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Show f EBRUARY 6 2004 26, Gibson Offers a Sincere, Shocking Exploration of Christ's Deat "The Passion of the Christ" New Market Films Directed by Mel Gibson Written by Mel Gibson and Benedict Fitzgerald Produced by Bruce Davey, Mel Gibson and Stephen McEveety Starring James Caviezel, Maia Morgen-sterMonica Bellucci, Hristo Shopov, Mattia Sbragia, Luca Lionello, Claudia Gerini, Francesco Cabras, Rosalinda Celentano Rated R QQQf by out of four) Jeremy Mathews Gibson 's "The Passion of the is one of the few films that delves into the suffering that Jesus endured, according to Christian faith, in order to absolve humankind of its sins. This isn't the standard Sunday school lesson, but a depiction of the struggle and the suffering of a man with great responsibility and the different levels of humanity he encounters. The teachings are not the focus of this film it's about the pain humankind inflicted on him. Gibson, a Traditionalist Catholic, made the film with his own money as a love letter to his faith, and has created a film of extreme emotional power that will no doubt heavily affect fellow members of his faith. It's also superbly crafted, with interesting editing techniques and beautiful, muted colors from cinematogiapher Caleb Deschanel. It will, however, also shock many people. James Caviezel's portrayal of Jesus Ms faith, an issue isn't the clean cut one people are used to seeing Much of the film is devoted to the cruel torture of Roman centurions and the blood covered savior's march to the cross. Bnef flashbacks to the teachings of Jesus serve as powerful punctuation, but won't fulfill the hopes of people looking lesson. for a Sunday-schoo- l Gibson depicts all the stations of the cross in the half hour march to Golgotha. It's bloody and devastating as the weak Jesus struggles to make it to the cross after merciless Romans almost beat him to death. The goal is to historically recreate the events as they might have occurred, including the lashings that peel off the skin. Gibson's historical details are so strong that the characters speak only in Aramaic and Latin (with subtitles, although Gibson originally planned not to use subtitles). While Gibson culled his story from several scriptural sources, including those not in the Bible, the story itself comes from the standard passion story, and any additional material seems to be in details. The film begins after the Last Supper, as Jesus shakes and sweats in the garden of Gethsemane while a manifestation of Satan (Rosalinda Celentano) tempts him to leave because the sins of humankind are too much for one man to suffer. Then the disciple Judas betrays Jesus to the Jewish priesthood, many members of which want to get rid of Jesus, although there are also detractors. The high priest Caiaphas (Mattia Spragia) takes Jesus to Roman governor Pontius Pilate (Hristo Shopov) to have him crucified. Much has been made of whether or not the film is slanted against the Jewish that shouldn't even need to be discussed. As a member of neither the film's faith nor Judaism, I find the charges unfounded. The key point of Christian doctrine is that Jesus willfully died for the sins of humankind. The Romans and the Jews were the ones present, so they killed Jesus and, logically, might be thought of as heroes. Anyone who cites the Mathews lc Hi 11113 1 WCCAC11U, ai IU a shameless effort to get people Iin go to their Web site, the folks at Movies.com are offering the University of Utah students a chance to win an film screening with Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper. Put in your Oscar predictions at with the school code 10259. The winning school is judged prejudiced Members of the same group of people "The Barbarian Invasions" 4 reels (out of four) (See review) "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" Lions Gate Films Rated . --v f rally for his crucifixion. Jesus endures most of his suffering from sadistic Roman guards, and most of his friends and sympathizers are Jewish, including Simon of Cyrene (Jarreth Merz), a Jew whom guards force to help Jesus carry the cross and who then defends Jesus against the cruel Romans. Simon doesn't appear in all four of the gospels, and Gibson could have left him out if he wanted to make Jews look bad. If anything, Caiaphas comes off as a reels (out of four) Has the dancing gotten dirtier to catch up with the times since 1987's "Dirty Dancing?" Well, "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" is set in the 1950s shortly before the revolution in Cuba, but it turns out that Cubans back then did dance in a pretty dirty fashion. This movie isn't so much a sequel as a reworking of the formula of forbidden love. And the film includes a cameo from Patrick Swayze as a dance instructor in Cuba. Romola Garai plays an American who moves to Havana when her father gets promoted and meets a dancin' pool boy played by Diego Luna, the promising actor who co starred in "Y Tu Mama Tambien." Some of the dancing is well executed, but none of the dialogue is. While rrnr r AYHfTTIFin attempts to wash his hands of the matter. The real point of the film isn't so simple as to communicate a hatred of Jews. Gibson shows the full spectrum of humanity that Christ, being both fully human and fully divine, chose to save through great personal pain. Some are bad, some are good, most lie somewhere in between. "The Passion of the Christ" is the story of a man who chose to forgive them despite the amazing amount of suffering they inflicted on him. there are some nice moments, including one in which the dirty dancers dance over a projected film of the girl's parents, the film abandons its formula with an odd coitus interruptus during the climax. If the film worked in any way other than its dance sequences, director Guy Ferland might have been able to pull it off. But the film ends with a series of embarrassingly bad scenes. I can usually predict negative reviews when I hear snickering in the critics' section, but one line inspired laughing in the entire theater. Rated R (Not reviewed) Almost 14 years ago, Philip ("The Right Stuff") Kaufman's film "Henry & June" marked the first rating. It was intended to open artistically important films with sex in them not to suffer the X stigma. We see how well that's worked, as the new "The Dreamers" (opening here next week) is one of few films that has received a major jeremyred-mag.co- NC-1- 7 release with that dreaded rating. In only Kaufman's second film since "Henry & June," Ashley Judd, Samuel L Jackson and Andy Garcia star in "Twisted." Judd's a police detective investigating a series of murders in which all her are the victims. A poll shows that 85 percent of single men still want to date Ashley Judd. "The Passion of Christ" 3.5 reels (out of four) (See review) "Twisted" Paramount Pictures intik 4? in If simpler, flatter character due to the publicized cuts of lines from the scriptures that bigots have used as an excuse to hate Jewish people. Pilate does his best to bureaucrati-callmove Jesus out of his responsibility because his wife doesn't want to see him crucified and the angry mob does. Pilate doesn't want to have the political responsibilities of the decision to kill Jesus or let him live, and Jesus freely gives him an excuse to let him die. Pilate, as sleazy politicians often do in touchy situations. y 2 PG-1- 3 jeremyred-mag.co- , it slc L ijj Api sexy new comedy about office intrigue A if ' lit ! f - t ' . fi DT ' n hiililL V - and sexual politics t t; m i . I, n) w k 111 Q zj if I Ir j j Four secretaries, two generations. Agatha still uses the typewriter for important papers. Grace is a former office beauty. Enka is young and hot. Jessica's found a role model in the new Exec who, rumor has it, gets her edge from pharmaceutical testosterone. The regional premiere of a provocative new comedy. ) j FEB 3 -- FEB 29 Wednesdays Thursdays at 7:30 pm. Fridays 8 Scfurdoys ot 8 pm. Sundays ot 2 pm and 7 pm. TickETS: 363-StA- C BWBastian Foundation JSS-IT- J STUDENTS $13 Om par nM 1.0. Cat 363-SLA- C or In psnton it Klmoiwy Hal, Student Ontan, SUC or any Art rh outlet ) Simon helps Jesus carry the cross in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." Both men are Jews, both are in the movie. You make the connection. who accept the teachings of Jesus also h don't know what this means, but it could be funny. alleg- - this is simply looking for an excuse to be "Broken Lizard's Club Dread" Fox Searchlight Pictures Rated R (Not reviewed) Broken Lizard, he same comedy quintet responsible for "Super Troopers," makes their second feature-lengtfilm with "Club Dread," a take on the horror genre. The press kit says that it isn't a parody, but a combination of their trademark comedy and a serial killer thriller. I edly. on accuracy and participation, . film as a reason to hate Jewish people OPENING THIS WEEKEND by Jeremy Bible or 'V I Exhibition 7 - April 25 January Utah Museum of Natural History 1 Memory ,s a h.ghly engaging, interactive exhibit that Utes us on a journey through the mind and brain. exploring the aspects of memory including how. why and what we remember and forget.The national tour of Memory is made possible by gene'ous grants from the National Science Foundation. Metropolitan Life Foundation, and the Exploratonum. Lectures The Real Rainman Friday, February 27 noon March Memory of a Grizzly Bear Attack, Ten Yean Later Michael Dunn, Advertising Executive, Media Producer rnaay. noon rcn 5 Kim . The Echo of Wenem Sonp:Why the Cowboyi Sinp Hal Cannon. Cowboy Musician and FoMonst Gould Auditorium i RLE Bagels. nelshments S at 2 pm & March 6 at I Meet the Inspiration Behind the Movie The Utah Museum of Natural History Peek- - Hoffman's fr,e mega movie. lnteraa mh Mvant pm will host inipired Dustjn be at the Museum to He will answer questl0ns arid dlicuss s variety of topics Mamott Library by Emslem Bros. Liberty Heights fresh, and Swire Coca-Col- are f Vi?'i".': m i. fff'TTTtk i l'l'M lf! |
