Kenny and Mike discuss and spot faith in the popular film Project Hail Mary. Based on the novel by Andy Weir (The Martian) The film was directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and stars Ryan Gosling, Sandra Huller, and James Ortiz.

Named after the term for desperate, last minute plays in sports, the film tells the story of a desperate space mission to discover a way to stop a mysterious substance named Astrophage (Star-eater) that is killing the Sun and other stars. Ryland Grace (Gosling) a Jr. High biology teacher is recruited by an Govenrment agent and scientist Eva Stratt (Huller) to work on a project to find a way to save the Sun. After discovering a nearby star (Tau Ceti) that seems not to be impacted by the astrophage, a mission is planned to travel to Tau Ceti and discover how it is combatting the astrophage. Since there is not enough room for fuel for a return trip, the mission is considered to be a suicide mission. Upon arrival, Grace discovers a spaceship has been sent by Eridani, another planet seeking to also find out how to save it's star. Grace and Rocky, the pilot/scientist from Eridani must work together despite requiring different atmospheres and speaking different languages in order to discover the secret and save their planets' populations.

Faith Reflected:

The major faith element reflected is the need for community, putting aside difference and working together for the common good. Accepting differences and working with other groups who have differing beliefs and practices does not mean that one is abandoning one's belief or practices. Community can and should be established with others faith communities, political organizations, nations, and social groups.

Faithspotting friend Ryan Parker joins Mike and Kenny for the annual Faithspotting Oscars Prediction and Preview episode. Overall we thought 2026 was a good year for films as represented by the nominees. Of course there are some films and performances we would have liked to see get more attention but overall it was a strong, diverse year for cinema. Check out the Faithspotting episodes for 6 of the 10 Best Picture nominees: Frankenstein, Bugonia, Train Dreams, Marty Supreme, Sinners, and F1, where we discuss the film and spot faith elements they reflect. We are looking falready looking forward to the films that will be up for Oscars 2027.

Kenny and Mike review and disuss faith elements spotted in Guillermo del Toro's latest film and passion project. Frankenstein stars Jacob Elordi as the Creature and, Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, and co-stars Mia Goff and Christoph Waltz. The film received 9 Oscar nominations including best Picture, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay.

Frankenstein is a passion project for del Toro as he weaves elements from the Mary Shelley's novel, James Whale's original 1931 film, as well as his reinterpretation of the story.

Faith Spotted:

Humanity's temptation to play or challenge God. This tempation dates to the book of Genesis 3 where Eve and Adam were tempted to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This desire was rooted in a mistrust of God to care for them.

For Victor Frankenstein, the drive to play or become like God was rooted in Victor's loss, grief, and pain associated with the death of his mother and the abuse and rejection from his father, and his father's inability to save his mother. He wanted to reverse his father's failure by not only saving life but restoring and recreating life. Such pain cannot be soothed by satisfying ego and pride. These motivations to create are in direct contrast to God's desire to create which was and is grounded in God's desire for love and community.

The film shows the place and purpose for processing grief and not rushing or suppressing the grief journey. Such processing can involve faith, theology as well as counseling and psychological tools. In Philippans 4 Paul speaks of peace which passes understanding, which includes peace in the midst of the pain and grief of loss of loved ones.

Victor's abuse of the creature models the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, reflecting the cycle of abusive relationships being passed down to future generations as taught in Exodus 20 and 34.

The contrast of the music played during the process of Victor dismembering body parts to be used in the creature reflets the contrast between creation born out of love and that born out of anger and pain. Victor's comment, "It is finished" also reflects on the contrast of Christ's crucifixion which leads from death to eternal life and that of the eternal death the creature experiences in the life given from Victor.

Martin Luther's concept of simul iustus et peccator (simultaneously saint and sinner). The human and monster qualities within both Victor and the Creature reflects the saint and sinner within humanity. This concept is at the core of Luther's teaching that righteousness is a gift of grace received through Christ and received by faith. It is Christ who justifies as an act of love and grace.

The film shows the power of forgiveness to bring about transformation and true peace.