Cinema Verbi

Cinema Verbi: Brand New Day

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian discuss Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), one of the biggest blockbusters of the year and one of the biggest franc

An Epic Episode of Cinema Verbi

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt discuss some of the movies they've seen recently, including "Pressure" (2026), "The Death of Robin Hood" (2026), a

Disclosure Day: Should There Be Tension Between Faith and Reason?

In the latest episode of Cinema Verbi, Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian discuss movies they've seen recently, including Diary of a Country Priest (1951) and Masters of the Universe

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

In this episode, Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt talk about the big summer movies they're looking forward to seeing (and maybe reviewing on a future episode of Cinema Verbi?), wha

Project Hail Mary (Full of Grace)

On the 20th episode of Cinema Verbi, Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt look back on their favorite moments, movies, and review Project Hail Mary (2026). Our hosts appreciate that th

Playing God in "Frankenstein"

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Father Matt and Father Brian review Frankenstein (2025), directed by Guillermo del Toro. What begins as a discussion of the film's pacing

Sentimental Value and What Really Matters

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Father Brian and Fr. Matt review Sentimental Value (2025), a Norwegian film about family dynamics, generational trauma, and the healing o

Wake Up, Dead Man: How well does Hollywood portray the priesthood?

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt review Wake Up, Dead Man (2025), the latest film in the Knives Out murder mystery series. With two main characters

Goodness and Friendship in "Wicked: For Good"

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Father Matt and Father Brian reflect on the movies they watched in 2025 before diving into a discussion about Wicked (2024) and its seque

A Special Christmas Episode of Cinema Verbi

This special live episode of Cinema Verbi was recorded at Detroit’s Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Fr. Matt, Fr. Brian, and a live audience watch the Christmas classic It’s

Finding Faith in “K-Pop Demon Hunters”

In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Fathers Brian and Matt welcome their very first special guest: Alyssa, daughter of the show’s sound producer. She’s here to help them unp

“Triumph of the Heart”: Martyrdom is a Victory

In this episode, Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian talk about Triumph of the Heart, a 2025 film about the final days of the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest killed at A

Love, sacrifice, and “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies”

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is a story about inheritance, caregiving, and family obligations—but as Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian discover, it also carries surprisi

Summer of Superheroes: "Superman" and "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

In this episode, Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt discuss the two summer superhero movies of 2025, Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. In particular, they explore how the

“Thunderbolts*” and the Power of Redemptive Suffering

In this episode, Father Matt and Father Brian discuss Thunderbolts* (2025), the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They explore the film’s central theme

Doubt vs. Certainty in “Conclave”

Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian discuss Conclave (2024), particularly whether it accurately portrays this unique aspect of the Church’s life—the election of a new pope. They also

“Here” and the sacredness of time and place

Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt explore the treatment of time and place in Here, a 2024 drama film depicting the events of a single spot of land over time. They discuss how this u

Life Everlasting in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"

Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt explore the treatment of death and the afterlife in both Beetlejuice (1988) and its sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). They compare the films’

Anxiety and Sense of Self in Inside Out 2

Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt dive into the Pixar universe to break down themes of anxiety and sense of self in this year’s Inside Out 2, the highest-grossing animated film of a

Twisters: Finding God in the Storm

[Editor's note: This podcast episode was recorded over the summer, before the recent hurricanes impacting areas in the southern U.S. The Archdiocese of Detroit offers its