The myriad of scenes depicting bloody torture, tearing flesh, and punctured hands and feet, are some of the most brutal film moments I’ve seen. While the Jewish leaders are certainly his accusers, Caesar’s men are eager and revel in the process and fulfillment of Christ’s scourging and execution. In fact, the Romans should temper the many accusations of anti-Semitism that have been targeted toward this film. From there, we move through to the judgments of Caiphas (Mattia Sbragia), Pontius Pilate (Hristo Naumov Shopov), Herod, and back to Pilate who dismisses the matter into the hands of the Jewish leaders and, as portrayed in this film, the bloodthirsty Roman soldiers. Gibson has chosen to open the film with the Savior’s atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s only unfortunate the script, which is spoken in Amharic and Latin with English subtitles, doesn’t allow more time for the audience to appreciate his portrayal of Christ in less intense circumstances. In every moment on screen, this little-known actor lives up to this measure. James Caviezel is the man whom the director determined to have the ?penetrating eyes and transparent expressions to convey the essence of love and compassion in utter silence?-traits Gibson felt were essential in his representation of Deity. Or at least, who Jesus is from Gibson’s perspective. Yet, from his back pocket, he has placed $25 million on the table to tell the world who Jesus is.
Obviously, for Mel Gibson, Jesus is revered, although I must admit that previous to the tremendous buzz generated by this movie, I had no idea Gibson’s religious values were this focused. For many, Jesus Christ is nothing more than a blurted expletive. After all, is there any other figure in history that so many people claim to have a personal relationship with? Or, is there any one person who is held in more contempt? His named is called out as the one who is responsible for everything from wars to the injury of one’s thumb by a hammer. If there was a vote for the most difficult historical figure to recreate in drama, Jesus Christ must be at the top of the list.
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