And seems to imply that by making “Christian talk-back radio” a key plot element, Christianity is portrayed in a negative light:
[Director John] Curran mentioned that the film’s near constant use of Christian talk-back radio as part of the soundtrack was a late addition because the director felt that De Niro is a very closed actor who didn’t reveal much about his character’s internal mental or emotional landscape, and Curran couldn’t find music that would cue the audience into what Jack (De Niro’s character) was thinking and feeling.
And then this in the “Discussion Starters” at the end of the review:
Taking into account not just Jack but also his wife and the inclusion of the Christian talk-back radio, what is the film’s attitude toward institutional religion? What is the difference, if any, between portraying Christianity in a bad light and portraying individual characters who claim to be Christian in a bad light? Which, if either, does the film do?