.... and depending on your religious persuasion (or lack thereof), this film will surely line up people on either side of the fence. So OK, it's a faithful rendering of a very brief New Testament narrative, with additional dialog that attempts to portray the Judeans of that time -- but beyond that, from a critical standpoint it's so god-awful even God would agree.
I wanted to leave during the opening cheeseball villainy of Herod, but remained to the bitter end -- putting up with the swelling (make that sweltering) violin score replete with multiple interwoven Christmas carol themes, to the painfully uncomfortable comic relief of the three wise guys (sort of a weird astrological minstrel-show), to the climactic creche scene straight out of a bedecked mantelpiece from the 50's.
As Mary, Keisha Castle-Hughes looks properly worried throughout (her upturned brows frequently reminded me of Olivia Hussey's similar turn at bat). Maybe it's because she's put into the family way via a family-film "conception" of the event, thereby robbing her (and the viewer) of any deep gnosis via an ecstatic experience. Instead her "overshadowing" by the Almighty is a perplexing non-event attended by a lone kestrel understudy for the Holy Spirit. The only visible miracle occurs later without explanation, when her suddenly-blue robe as labor draws nigh brings a welcome diversion from the generally flat and nearly monochromatic cinematography.
The film attempts a juxtaposition of realism and the supernatural, and instead fails at both. It panders to the Nativity mythos and renders it banal. Indeed, it infused any attempts at historical authenticity with such a thick layer of treacle that it left me gasping for the exit when the Holy Threesome likewise beat a hasty retreat into Egypt. At least then I could finally identify with the characters....
I wanted to leave during the opening cheeseball villainy of Herod, but remained to the bitter end -- putting up with the swelling (make that sweltering) violin score replete with multiple interwoven Christmas carol themes, to the painfully uncomfortable comic relief of the three wise guys (sort of a weird astrological minstrel-show), to the climactic creche scene straight out of a bedecked mantelpiece from the 50's.
As Mary, Keisha Castle-Hughes looks properly worried throughout (her upturned brows frequently reminded me of Olivia Hussey's similar turn at bat). Maybe it's because she's put into the family way via a family-film "conception" of the event, thereby robbing her (and the viewer) of any deep gnosis via an ecstatic experience. Instead her "overshadowing" by the Almighty is a perplexing non-event attended by a lone kestrel understudy for the Holy Spirit. The only visible miracle occurs later without explanation, when her suddenly-blue robe as labor draws nigh brings a welcome diversion from the generally flat and nearly monochromatic cinematography.
The film attempts a juxtaposition of realism and the supernatural, and instead fails at both. It panders to the Nativity mythos and renders it banal. Indeed, it infused any attempts at historical authenticity with such a thick layer of treacle that it left me gasping for the exit when the Holy Threesome likewise beat a hasty retreat into Egypt. At least then I could finally identify with the characters....