Does `The Passion' have Oscar legs?

Daily News via Miami Herald ^ | Mar 11, 04 | Jack Matthews

[churchillbuff]

Does `The Passion' have Oscar legs?

BY JACK MATHEWS

New York Daily News

(KRT) - If you think the debate over Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" will be over once the movie has taken in its last piece of silver at theaters, consider next year's Oscar race. Will it or won't it receive nominations? And if not, true believers will say, why in the hell not?

By one measure, "Passion" hardly seems like a movie at all. It's not entertainment; rather, it's a religious experience, and one that millions of people want to have. But technically it qualifies and will have to be deconstructed and evaluated by the various Academy branches.

Regardless of how one feels about Gibson's version of the Crucifixion, it's a first-rate physical production. It's brilliantly filmed by cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, a four-time Oscar nominee. And given the graphic flesh trauma borne by blood-drenched star James Caviezel, one would think a makeup nomination is in the bag.

But what of the movie itself, and Gibson as Best Director? Is "Passion" going to divide Academy voters along the blue state/red state fault line the way it seems to be dividing the general population? It only takes 20 percent of a branch's membership to get a nomination.

For me, "Passion" has one huge flaw that should keep it off both the picture and director ballots. Gibson, at cross-purposes with his esthetic and spiritual selves, fell back on his worst Hollywood instincts in the treatment of his story's villains.

The sadistic Roman soldiers who have such a fine time scourging Jesus are played like caricatures of the inbred hillbillies in "Deliverance." And Barabbas, the Jewish prisoner whose freedom the temple priests choose over Jesus' life, is played like the evil spawn of Quasimodo and Aileen Wuornos.

Gibson may be accurately dramatizing the scriptural dialogue in the Barabbas scene, but nowhere in the Bible does it say he was a B-movie homicidal maniac who seemed certain to kill the minute he was free. In fact, all biblical sources describe Barabbas as a political prisoner who killed during an insurrection.

That Gibson envisioned him as a foul-faced cartoon monster is both bad filmmaking and evidence for those who think he was feeding anti-Semitism even if he didn't intend to.

[Pukin Dog]

Just another opportunity to slam the movie. They know damn well that Passion will receive no nominations.

[missyme]

I don't believe Hollywood will want to honor Mel Gibson or the movie, WHY? because Mel would not get on stage thanking all these hollywood bozos he would be thanking Jesus for dying on the cross, he would thank Jesus for allowing him to spread the Gospel to the world..Hollywood would freak out that the Oscars would turn into a spiritual event.

[Clint Williams]

Who cares? Public M*st*rb*t**n is notinh I have ever cared to watch.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Another Christ hating anti-Christian mouths his pseudo intelic mumbo jumbo before getting to his main point. Slamming any and all concerned with the movie, including any who perchanced to see it.

[js1138]

I don't believe that films are considered unless entered by their producers. I think Mel will stiff them.

[Riley]

It will probably get a token nomination or two, just so the Hollywood lefties can go on about what a bunch of even-handed, fair-minded people they are.

So what? It's a popularity contest anyway. I can't imagine anything less consequential. Mel's got it made, and he's earned it.

[kenth]

I don't think it matters. It doesn't to me at all. It's just interesting to watch the anti-Christians squirm because the movie is doing so well and hate knowing that its success should earn it all manner of awards.

[randog]

They know damn well that Passion will receive no nominations.

I would hope that those involved with the making of the movie would decline any nomination if it did come.

[breakem]

OK who's got the definitive answer. Is it a foreign language film because of the language(duh), mostly foreign cast, and locations or is it a domestic film because Mel's company is US?

[DentsRun]

I don't believe Hollywood will want to honor Mel Gibson or the movie, WHY? because Mel would not get on stage thanking all these hollywood bozos he would be thanking Jesus for dying on the cross, he would thank Jesus for allowing him to spread the Gospel to the world..Hollywood would freak out that the Oscars would turn into a spiritual event.

I suspect "The Passion of the Christ" will get three or four nominations but no awards. That will be Hollywood's way at getting back at Gibson him for daring to make the movie after they tried to stop him. If I were him I wouldn't even go. You know already they're planning the shot showing him sitting dejectedly in his seat as his film is bypassed time after time. Don't give him the satisfaction Mel. Have a brew with friends. Play a little one-on-one with one of your boys in the back yard.

[dts32041]

Amen, don't nominate it, so my string of not seeing best movies will remain un broken.

[missyme]

I too, hope Mel blows Hollywood and there stupid awards show off..........

[js1138]

OK who's got the definitive answer. Is it a foreign language film because of the language(duh), mostly foreign cast, and locations or is it a domestic film because Mel's company is US?

I think Icon may be Australian. Films are usually divided up as English or foreign language. Crouching Tiger had an American director, but won as foreign language.

[churchillbuff]

Don't give him the satisfaction Mel. Have a brew with friends. Play a little one-on-one with one of your boys in the back yard.

RIGHT ON - - - BUT HE SHOULD MAKE SURE "THE PASSION" IS IN THEATERS AGAIN NEXT YEAR -- DURING THE OSCARS -- AS LENT BEGINS. IT'LL PROBABLY OUTSHINE FIRST RELEASE FILMS.

[Burkeman1]

Yes it will. They will have too after it clears a billion. But it will be for best Music Score, and a best supporting actress role (Mary). It will surely be nominated for all the major Oscars but will get none. Politics.

[Stars N Stripes]

Aren't the vast majority of films that are considered Classics, non-Best Picture winners? Seems I read that somewhere long ago...

[breakem]

Offices in LA and London. Distribution Companies in Australia and Canada. I think Mel lives in Cal, so I'll assume a Cal company with international arms.

[breakem]

http://www.filmsite.org/

[Nateman]

Why are we asking if this movie is worthy of Hollywood's acclaim? Hollywood is not worthy of this
movie.