The Book of Life ** (1998, Martin Donovan, P J Harvey, Dave Simonds, Thomas Jay Ryan) – Classic Movie Review 7104

Writer-director Hal Hartley’s weird, serious-minded 1998 fantasy comedy satire The Book of Life is a self-styled controversial retelling of the Apocalypse.

Martin Donovan stars as Jesus Christ, who arrives in New York on millennium eve with his assistant Magdalena (P J Harvey) to bring about the end of the world. He fights the devil, Satan (Thomas Jay Ryan), and wonders whether the lives he sees are worth saving.

Mixing techno sounds and images to illuminate man’s ageless religious dilemma, The Book of Life starts brightly but fades into tedium despite its short running time.

Also in the cast are Dave Simonds, Miho Nikaido and D.J. Mendel.

The Book of Life is directed by Hal Hartley, runs 65 minutes, is written by Hal Hartley, is shot by Jim Denault, and is produced by Jerome Brownstein (executive producer), Caroline Benjo, Thierry Cagianut, Pierre Chevalier, Matthew Myers and Carole Scotta, with Art Direction by Andy Biscontini.

It follows The Unbelievable Truth (1989), Trust (1990), Surviving Desire, Simple Men (1992), Amateur, Flirt, and Henry Fool.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7104

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