Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superlative biblical drama, 24 Mar 2008
As an agnostic I'm more interested in the quality of this production as a drama rather than a piece of scripture, but even for believers I think this is as faithful a recreation of this story as we're going to get.
It beats Mel Gibson's version hands down in the most important respect: because this version's characterization is so rich it succeeds in being incredibly moving. We're given the back story, so we know why Jesus was believed to be so dangerous by Caiaphas; why Judas might have betrayed him; what Pilate's real priorities were. The script takes some liberties with the gospel accounts, but surely one would expect that. The script is intelligent and believable, avoiding clichés and glaring anachronisms.
The standout performances are from Ben Daniels as Caiaphas, David Oyelowo as Joseph of Arimathea and Penelope Wilton as Mary (mother of Jesus). And as for Joseph Mawle as Jesus - well, he's absolutely superb. Quietly charismatic, compassionate and emotional, he faces his terrifying destiny with a bravery and determination that is all the more powerful for his moments of doubt and vulnerability. The Gethsemane sequence is almost unbearably distressing to watch, as is the Crucifixion. Whilst it's not as visually gory as the Gibson version it's ultimately much more harrowing and moving for the simple reason that we really care about this Jesus by the time he meets his death.
The Resurrection is treated in some detail, and rather reverently. Those who believe in it and those who don't will both feel well treated, I think.
Looking as lavish as a feature film the historical detail is convincing: the fuss made about the 'new' crucifixion position is completely unfounded as this one is much closer to what we know from archaeological evidence. And such quibbles should not detract from what is a superb achievement, and one that has considerably restored my own faith in the BBC.
(As a minor point, I'm surprised to see the DVD has a 15 certificate, considering the BBC repeated the most violent episode in mid-afternoon! Seriously, I would give it more of a '12'.)
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impressively mature 'Passion', 17 Mar 2008
Originally shown in 4 parts (3 hours in total) 'The Passion' exceeded all hopes and, despite one or two stumbles along the way, emerged as a moving, gripping and - thank god - honest interpretation of the last week in the life of Jesus.
The edgy mood was set from the word go as Jesus enters Jerusalem and the disciples and his own family start to question and turn against him. The ambiguity of the writing even had this viewer wondering 'is he mad?' or 'is he God?' at various moments. The fact that I forgot the story (despite knowing - obviously - how things would pan out) is a testament to the brilliant writing, acting and directing, though mostly the writing, because the script managed to nimbly tread a fine line between 'traditional' biblical storytelling and heart stopping moments of fresh perspective. The scene where Jesus questions his own divinity and ponders the real possibility that he is wrong and destined to oblivion is a beautiful moment where, lo and behold, the piety that has marred this sort of production in the past, is quite usefully thrown out the window, adding a real dramatic core to the moment. Even the ditching of 'It is Accomplished' to something more touching had this atheist in tears.
I was also impressed with the way the resurrection was handled and played out. And even Caiaphas was spared the evil beard stroking lunacy of Gibson's sadistic blood bath. The entire film ends with new life and hope. Jesus is arisen and Caiaphas is a father. Maybe it was the only cliche in the script but it was a beautiful one regardless.
Unfortunately, James Nesbitt...
As fine an actor as he is, he was simply miscast as Pilate. It was only during the trial and his moment of losing face, then extracting petty revenge, did Pilate really come to life. The rest of the time, he simply failed to convince with his performance on any level. I feel bad about saying all this, because he's a great actor.
Also, the usually reliable Debbie Wiseman contributed a score that was magnificently dark and brooding one moment, and then a cliche ridden ethnic hotch-potch the next. At times, the music was so intrusive it detracted from a great deal of the first hour.
Alas, the near perfect script tripped up with some fudged motivation between characters. Judas was just a confusing plot device to get Jesus from A to B. Still, Paul Nicholls did a pretty good job. And the disciples - though brilliantly acted - became faceless. I just lost track of who was who in the end.
Overall, it was an impressive and mercifully mature piece of drama. Pious sentimentality and a 'perfect' Jesus was out the window, and anger, frustration, doubt, confusion, fear and pretty much all the negatives of the human condition were 'in' and spread thickly over the characters becoming the prime moving force in motivation through the script. There's never been a more fearful and edgy version of the Passion. It even pips Gibson's sick horror show and is more affecting with muddled accents and an honest script than simply putting a man through a meat grinder for 2 hours and watching him suffer. Gibson's film was cheap and easy and targeted, where as this production has so much more going for it.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than expected, 22 Mar 2008
I really couldn't care less about accents or music and maybe that is wrong of me. I was much more impressed by the words, the tone and the flavour of this production. I appreciated the human Jesus and the very human disciples. They didn't know what he was up do and wanted to go home-and thank you for including women in the group. Jesus experienced the silence of God just as we do. And on the cross he felt abandoned, but it was his mother who reassured him. There was also the reality of the polical landscape of the time that brought some of the story out of the 2 dimensional. The film is far from perfect, but it does have something to offer an old story that is retold, often in a stiff and distant way.
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