CHRIST COMPLEX - Interview with actor Jim Caviezel

Globe and Mail | December 27, 2002 | Gayle MacDonald

[NYer]

[NYer]

"From all the depictions I've read, what actually happened to Jesus Christ is worse than anything we're showing. Mel and I grappled with going all the way with it. But we couldn't do that, to Him, or to our audience. The third whip they used on Him had hooks in it, which literally tore the flesh off His body. He was shredded.

[happygrl]

I'm looking forward to this film's release. Thanks for posting .

[wardaddy]

Excellent actor. Excellent choice for this role. My wife and I both really like this fellow's work. I'm glad to hear he's a good man too.

[eleni121]

Thanks to Mel and Cazievel. This project is significant in too many ways to count.

[BaBaStooey]

caveziel bump!

[lawgirl]

Jim Caviezel is one of my FAVORITE actors of all time and I have been talking about him for ages. He is amazing---I think he is probably best known to people as The Count of Monte Cristo. He is a VERY devout Catholic, and has turned down a lot of roles due to too much sex/violence/etc. He is fantastic and will make a great Jesus I am sure.

[MHGinTN]

Thank you, Mel, for your faithfulness. God bless you.

[homeschool mama]

I completely agree, lawgirl. Jim Caviezel was amazing in The Count of Monte Cristo. Glad to hear he's devout in his beliefs. I am further glad that Mel Gibson is at the helm of this movie. I hope it is blessed by God.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

The temperature is frigid. [...] Jim Caviezel, who plays Jesus in the new Mel Gibson film The Passion, is beyond cold. Beyond bone-tired. [...] the actor has been trussed, practically naked, to a cross in a field in southern Italy for the past 15 days.

"After my first day on the cross, I had borderline hypothermia"

This is a very disturbing report. I'm really disappointed in Mel Gibson, who is the producer. Couldn't he have found a warmer climate for Caviezel to do his difficult outdoor scenes in? Mel Gibson loses several points for this. I hope I never forget how poorly he treats his fellow actors.

[NYer]

I hope it is blessed by God.

I believe that Our Lord meant it. I believe He has a great hand in this film. That's why I'm continually asking Mary for help, to show me the perfect way to be her son."

[homeschool mama]

**I hope I never forget how poorly he treats his fellow actors.

huh?

[ohioWfan]

And what Jesus Christ went through on the cross to redeem us from our sins is far worse than can be portrayed on film, or even imagined.

This will be troubling to watch. I agree, homeschool. I pray that God blesses this work.

[NYer]

Apparently, his portrayal of Christ is so eerily real, so true, that the good folk of Matera are regularly rocked by the sight of Caviezel as he walks the tumbled streets, attends daily communion at Don Angelo's church, and chants his rosary.

Sorry .... forgot to bump you!!

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

The temperature is frigid. [...] Jim Caviezel, who plays Jesus in the new Mel Gibson film The Passion, is beyond cold. Beyond bone-tired. [...] the actor has been trussed, practically naked, to a cross in a field in southern Italy for the past 15 days.

"After my first day on the cross, I had borderline hypothermia"

huh?

Sorry you don't understand. The guy was tied practically naked to a cross in FRIGID weather for 15 days, he had borderline hypothermia, they had heaters blasting on him that burned his skin. I find that to be poor treatment of an actor.

Wouldn't it have been more sensible to do those difficult scenes in a warmer climate? Mel Gibson, as the producer, had a responsibility to see that the working conditions were better. Was it all just to save a few bucks? They could have done those outdoor scenes ANYWHERE.

[EODGUY]

Excellent post, NYer.

It is comforting to know that there is spiritual devotion among at least some in the entertainment industry.

I can't imagine his devotion to his faith and his God has made life easy for him in his chosen profession and I would not be at all surprised to learn he has been rejected or not considered for roles because of his moral character and/or religious beliefs.

God bless him and Mel Gibson for making this film. I anxiously await it's opening.

[Maximilian]

Maybe Mel Gibson can't find a distributor, but I think there's a large amount of excitement about this movie. I've seen lots of publicity already and they haven't even finished filming. There' going to be a many people lined up to buy tickets as soon as this thing opens.

This will be the greatest movie of all time -- both spiritually and artistically -- if they can succeed in what they're attempting. So far all the buzz has been that they're succeeding beyond what they had even hoped for.

Thank God for a man like Mel Gibson. What courage and what vision.

(One caveat about the article: Medjugore? Please. Oh well, we should be grateful that there are at least a couple of faithful Catholics like Gibson and Caviezel in Hollywood.)

[LurkerNoMore!]

Movie Ping

[LurkerNoMore!]

Jim Caviezel is one of my FAVORITE actors of all time

If you haven't already, check out Frequency