6) College (age 19–24)
7) Early Adulthood (age 25–39)
8) Middle Adulthood (age 40–64)
9) Late Adulthood (age 65+)
10) Death
1) Birth
2) Infancy & Toddlerhood (age 0–2)
3) Childhood (age 3–10)
4) Early Adolescence (age 10–14)
5) Late Adolescence (age 14–18)
6) College (age 19–24)
7) Early Adulthood (age 25–39)
8) Middle Adulthood (age 40–64)
9) Late Adulthood (age 65+)
10) Death
I know there are bigger issues to worry about, but apparently Cinematrix doesn't consider "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" to be a movie title containing "The" 🤨
July 11, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I know there are bigger issues to worry about, but apparently Cinematrix doesn't consider "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" to be a movie title containing "The" 🤨
Happy 20th anniversary of the release of Sufjan Stevens' "Illinois"
July 4, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Happy 20th anniversary of the release of Sufjan Stevens' "Illinois"
Happy 50th birthday to Sufjan Stevens.
July 1, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Happy 50th birthday to Sufjan Stevens.
It's halfway through the year, so here are my top 10 films of 2025 so far.
July 1, 2025 at 3:53 AM
It's halfway through the year, so here are my top 10 films of 2025 so far.
I recognize that writing and promoting books while the world is a dumpster fire of injustice and suffering may seem like I'm burying my head in the sand. But I think that beauty, creativity, & writing is as needed as ever. (Also, I'm just not posting online what I'm involved in re: justice/praxis.)
June 26, 2025 at 1:56 AM
I recognize that writing and promoting books while the world is a dumpster fire of injustice and suffering may seem like I'm burying my head in the sand. But I think that beauty, creativity, & writing is as needed as ever. (Also, I'm just not posting online what I'm involved in re: justice/praxis.)
If you're attending AAR Online, I'm presiding for the Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Unit's session, "A Mixture of Moving Images" at 5:00–6:30 pm Eastern (2:00–3:30 Pacific). We have Korean horror, Japanese anime, and HARVEY with Jimmy Stewart. #AAR25Online
June 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
If you're attending AAR Online, I'm presiding for the Religion, Film, and Visual Culture Unit's session, "A Mixture of Moving Images" at 5:00–6:30 pm Eastern (2:00–3:30 Pacific). We have Korean horror, Japanese anime, and HARVEY with Jimmy Stewart. #AAR25Online
Here's my top 10, fwiw, based on my top 25 published at Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/jmayward/lis...
June 23, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Here's my top 10, fwiw, based on my top 25 published at Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/jmayward/lis...
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
It's been an eclectic week of film-watching.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
It's been an eclectic week of film-watching.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
June 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
It's been an eclectic week of film-watching.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
It's been an eclectic week of film-watching.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
Watched two films about math today.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
Watched two films about math today.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
June 14, 2025 at 4:18 AM
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
Watched two films about math today.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
Watched two films about math today.
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ
Here's the cover for my forthcoming book, "Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan." I'm so pleased by how it turned out! Artwork by @briannaduggan.bsky.social. Pre-order now at Bloomsbury or wherever you buy your books online. www.bloomsbury.com/us/theology-...
June 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Here's the cover for my forthcoming book, "Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan." I'm so pleased by how it turned out! Artwork by @briannaduggan.bsky.social. Pre-order now at Bloomsbury or wherever you buy your books online. www.bloomsbury.com/us/theology-...
Pitchfork just gave the Carrie & Lowell 10th Anniversary Edition a rare 10. pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
June 7, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Pitchfork just gave the Carrie & Lowell 10th Anniversary Edition a rare 10. pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
Out of all the dystopian sci-fi films, one I think remains prescient and captures the current cultural moment is WALL-E.
June 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Out of all the dystopian sci-fi films, one I think remains prescient and captures the current cultural moment is WALL-E.