Ray amazed me. I didn't think Jamie Foxx came off as light, and Ray Charles' life wasn't a pleasant one to begin with, so calling the movie "seamy" was an uncalled for slam. Foxx looked and sounded like Ray Charles, and if I had to criticize anything about his portrayal, it's that Foxx doesn't look like he has the mileage that Ray did....and that's a small criticism (the director could have done some makeup tests on Foxx, and a few small wrinkles and creases would have enhanced the believabilty of Foxx's portrayal. As it is, he's just outstanding when he could have been out-freakin'-standing).
But, I do accept the main thesis of the article. The utter snub of TPOTC is an insult. Hollyweird went out of its way to villify this movie, and some of the comments made about those who liked it were nothing short of offensive. The Passion is being re-released on 11 March. Perhaps Freepers everywhere (and our friends) should attend, and show Hollyweird just what we think about their attitudes.
The Hollywarped Secular Taliban whines about tolerance and diversity respecting the marketplace, opening up screens to differing points of view, but they are the self-same people who came out with their fangs bared when The Passion of The Christ debuted. They're mot looking for differing points of view...............thay want only to trample on-- and silence---the Christian point of view.
The Passion of The Christ served to unmask the Christian haters hiding in the woodwork. They came out in droves to bash Mel and the movie.
Secular Taliban Hit Squads denigrated and marginalized Christians, and Christian beliefs, stooping to the lowest levels of condescension to bash Christian audiences.
Secular Taliban shock troops came out in full battle regalia. The first foray had ADL Abe ----champion of free speech and civil rights---bashing the film, claiming the film was anti-Semitic. That didn't work. NYT's Frank Rich attacked next----said it was fascistic. Then his NYT colleague Maureen Dowd said it was crass. That didn't work.
Andy Rooney bashed it on CBS and SNL evilly caricatured it on NBC. That didn't work either. Newsweek's Evan Thomas told Imus it was a snuff film. Even so-called conservative columnist Dr Charles Krauthammer (Fox News commentator) trashed it in the WashPo calling The Passion a singular act of interreligious aggression. And Christian Hitchens---in his usual drunken stupor--said it was homo-erotic.
John Kerry was also among the film's naysayers (no surprise). Kerry said that he was "unsure" about it (Reuters, "Democrat Kerry Urges Caution on 'Passion,' 26 February 2004, by Patricia Wilson). "I don't know," Kerry said when asked if he would see the Mel Gibson film Christians flocked to see.
As a presidential candidate, Kerry's comments were loaded with meaning, and an an unspoken message to believers that Kerry would strengthen secularists power over believers.
At the same time, Kerry praised foul-mouthed Whoppi Goldberg and went to Hollywood for votes and donations, in exchange for trashing everything Christians stand for. Kerry worships abortion, the homosexual agenda,and the stripping away of every Christian symbol in America.
I firmly believe that Kerry's loss was also precipitated by his comments downgrading the Passion, as tens of millions of Christians were in its thrall. It was one of his major campaign mistakes. Word got around.......Kerry's comments about The Passion were received by Christian groups, pastors and churches all over the nation.
Now lefties have lost their stranglehold on American culture and Bible-believing Christians are in positions to restore the culture and stand up to the Secular Taliban's decades-long ambition to eradicate all vestiges of religion from America.
Hollywaste better learn to live with it.
The Passion is being re-released with a PG rating - some of the violent scenes have been toned down. I had a hard time watching the scourging and I'm a former infantry Marine.
I'm glad that kids will be able to see the film, but the original is a classic that will be viewed in 100 years as something beyond film. It was by far the best film of the year.
Cavezal's portrayal was by far tougher than Fox's natural fit as Ray Charles, and he did an amazing job in The toughest role. I mean let's face it, Fox is a classical pianist and he looks remarkably like Ray Charles. He'll never get another role tailored for him like that.
I may be the only one on this thread that really liked Million Dollar Baby. The characters were interesting and well developed, the film flowed well, and it had enough up and down to really keep you into it. A great film. But it doesn't hold a candle to The Passion Of The Christ, a movie that will stand the test of time.
I honestly think that the "Usual Suspects" who control the Academy were terrified that even more people would see The Passion and know the true potential of their medium.