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.

“Good for You”

In the case of “Good for You,” Gomez’s confidence and vulnerability are expressed exclusively in sexual terms.

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The Golden Compass

Another wardrobe is taking center stage onscreen. But it’s Lyra instead of Lucy. And the lion has been traded in for a polar bear—who in this tale certainly does not represent God.

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Roses

This EDM duo’s second hit features a singer named Rozes, too … even if the sultry song she sings ultimately doesn’t smell quite like one.

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Stitches

This hit from rising Canadian pop star Shawn Mendes chronicles the emotional abuse he’s taken at the hands of a lover who’s left him.

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Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Makes for a compelling story – told in a way that we haven’t seen a dozen times already as we’re invited into an intimate friendship.

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Hope Springs

Hope Springs is about sex. And it is (sometimes) a comedy. But it is also the story of an aging couple trying desperately to rekindle their intimacy. And that’s unlike any sex comedy moviegoers have probably ever seen before.

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Post Grad

Alexis Bledel learns that A) graduating from college doesn’t guarantee you a great job, and B) not getting what you want just might be the best thing ever.

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John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16

Three Johns team up to deliver a mixed message about rock, rebellion and salvation on Keith Urban’s latest hit.

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Drones

Drones’ lyrical content focuses much of its attention on how warfare is conducted in the 21st century. Namely, nameless, faceless operators manning drones.

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Love & Mercy

This painstaking, at times painful portrait of Beach Boys brainchild Brian Wilson dives deep into his brokenness … and shows how love helped him heal.

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American Teen

Nanette Burstein captures the triumphs and trials of five real-life Indiana teens in this unvarnished documentary about their senior year of high school.

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How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Florence Welch plunges into the swirling, inky melancholy of loss on this fiery English band’s third album.

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Out of the Wasteland

Lifehouse’s latest overflows with a mature perspective on life and love, conflict and perseverance.

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Snakes on a Plane

For Samuel L. Jackson, the title alone was enough reason to sign up for this cheesy B-movie that’s equal parts action, horror, dark comedy and obscenity.

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Nothing Like the Holidays

George Burns observed, “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” But the Rodriguezes are all together in Chicago for Christmas. And they’re figuring out ways to make the best of it.

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