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A very violent 'passion' ["Miracles" on set of Mel Gibson's movie?]
New York Daily News ^ | January 26, 2003 | HOLLY McCLURE

Posted on 02/01/2003 9:28:04 AM PST by Polycarp

A very violent 'passion'

Mel Gibson's movie about the last hours in the life of Jesus Christ is his riskiest yet

By HOLLY McCLURE

Excerpt:

WORKING MIRACLES?

"There is an interesting power in the script," he adds. "A lot of unusual things have been happening — good things, like people being healed of diseases. A guy who was struck by lightning while we were filming the crucifixion scene just got up and walked away."

Francesco De Vito, who plays the disciple Peter, says "I talk with Judas [Luca Lionello] and with John [Hristo Jivkov] about this movie and about faith on the set, and there is something going on with many of us. We've become very focused — it has changed us."

"There's a pride that all of us have because we realize we are working on an important movie that could change a lot of lives," says Vera Mitchell, Caviezel's personal stylist on the film.

To portray the most famous man who ever lived requires a confident, controlled actor who can radiate mercy, love and forgiveness without opening his mouth. Film historian and "Hot Ticket" critic Leonard Maltin thinks Caviezel was tailor-made for the role of Jesus.

"There's always a question of whether it's an asset or distraction to have well-known stars in key roles," says Maltin. "Jim is a great choice. He's a very earnest and sincere actor and he's not a 'personality' with a lot of baggage from other parts that he's played."

On an average day, Caviezel goes through an arduous makeup session that lasts anywhere from four to seven hours and transforms his clean-shaven face and partly shaved head into a believable likeness of Jesus.

"He looks like the Shroud of Turin," Gibson said when he first saw him onscreen.

Caviezel recalls that when Gibson offered him the part, he said to him, "Do you realize I'm 33 years old, the same age Jesus was when he went through all of this?" He believes his performance is divinely inspired.

"Truthfully, it was never up to me," he says. "I'm interested in letting God work through me to play this role. I believe the Holy Spirit has been leading me in the right direction and to get away from my own physical flesh and allow the character of Jesus to be played out the way God wants it — that's all I can do."

He has found Aramaic an intimidating language to learn and speak on camera.

"But I asked God to help me and I was able to learn it in a quick amount of time, more than I normally am able to learn things," he says.

The devoutly Catholic Caviezel takes his role seriously, often praying and softly quoting Scripture while in character. But he has a lighter side (he does a dead-on imitation of Bing Crosby) as well as a stoic one.

"I endured freezing winds that almost blew my cross off the cliff while I was on it," he says. "I felt it sway back and forth and I knew it was going to blow over."

This went on for a couple of weeks. "To make matters worse," he continues, "we were there without a heater and, of course, I don't have many clothes on the cross, so my body was going numb. I was spit on and beaten and carried my cross for days over and over the same road — it was brutal."

When asked about the makeup and special effects for his crucifixion scenes he winces, "I have a 2 a.m. call time to get skin put on for the flagellation and crucifixion scenes. But I consider all of it worth it to play this role."

"I know Jim suffered," Gibson says. "He separated [dislocated] his left shoulder and was in a lot of pain and discomfort, but he was very patient during the whole thing."

Not only did Caviezel spend 15 days on the cross, he endured days in ropes and chains, being scourged and whipped.

"Mel likes to put violence in his movies," the actor says, "but all he cares about is making it look true to the text. Never before has a film of our Lord been shown like this one. By the time [audiences] get to the crucifixion scene, I believe there will be many who can't take it and will have to walk out — I guarantee it. And I believe there will be many who will stay and be drawn to the truth."

Keith Vanderlaan, the film's special-effects makeup producer, did extensive research on crucifixions, then improvised to show nails being hammered into Jesus' hands, ribs protruding from his chest and blood spurting from his side. Audience members — at least, those who stay — will feel as if they are watching an actual crucifixion.

Click here for full article.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; General Discusssion; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholiclist
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1 posted on 02/01/2003 9:28:04 AM PST by Polycarp
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To: .45MAN; AKA Elena; al_c; american colleen; Angelus Errare; Antoninus; aposiopetic; Aquinasfan; ...
Good story on Mel's movie especially considering the secular source...pinging
2 posted on 02/01/2003 9:29:42 AM PST by Polycarp
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To: Polycarp
True to the text. Wow. If anyone would like to get the script of this movie before the movie comes out, just read the words in "The Life of Jesus Christ" by Anne Catherine Emmerich, 4 vols. published by TAN Books and Publications.

The gospel in the Bible is like mere 'photographs' compared to the 'video' provided by Sr. Emmerich. Mel Gibson could not have found a better script.

3 posted on 02/01/2003 9:47:39 AM PST by Slyfox
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To: Polycarp
This is gonna be a GREAT movie.
4 posted on 02/01/2003 9:54:51 AM PST by Angelus Errare
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To: Angelus Errare
I find myself anticipating this even more than I eagerly anticipated the screen version of Tolkien's great works in The Lord of the Ring.
5 posted on 02/01/2003 9:57:47 AM PST by Polycarp
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To: Polycarp
I'm not sure about the LOTR comparison because, as a trilogy, it gets you worked up even more because you have to anticipate three movies rather than one. All the same, this looks like it's going to bean outstanding film and I myself will likely be going to see it multiple times.

And off course, it'll be nice to be one of the few people in the theater who can actually understand the Latin ;)
6 posted on 02/01/2003 9:59:45 AM PST by Angelus Errare
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To: Slyfox
From the article:

Ten years in gestation, the project is a "labor of love" for Gibson. The script he wrote with Benedict Fitzgerald ("Wise Blood") is taken directly from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John or, as Gibson likes to refer to them, "four obscure writers." It also draws on an old book Gibson found in his library, "The Dolorous Passion," by Anne Catherine Emmerich. He says he didn't know he had it until it literally fell into his hands when he was reaching for another book. After years of writing, reworking the script and waiting for the right moment, Gibson was ready to make his ode to Christ.

7 posted on 02/01/2003 10:00:18 AM PST by Polycarp
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To: Polycarp
When I read that he was doing a movie on the passion I wondered how I could contact him about Emmerich's work. Glad to know he found it.
8 posted on 02/01/2003 10:02:54 AM PST by Slyfox
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To: Slyfox
he found it.

Sounds like "it" found him. I think there will be great spiritual fruits and conversions as a result of the faithfulness and perseverence in this project.

9 posted on 02/01/2003 10:07:11 AM PST by Polycarp
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To: Polycarp
Is this coming out around Easter? It's on the "Must See" list.
10 posted on 02/01/2003 10:10:40 AM PST by Desdemona
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To: Desdemona
Not til 2004
11 posted on 02/01/2003 10:18:35 AM PST by Polycarp
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To: Polycarp; OrthodoxPresbyterian; Jerry_M; the_doc; CCWoody; Matchett-PI; JesseShurun; gdebrae; ...
He is a godly man..did you see "Signs"?

He has a spiritual debth one rarely sees today..good read

12 posted on 02/01/2003 10:53:06 AM PST by RnMomof7 (God Bless America)
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To: RnMomof7
"Signs" was awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone who has not seen it.
13 posted on 02/01/2003 10:58:43 AM PST by Polycarp
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To: Desdemona
I'll drive the 150 mile round trip to see it at my nearest theater! I usually wait for movies to come out on video but this one will definately be worth the trip.
14 posted on 02/01/2003 10:59:53 AM PST by tiki
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To: tiki
Did you see signs? Rent it if you have not..I HATE si fi..but this is a spiritual film
15 posted on 02/01/2003 11:30:47 AM PST by RnMomof7 (God Bless America)
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To: RnMomof7
I will try to see it when it comes out, though it is almost impossible for me to deal with violent scenes. I am rarely able to hold myself together during a tenebrae service as I focus on His sacrifice. How can I withstand watching this?
16 posted on 02/01/2003 11:33:55 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: anniegetyourgun
He did it for YOU...It may be time for all of us to understand what it was REALLY like..not some sanitized version..
17 posted on 02/01/2003 11:37:56 AM PST by RnMomof7 (God Bless America)
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To: Polycarp
Mel? Mel? He's Mel to you and not a "schismatic"? How telling. Apparently one must be a movie star before a traditionalist can be considered just another Catholic.
18 posted on 02/01/2003 11:40:32 AM PST by ultima ratio
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To: RnMomof7
There's not much 'sanitizing' involved in the deep inspection of what caused Him to go to His death. Personally, I find what lies within myself (and all of us throughout all time) to be more appalling than anything they could display in movies.
19 posted on 02/01/2003 11:45:46 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: ultima ratio
Take it easy ultima! This is a light thread...cheerful...there is a time for everything, this is a saturday movie thread. V's wife.
20 posted on 02/01/2003 11:47:11 AM PST by ventana
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