Week of real hatred: film critic suffers backlash to 'Passion' review

New York Daily News ^ | 2/29/04 | Jami Bernard

[Brian Mosely]

In 18 years as a professional movie critic, I've never gotten the response that I had this week to my one-star review of "The Passion of the Christ."

I knew the reaction would be hostile - movie critics routinely get hate mail, even one time for a review of "Bambi."

But, as they would say in an action movie of the kind Mel Gibson formerly made, this time, it's personal.

[sakic]

You put so many untrue words in my mouth that I've never uttered that it's beyond absurd.

You just broke a commandment. Tsk, tsk. Repent.

[OldFriend]

Hey, don't call this old gal Chief! What an 'unfortunate' remark! LOL

[LowOiL]

View:		DAILY BREAKDOWN		WEEKEND BREAKDOWN		LINKS / MISC

2004

Date(Click to view chart)	Rank	Weeknd Gross	% Change	Theater Count/Change		Average	Gross-to-Date	Week #
Feb 27–29	1	$76,201,000 (Estimate)	-	3,043	-	$25,041	$117,538,000 (Estimate)	1

[LowOiL]

One can see above, movieguru now is predicting a 117 million dollar weekend.

WOW!

[juzcuz]

Hey Jami-- SEEK JESUS....

Jesus received major 'hate filled backlash' for expressing His opinions too. He knows what your going through. Maybe, you should seek Him... He could inspire you as to how to handle it all... He's been there and done that.. He's the expert..

[dagoofyfoot]

You didn't describe anything like what I saw in it


I watched as much as I could stomach of it William Dafoe playing a weak and wishy washy Jesus

It was blatantly anti-Christian, if you enjoyed than good for you

[#3Fan]

Didn't Herod's court bear an uncanny resemblance to the Clinton Whitehouse?

Sounds like a job for photoshop. :^)

[stands2reason]

This thread proves every word in her review as true.

This thread proves that Mel Gibson's Passion is the most anti-Semitic film since Nazi Germany? I'd like you to show me how please.

[Phsstpok]

You put so many untrue words in my mouth that I've never uttered that it's beyond absurd.

You just broke a commandment. Tsk, tsk. Repent.

Once again, you attack but offer no specifics. Saul Alinsky and Hillary would be proud. You have attacked me, accused me of hate, in affect you now call me a liar. Yet you only attack, never provide any specifics. what about even one of the specific points that I raised? Do you have even a shred of intellectual honesty? I gather not.

I am confident that, on this exchange, I will stand in good stead at the seat of judgement. Can you say the same?

[cadmus-maui]

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy,
You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy,
You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray,
You may call me anything but no matter what you say

You're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

[stands2reason]

STRAWMAN CONSTRUCTION ZONE
FINES WILL BE DOUBLED

[stands2reason]

I take it you read her original review since you wish to defend her.

[bootless]

Jews hate Christians, everyone knows that.

Oh, come on. That is one of the stupidest statements I've seen here.

On a personal note, I suppose the Jewish family who invited my son and me to their son's Bar Mitzvah next week hates us, because we're Christians.

[NYCVirago]

This critic complained in her review that in The Passion "No one in the crowd speaks up for Jesus, not even, strangely, his mother." What did she expect, that Mary was going to do some ninja moves and open up a can of whoop-ass on the torturers?

[NYCVirago]

That's right, she does do those things. That's why resorting to attacking her looks undermines the truth. It makes her seem credible because her detractors make personal attacks rather than going after the subject matter.

I agree -- for what it's worth, she's been writing a series of columns about losing weight (she was 100 pounds overweight, and has lost 30 pounds so far.) I admire her for sharing that struggle with her readers, knowing that she'll be subject to ridicule for it.

That being said, I think her review of The Passion was the most over-the-top and unfair of any of the reviews I've read about the movie. And her response to some valid criticisms of her review was just plain condescending. I don't need a degree in film criticism to know that it's hypocritical for her to decry The Passion for its violence, while writing a book praising Quentin Tarantino.

[Porterville]

Just got back from the flick... great movie, touching, not controversial... honestly, heard the story my whole life, why is it a big deal?? Because it undermines liberals, that is the controversy.

[alnick]

I agree.

[SJackson]

Jews hate Christians, everyone knows that...Oh, come on. That is one of the stupidest statements I've seen here.

Of course it is, it was a sarcastic (I forget the tags, frequently deliberately I admit, forgetting other thread readers) comment to an earlier poster, and it isn't even worth reviewing the thread for the context.

Enjoy yourself, I've had many Christians to bar and bat Mitzvah's and weddings. The Hebrew aside, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the commonality of belief.

[leprechaun9]

From complete article:
"This is not a pipe. In other words, the representation of an object should not be confused with the object itself."

This sounds like the John Freakin' Kerry campaign. It doesn't matter what his Senate voting record is, the important thing is that he says, I AM NOT A LIBERAL!