The Passion of the Christ *** (2004, Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Maia Morgenstern) – Classic Movie Review 1029

Co-writer/co-producer/director Mel Gibson’s 2004 biblical epic is a totally gruelling but ultimately uplifting and thought-provoking religious experience.

Jim Caviezel is the noble embodiment of Jesus Christ, betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane then tortured in the most agonising ways known the man, with the nailing of Christ to the Cross at the end lingered over in appalling detail.

This highly controversial but reverential film is clearly a labour of love, or a labour of faith, made in Aramaic and Latin with subtitles, and lensed in chilly blue and brown tones. Everyone will not agree that this is the best version of the story, yet the Pope said: ‘It is as it was’.

Monica Bellucci co-stars as Mary Magdelene, Maia Morgenstern plays Mary, Hristo Shopov is Pontius Pliate, Luca De Dominicis is Herod and Luca Lionello is Judas.

It’s a remarkable looking film, with distinguished cinematography by Caleb Deschanel and beautiful set designs by Francesco Frigeri. Benedict Fitzgerald co-writes the screenplay with Gibson.

It was the highest-grossing rated R film in US box office history, earning $370million, on a cost of $30million. It took £10million in the UK, where it has an 18 certificate. By 2013, it totalled $612million worldwide. It runs 127 minutes.  A cut version seven minutes shorter was released in cinemas in March 2005 for Easter under the title The Passion Recut, trimming of the most graphic scenes, particularly the scourging, with a 15 certificate in the UK.

On 9 June 2016 it was announced that Gibson and writer Randall Wallace (Braveheart) are working on a sequel to The Passion of the Christ that will tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 1029 derekwinnert.com