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 who are Catholic priests and taking place primarily in a Catholic church, the film presents a unique opportunity for Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian to evaluate how well a major Hollywood film portrays the priesthood.

(0:05) Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt catch up on the past month and briefly discuss some of the movies they've seen recently, including an animated film about King David and Jay Kelly (2025).

(5:18) Fr. Matt introduces the film that's the main topic of this episode, Wake Up, Dead Man (2025), the third installment of the Knives Out series. He and Fr. Brian are particularly excited about this film because the two main characters are Catholic priests.

(14:15) Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt talk about how accurately the film depicts aspects of Catholicism such as the liturgy, the ministry of a priest, etc.

(41:25) Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian give their seeds of the Word ratings for the film and close the episode with a trivia game.

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 sequel, Wicked: For Good (2025). They explore the evolution of the story from Gregory Maguire’s original novel to the Broadway musical, and finally to the big-screen adaptations. Our hosts discuss themes of friendship and debate the value of reinterpreting old stories, examining how these films reshape (or don’t reshape) our understanding of the iconic Wizard of Oz (1939) film.

(0:26) Father Matt and Father Brian open the show by welcoming listeners to 2026 and reflecting on their experience hosting a live episode on It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) last month. They highlight the communal nature of cinema and the importance of gathering and sharing films together.

(2:24) The priests discuss their Letterboxd stats, including the number of films watched, total hours logged, favorite actors, and prominent themes from 2025. Father Matt highlights Paul Walter Hauser as his most-watched actor of 2025, and they share their first, last, and favorite movies of the year.

(12:41) The conversation shifts to the episode’s main topic: Wicked (2024) and its sequel, Wicked: For Good (2025). Father Brian explains the significance of these movies as adaptations of the Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire’s novel, noting how the story has been reimagined for a new generation of viewers.

(15:25) They discuss the history of the “Wicked” novel, its 2003 Broadway debut, and its long-running popularity. Father Brian shares his personal experience seeing the musical on tour many times, while Father Matt has only seen it performed once in East Lansing. They also analyze the decision to divide Wicked into two movies, comparing it to other adaptations like Dune. They debate whether the second movie truly adds value or simply prolongs the story for commercial reasons.

(19:10) Father Matt and Father Brian explore how Wicked reinterprets the original Wizard of Oz, giving the Wicked Witch of the West a more nuanced perspective. They debate moments in the film that “tip their hat” to the original Oz story, weighing cleverness and homage against fan service and overuse of nostalgia.

(30:05) The hosts examine the film’s deeper themes, including power, manipulation, and the treatment of animals. They highlight how Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship develops despite their differences and reflect on the two films’ enduring message of friendship, personal growth, and the lasting impact others have on our lives.

(41:33) The episode concludes with our hosts sharing their “seeds of the word” ratings for the films, based on how clearly they saw goodness, truth, and beauty reflected in the story.

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 a Wonderful Life (1946).

0:29 – Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian introduce this episode—the very first live episode of Cinema Verbi. Recorded live at Sacred Heart Major Seminary during a fundraiser for Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry, the episode is divided into two parts. During the first portion, Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian introduce this episode’s movie, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) then the recording pauses while the live audience watches the movie. In the second portion of the podcast, Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt share some thoughts about the movie, their Seeds of the Word ratings, and close the episode with trivia.

(2:27) Fr. Brian shares that he’s seen the movie several times and also acted in a stage production while in high school. Fr. Matt has only seen the film one other time.

(6:14) Fr. Brian provides a brief overview of the Church’s teaching regarding angels, particularly guardian angels; how the Church’s perspective on angels differs from that of popular culture; and the role angels play in the plot of It’s a Wonderful Life.

(10:52) Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian discuss another major theme of the movie, that of giving of oneself for others.

(20:30) Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt return after watching the film with the live audience.

(22:16) Fr. Matt observes that he appreciates how the movie shows that suffering is never in vain, that the Lord can always use it for good.

(25:05) Fr. Brian shares his favorite line from the movie; one that’s not spoken but only seen in a sign in the bank, “All that you can take with you is that which you give away.” He also reflects on some of the character names and wonders if they were deliberately chosen to connect with the Passion story from sacred Scripture.

(26:33) Fr. Matt talks about appreciating seeing the events of the film unfold from the perspective of the angels.

(29:57) Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt share their Seeds of the Word ratings and then play trivia with members of the audience.

(39:25) Fr. Brian closes the episode with prayer.