I don't know if I'd go that far, need I remind you of your "Boteach incedent" on the board yesterday? I understand your reservations about the movie, but its time to let it go.
However, my understanding is that Barabas was portrayed in the Gospels as being incarcerated for murder in relation to anti-Roman occupation uprisings. Wouldn?t this make him more like Nathan Hale than Charles Manson
The whole question hints to whether the crowd, and therefore "The Jews" is responsible and I reject that notion. However; Mark 15:7 - And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
The bible doesn't really get into the quality of his "cause" although violence for freedom wasn't really successful until 1776, so I would say the meaning was that it was negative.
The film was true to the Gospel in showing the chief priests encouraging them to release Barabbas;Mark 15:11 - But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
Now if someone were to interpret from that blood libel, they are going beyond the words written there.
I know not of what thou speaketh. Boteach??