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.

“Uptown Funk!”

You’d be forgiven for thinking that this collaboration between British producer Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars was a long-lost bonus track from Prince’s Purple Rain soundtrack.

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Sonic Highways

Foo Fighters offer up an ambitious concept album that pays tribute to America’s musical history—while sounding a whole lot like … Foo Fighters.

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The Theory of Everything

It’s a rare thing for a movie to feel incredibly inspiring and yet deeply depressing all at once.

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“The Heart Wants What It Wants”

The sensual ghost of Selena Gomez’s high-profile, on-again, off-again, on-again relationship with Justin Bieber lurks in this heart-haunting rationalization for staying in a rancid romance.

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The Bank Job

Jason Statham stars in this seedy and sordid fictionalization of a real-life 1971 bank robbery in Britain.

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King’s Ransom

How does a rich businessman keep his estranged wife from taking his money? By arranging his own kidnapping, of course.

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1989

“Haters gonna hate, hate, hate,” sings Ms. Swift. And, yeah, we’ll probably end up in that column for our review of her ’80s-doused, sexed-up fifth album, 1989.

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Montevallo

In some ways, Sam Hunt’s country debut sounds new and different. In other ways, though, not so much.

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“I Bet My Life”

The guys from Imagine Dragons get in touch with their inner Mumford & Sons on a foot-stompin’ romp about a (partially) repentant prodigal.

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Laggies

To lag, meaning to fall or stay behind. That’s what Keira Knightley’s done in this quirky, indie dramedy. But the fix may be worse than the failure to launch in this case.

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“Blank Space”

Ms. Swift brags that she’s got “a long list of ex-lovers” on which there’s still “Blank Space” for a lot more given her newfound passion for playing the playas.

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“Lips Are Movin”

“Lips Are Movin” pairs ’50s-approved doo-wop harmonies with lyrics that almost could have fit that decade as well. But what is it about that bass?

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The Book of Life

It’s called The Book of Life, but it takes place on the Day of the Dead and in the Land of the Forgotten. That’s the big spiritual conundrum.

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.5: The Gray Chapter

The first new album from Slipknot in six years broods and churns and rants in metallic mourning for the loss of bandmate Paul Gray to a drug overdose.

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Whiplash

Andrew Neiman’s determined to become one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time. To get there he’ll have to survive the tutelage of a ruthless mentor.

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