'PASSION': A GOOD-TIME FLICK? (Willem DaFoe misses a key rule: never alienate your core audience)

NY Post ^ | January 23, 2004 | Dick Johnson

[presidio9]

MEL Gibson shouldn't count on controversy to drive the box-office for "The Passion," his new flick about the death of Jesus Christ, warns Willem Dafoe. Back in 1988, the craggy character actor starred as Jesus in Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ," which inspired a firestorm of condemnation from church leaders before its release because it showed Christ having sex with Mary Magdalene, a scene missing from the Bible. But the picture promptly died. Gibson's movie, which stars Jim Caviezel and is due out on Feb. 25, strictly follows the New Testament, but it has been criticized by some who fear it might encourage anti-Semitism. "There were all sorts of huge expectations for 'Temptation,' but it did very poor business," Dafoe told Post Chief Film Critic Lou Lumenick at the Fox Searchlight party for "The Clearing," in which the "Spider-Man" star plays opposite Robert Redford. "People aren't going to go see Gibson's movie just because it's controversial. They go to see movies because they want to have a good time."

[Guenevere]

DaFoe just doesn't 'get it'...does he :^

[presidio9]

moved to chat :(

[NCC-1701]

"...They go to see movies because they want to have a good time..."

If seeing a movie about the death of the Son of God is "having a good time", then why not have one showing the groung-level depiction of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. DeFoe can star in it so the rest of us can "have a good time" watching people evaporate. Sheeesh, what a prick. The Passion of the Christ is, in Mel's words, "the anti-date movie". Just from the trailers, it's going to be a powerful experience, tear-jerker, and anti-good time movie. It's been said that those who have played Jesus Christ have not had any success afterward. I hope Jim Caviezel is the exception to that. Cant't wait to see the movie.

[Caipirabob]

"People aren't going to go see Gibson's movie just because it's controversial. They go to see movies because they want to have a good time."

Well for Pete's sake, what could be more fun for a liberal than to watch a Christian icon get crucified?!?

Methinks Mel's going to be overwhelmed in this "kingdom" and the next over the success of this film...

[b9]

It's been said that those who have played Jesus Christ have not had any success afterward.

I wonder... do you suppose that might be kind of like astronauts who've been to the moon? I've heard it's very hard for them to "come down to earth" after the experience.

My mom told me many years ago that she heard about actors who've portrayed Jesus, and the life-long effect it has. I always assumed it was a good effect. But I can see how it would be tumultuous.

[JoeSchem]

I don't think the issue is how much money the picture will make. It is something that simply had to be made.

For that reason, I suspect it will have a 'quiet' box office take, then be released onto video and become the most successful motion picture in history for the next thousand years.

[NCC-1701]

If you go to www.imdb.com and do a character search by entering Jesus Christ, you'll find 52 entries. Among them are Jeffery Hunter & Cameron Mitchell. Those are the two names that jump out. I haven't done any research on what happened to the 52 who have played Jesus, but none of them ring any bells for post-Jesus roles.