Screened
Toronto International Film Festival Review
While controversy swirls around Mel Gibson's as-yet largely unseen "The Passion", another film, "The Gospel of John", is likely going to do a certain amount of flame-fanning of its own in regard to where the burden of responsibility falls for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
A word-for-word adaptation (by John Goldsmith) from the American Bible Society's Good News Bible, this well-made epic boasts carefully researched production values and the talents of classically trained actors, but by literally playing it by the book, the picture loses something dramatic in the translation.
At a very noticeable three hours, it feels like a month of Sunday school classes.
The educational DVD market will still be its ultimate destination, but given that it's probably going to spur debate in certain religious quarters, the resulting publicity could also generate some better than normally expected theatrical business.
Intended as the first in a series of films under the Visual Bible banner, "The Gospel of John" dispenses with Nativity scenes, introducing the adult Jesus Henry Ian Cusick) in full Messiah mode, bringing his ministry to the people of a land controlled by the Roman Empire.
Not everyone greets him with open arms -- specifically the Jewish authorities as personified by the Leading Pharisee (played with a notably dark undercurrent by Richard Lintern), who remains unconvinced by his performance of miracles.
According to the film, on more than one occasion he presses Pilate (Stephen Russell) to sentence Jesus to death, even though the reluctant Roman can't find sufficient reason to do so.
But in an effort to downplay potential controversy, a crawl inserted before the start of the film makes note that crucifixion was a Roman punishment that wasn't sanctioned by Jewish law.
In the hands of veteran British film and TV director Philip Saville, the handsome production (shot in Spain and Toronto) is graced by cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak's stirring images and an authoritative cast which takes its cue from Cusick's performance -- one that seems to be more outgoing and charismatic than past portrayals.
Still, one has to wonder about those impeccably manicured fingernails.
Saville delivers the pageantry with all seven signs intact, but those various miracles are performed with a lot less fanfare and razzle-dazzle than in many old Hollywood spectacles.
That more straightforward approach also applies to narrator Christopher Plummer's commanding yet warm tones, though there are times when even he is unable to interject sufficient life into some of those extended passages of word-for-wordiness.
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
Visual Bible International Inc. in association with Garth H. Drabinsky and Joel B. Michaels present a Philip Saville film
Credits:
Director: Philip Saville
Screenwriter: John Goldsmith
Producers: Garth H. Drabinsky, Chris Chrisafis
Executive producer: Sandy Pearl, Joel B. Michaels, Myron I. Gottlieb, Martin Katz
Director of photography: Miroslaw Baszak
Production designer: Don Taylor
Editor: Michel Archand
Costume designer: Debra Hanson
Music: Jeff Danna
Cast:
Jesus: Henry Ian Cusick
Peter: Daniel Kash
Leading Pharisee: Richard Lintern
Pilate: Stephen Russell
John the Baptist: Scott Handy
John: Stuart Bunce
Mary Magdalene: Lynsey Baxter
Narrator: Christopher Plummer
Running time -- 175 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Toronto International Film Festival Review
While controversy swirls around Mel Gibson's as-yet largely unseen "The Passion", another film, "The Gospel of John", is likely going to do a certain amount of flame-fanning of its own in regard to where the burden of responsibility falls for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
A word-for-word adaptation (by John Goldsmith) from the American Bible Society's Good News Bible, this well-made epic boasts carefully researched production values and the talents of classically trained actors, but by literally playing it by the book, the picture loses something dramatic in the translation.
At a very noticeable three hours, it feels like a month of Sunday school classes.
The educational DVD market will still be its ultimate destination, but given that it's probably going to spur debate in certain religious quarters, the resulting publicity could also generate some better than normally expected theatrical business.
Intended as the first in a series of films under the Visual Bible banner, "The Gospel of John" dispenses with Nativity scenes, introducing the adult Jesus Henry Ian Cusick) in full Messiah mode, bringing his ministry to the people of a land controlled by the Roman Empire.
Not everyone greets him with open arms -- specifically the Jewish authorities as personified by the Leading Pharisee (played with a notably dark undercurrent by Richard Lintern), who remains unconvinced by his performance of miracles.
According to the film, on more than one occasion he presses Pilate (Stephen Russell) to sentence Jesus to death, even though the reluctant Roman can't find sufficient reason to do so.
But in an effort to downplay potential controversy, a crawl inserted before the start of the film makes note that crucifixion was a Roman punishment that wasn't sanctioned by Jewish law.
In the hands of veteran British film and TV director Philip Saville, the handsome production (shot in Spain and Toronto) is graced by cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak's stirring images and an authoritative cast which takes its cue from Cusick's performance -- one that seems to be more outgoing and charismatic than past portrayals.
Still, one has to wonder about those impeccably manicured fingernails.
Saville delivers the pageantry with all seven signs intact, but those various miracles are performed with a lot less fanfare and razzle-dazzle than in many old Hollywood spectacles.
That more straightforward approach also applies to narrator Christopher Plummer's commanding yet warm tones, though there are times when even he is unable to interject sufficient life into some of those extended passages of word-for-wordiness.
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
Visual Bible International Inc. in association with Garth H. Drabinsky and Joel B. Michaels present a Philip Saville film
Credits:
Director: Philip Saville
Screenwriter: John Goldsmith
Producers: Garth H. Drabinsky, Chris Chrisafis
Executive producer: Sandy Pearl, Joel B. Michaels, Myron I. Gottlieb, Martin Katz
Director of photography: Miroslaw Baszak
Production designer: Don Taylor
Editor: Michel Archand
Costume designer: Debra Hanson
Music: Jeff Danna
Cast:
Jesus: Henry Ian Cusick
Peter: Daniel Kash
Leading Pharisee: Richard Lintern
Pilate: Stephen Russell
John the Baptist: Scott Handy
John: Stuart Bunce
Mary Magdalene: Lynsey Baxter
Narrator: Christopher Plummer
Running time -- 175 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Screened
Toronto International Film Festival Review
While controversy swirls around Mel Gibson's as-yet largely unseen "The Passion", another film, "The Gospel of John", is likely going to do a certain amount of flame-fanning of its own in regard to where the burden of responsibility falls for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
A word-for-word adaptation (by John Goldsmith) from the American Bible Society's Good News Bible, this well-made epic boasts carefully researched production values and the talents of classically trained actors, but by literally playing it by the book, the picture loses something dramatic in the translation.
At a very noticeable three hours, it feels like a month of Sunday school classes.
The educational DVD market will still be its ultimate destination, but given that it's probably going to spur debate in certain religious quarters, the resulting publicity could also generate some better than normally expected theatrical business.
Intended as the first in a series of films under the Visual Bible banner, "The Gospel of John" dispenses with Nativity scenes, introducing the adult Jesus Henry Ian Cusick) in full Messiah mode, bringing his ministry to the people of a land controlled by the Roman Empire.
Not everyone greets him with open arms -- specifically the Jewish authorities as personified by the Leading Pharisee (played with a notably dark undercurrent by Richard Lintern), who remains unconvinced by his performance of miracles.
According to the film, on more than one occasion he presses Pilate (Stephen Russell) to sentence Jesus to death, even though the reluctant Roman can't find sufficient reason to do so.
But in an effort to downplay potential controversy, a crawl inserted before the start of the film makes note that crucifixion was a Roman punishment that wasn't sanctioned by Jewish law.
In the hands of veteran British film and TV director Philip Saville, the handsome production (shot in Spain and Toronto) is graced by cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak's stirring images and an authoritative cast which takes its cue from Cusick's performance -- one that seems to be more outgoing and charismatic than past portrayals.
Still, one has to wonder about those impeccably manicured fingernails.
Saville delivers the pageantry with all seven signs intact, but those various miracles are performed with a lot less fanfare and razzle-dazzle than in many old Hollywood spectacles.
That more straightforward approach also applies to narrator Christopher Plummer's commanding yet warm tones, though there are times when even he is unable to interject sufficient life into some of those extended passages of word-for-wordiness.
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
Visual Bible International Inc. in association with Garth H. Drabinsky and Joel B. Michaels present a Philip Saville film
Credits:
Director: Philip Saville
Screenwriter: John Goldsmith
Producers: Garth H. Drabinsky, Chris Chrisafis
Executive producer: Sandy Pearl, Joel B. Michaels, Myron I. Gottlieb, Martin Katz
Director of photography: Miroslaw Baszak
Production designer: Don Taylor
Editor: Michel Archand
Costume designer: Debra Hanson
Music: Jeff Danna
Cast:
Jesus: Henry Ian Cusick
Peter: Daniel Kash
Leading Pharisee: Richard Lintern
Pilate: Stephen Russell
John the Baptist: Scott Handy
John: Stuart Bunce
Mary Magdalene: Lynsey Baxter
Narrator: Christopher Plummer
Running time -- 175 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Toronto International Film Festival Review
While controversy swirls around Mel Gibson's as-yet largely unseen "The Passion", another film, "The Gospel of John", is likely going to do a certain amount of flame-fanning of its own in regard to where the burden of responsibility falls for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
A word-for-word adaptation (by John Goldsmith) from the American Bible Society's Good News Bible, this well-made epic boasts carefully researched production values and the talents of classically trained actors, but by literally playing it by the book, the picture loses something dramatic in the translation.
At a very noticeable three hours, it feels like a month of Sunday school classes.
The educational DVD market will still be its ultimate destination, but given that it's probably going to spur debate in certain religious quarters, the resulting publicity could also generate some better than normally expected theatrical business.
Intended as the first in a series of films under the Visual Bible banner, "The Gospel of John" dispenses with Nativity scenes, introducing the adult Jesus Henry Ian Cusick) in full Messiah mode, bringing his ministry to the people of a land controlled by the Roman Empire.
Not everyone greets him with open arms -- specifically the Jewish authorities as personified by the Leading Pharisee (played with a notably dark undercurrent by Richard Lintern), who remains unconvinced by his performance of miracles.
According to the film, on more than one occasion he presses Pilate (Stephen Russell) to sentence Jesus to death, even though the reluctant Roman can't find sufficient reason to do so.
But in an effort to downplay potential controversy, a crawl inserted before the start of the film makes note that crucifixion was a Roman punishment that wasn't sanctioned by Jewish law.
In the hands of veteran British film and TV director Philip Saville, the handsome production (shot in Spain and Toronto) is graced by cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak's stirring images and an authoritative cast which takes its cue from Cusick's performance -- one that seems to be more outgoing and charismatic than past portrayals.
Still, one has to wonder about those impeccably manicured fingernails.
Saville delivers the pageantry with all seven signs intact, but those various miracles are performed with a lot less fanfare and razzle-dazzle than in many old Hollywood spectacles.
That more straightforward approach also applies to narrator Christopher Plummer's commanding yet warm tones, though there are times when even he is unable to interject sufficient life into some of those extended passages of word-for-wordiness.
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
Visual Bible International Inc. in association with Garth H. Drabinsky and Joel B. Michaels present a Philip Saville film
Credits:
Director: Philip Saville
Screenwriter: John Goldsmith
Producers: Garth H. Drabinsky, Chris Chrisafis
Executive producer: Sandy Pearl, Joel B. Michaels, Myron I. Gottlieb, Martin Katz
Director of photography: Miroslaw Baszak
Production designer: Don Taylor
Editor: Michel Archand
Costume designer: Debra Hanson
Music: Jeff Danna
Cast:
Jesus: Henry Ian Cusick
Peter: Daniel Kash
Leading Pharisee: Richard Lintern
Pilate: Stephen Russell
John the Baptist: Scott Handy
John: Stuart Bunce
Mary Magdalene: Lynsey Baxter
Narrator: Christopher Plummer
Running time -- 175 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 9/25/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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