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.

[familyop]

Correction: Bellucci played Mary Magdelene. But still...

[top of the world ma]

I'm totally serious! Why not???

[Burkeman1]

Why not just rely on the Gospels like Gibson did? Or was that not to your liking?

[stands2reason]

I got as far as the "principal figure" uhhh, stuff.

Did you know "principal figure" is a very common phrase? Has nothing to do with any goddess theory.

It also seems that the writer of that particular screed doesn't understand what "hardcore pornography" is.

[churchillbuff]

we are not fond of fame, films or art--especially Renaissance art. ...vanities from Satan.

This sounds like an unchristian rejection of human life. Everything you talk about can be used for God's glory - film and art certain, even fame. "Let us now praise famous men"

[Burkeman1]

Not really sure what that was about? I think it was left wing attempt to paint me as Anti Semitic. I am a Traditional Catholic who recognizes and sympathizes whith pre Vatican II Catholics. I think I am being targeted by either left wingers or phoney right wingers who want me to seem anti jewish.

[Burkeman1]

What are you gonna do? Nothing!

[top of the world ma]

The film is based on the New Testament, no?

What better book from which to adapt a screenplay. IMHO, I don't think the Academy dare pass up the opportunity to nominate it in that catagory. I'll go out on a limb now and predict that it will win.

We'll see---in about a year.

[Rennes Templar]

"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."

Well God forbid a director take artistic license to portray a condemned murderer as being maniacal. My God, this could influence Hollywood in a negatve way that would create more graphic and extreme characters in movies. Thank God this writer had the foresight to point this out and save western civilization from further decline.

[per loin]

Three of the leading actresses, including the one who played Mary, are hard core porn stars.

Well just shove that Jesus dude outa your way, and cast your stone, you sinless little sweetie.

[top of the world ma]

RE your #47 and #48: Que???

I haven't a clue as to what you're referring to. Makes no sense to me---sorry.

[Terry Mross]

Did anyone notice the word "silver", as in "thirty pieces of silver"?

[top of the world ma]

What possible difference does it make about where I am? We're talking about a movie. Loose the paranoia.

[top of the world ma]

You definitely have me confused with someone else. I don't know how "Irish" ever entered into this conversation. If the admin mod feels my posts are offensive, surely my responses will be deleted. Your paranoia prevails.

[Burkeman1]

What do you want? And in one sentance without a comma or colon.

[per loin]

I'm confused too. I read back through the thread and don't see what Burkeman 1 is going off about.