Contributor: Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

Footloose

Back in the ’80s, Kevin Bacon danced his way into a career while the infectious strains of Kenny Loggins’ still-famous song grooved away in the background. Now it’s Kenny Wormald’s turn as Paramount reboots this muddy morality tale.

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“Face to the Floor”

Chevelle has a long history when it comes to songs with lyrically inscrutability. This time around, though, breadcrumbs have been left shining in the moonlight to help us along our way.

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Two for the Money

Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey in a cautionary, no-holds-barred tale about the destructive, shape-shifting power of addiction.

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Fastlife

Joe Jonas told his brothers he wanted to do something a little different on his solo debut. A Parental Advisory sticker is our first clue about what he might have had in mind.

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“Red Solo Cup”

A Toby Keith tune about the glories of the ubiquitous red Solo cup. This couldn’t be a drinking song, could it?

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“The One That Got Away”

Katy Perry’s sixth Top 10 single from her Teenage Dream album places her in some pretty rare company. Her reckless romanticism is less rare.

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Clear as Day

The debut offering from American Idol’s Season 10 champ is long on love, deep on bass and, thankfully, short on common country clichés.

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Having the Courage to Be Preached To

If you’ve tuned in to any kind of Christian media in the last week or so, you probably already know that the latest movie from Sherwood Pictures, Courageous, opens today. I saw the film myself a couple of weeks ago to review it for Plugged In. And when …

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“We Are Young”

fun.’s first big single, a bacchanalian ode to friends carrying drunk friends home from the bar, owes its success in large measure to Glee and Chevrolet.

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Justin and Selena’s Big Date

You’re the most popular 17-year-old on the planet. You want to make an impression on your girl. What do you do? Well, if you’re Justin Bieber, you rent Los Angeles’ Staples Center—that’s right, the 20,000-seat home of the L.A. Lakers—for … an intimate …

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“Without You”

Gal just left ya? Guy won’t call? Think you’ve got it bad? Wait ’til you get an earful of the mournfully melancholy pining David Guetta and Usher unleash in this sad, sad song.

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Vice Verses

The latest from Jon Foreman and Co. dives headfirst into the messy, confusing business of life and death, faith, hope and love. The result is nothing short of exhilarating.

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Nevermind, 20 Years Later

September 24th marks the 20th anniversary of one of the most influential rock albums of all time, Nirvana’s Nevermind. Kurt Cobain and Co.’s plaintive, searing, brooding, sarcastic, angst-drenched and out-of-tune blast of grunge put a stake in the hear …

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Moneyball

Brad Pitt steps into the cleats of Billy Beane, a failed baseball player looking for redemption as an Oakland A’s manager who adopts a controversial mathematical system to choose his players.

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Machine Gun Preacher

What happens when a gun totin’, heroin abusin’ ex-con finds Jesus and goes to Africa on a mission trip? Machine Gun Preacher tells the unlikely tale.

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