The Passion of the Christ
I am ashamed to admit that I haven't yet seen The Passion of the Christ. Via Ross Douthat at The American Scene, however, I have discovered this remarkable defense of The Passion, embedded in a brief review of Twisted):
Movie journalists revealed their cultural biases in last week’s attacks on Mel Gibson, but the hysterical denunciations also exposed their dishonest esthetic criteria. One reason we’re regularly assaulted with garish, smutty action films like Twisted is because that’s what is routinely accepted in the culture. It was stunning to see David Denby on The Charlie Rose Show call The Passion of the Christ "a snuff movie," the kind of insensitive comment that would never be applied to, say, Schindler’s List, out of simple cultural respect. Denby breaches that caution–and appears righteous in doing so–because contemporary film culture is dominated by disbelieving skepticism. If there is a lack of piety in Gibson’s film, it has been outmatched by the cynicism of incredulous reviewers–and by the weekly tide of sarcastic, nihilistic, anti-human movies like Twisted.
. . . It’s hard to resist the feeling that more than Gibson’s style is being rejected but his material as well. And that prejudice has made the movie week sickening. Many critics have refused to contemplate exactly what it is Gibson is depicting and therein lies the speciousness of their arguments. (Denby cites "the electric charge of hope and redemption that Jesus Christ brought into the world...[his] heart-stopping eloquence," which reminded me of his disingenuous complaint that Spike Lee didn’t present more of Malcolm X’s "intellectual gaiety.") The Passion of the Christ contains imagery that is, if you will, the most powerful in all of Western culture. Fact is, few modern artists have essayed this imagery except to lampoon it (sometimes it seems that movie culture gets increasingly godless). When Gibson recreates Christ’s torment and crucifixion, he connects to the emotional essence of Christian understanding. These images aren’t simply familiar, Gibson plays them knowingly, effectively–not in the occasional slo-mo, but in the clarifying context he creates.
I'll be renting The Passion of the Christ this weekend.
I'm trying to think of recent movies that have offered complex and serious treatments of spirituality/religion. Any suggestions?
Movie journalists revealed their cultural biases in last week’s attacks on Mel Gibson, but the hysterical denunciations also exposed their dishonest esthetic criteria. One reason we’re regularly assaulted with garish, smutty action films like Twisted is because that’s what is routinely accepted in the culture. It was stunning to see David Denby on The Charlie Rose Show call The Passion of the Christ "a snuff movie," the kind of insensitive comment that would never be applied to, say, Schindler’s List, out of simple cultural respect. Denby breaches that caution–and appears righteous in doing so–because contemporary film culture is dominated by disbelieving skepticism. If there is a lack of piety in Gibson’s film, it has been outmatched by the cynicism of incredulous reviewers–and by the weekly tide of sarcastic, nihilistic, anti-human movies like Twisted.
. . . It’s hard to resist the feeling that more than Gibson’s style is being rejected but his material as well. And that prejudice has made the movie week sickening. Many critics have refused to contemplate exactly what it is Gibson is depicting and therein lies the speciousness of their arguments. (Denby cites "the electric charge of hope and redemption that Jesus Christ brought into the world...[his] heart-stopping eloquence," which reminded me of his disingenuous complaint that Spike Lee didn’t present more of Malcolm X’s "intellectual gaiety.") The Passion of the Christ contains imagery that is, if you will, the most powerful in all of Western culture. Fact is, few modern artists have essayed this imagery except to lampoon it (sometimes it seems that movie culture gets increasingly godless). When Gibson recreates Christ’s torment and crucifixion, he connects to the emotional essence of Christian understanding. These images aren’t simply familiar, Gibson plays them knowingly, effectively–not in the occasional slo-mo, but in the clarifying context he creates.
I'll be renting The Passion of the Christ this weekend.
I'm trying to think of recent movies that have offered complex and serious treatments of spirituality/religion. Any suggestions?
posted by Kate Marie | 12:38 PM | Permalink
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9 comments
9 Comments:
Gibson's movie simply took the prevailing art form and used it to pay tribute to Christ's ultimate sacrifice. It is just what artists have been doing for centuries with canvas and paint.
HMMM. Movies with serious treatment of religion and spirituality? The Rapture. The Exorcist. The Robe (is since 1950 'recent'?). The answer is essentially no. The only spirituality with which Hollywood concerns itself is Richard Gere's quest for Tibet.
Sadly, nothing comes to mind. I'm afraid Stewdog's right.
Boy there's something you don't hear very often.
I haven't seen the Rapture or The Robe, but I think you're right about The Exorcist (you weren't joking, were you?)
Actually, I think "Babette's Feast" does a good job, as well. And "You Can Count On Me."
For me, the greatest treatment of Christianity on film is "On the Waterfront."
Tsui Hark's "Green Snake" is a great treatment of Confucianism/Buddhism/Daoism.
Almost anything by Akira Kurosawa, but especially "Rashamon."
"A Price Above (or is it Beyond?) Rubies."
"Nowhere in Africa."
"The Mission"
"Black Robe (a must see)"
Ooooh, good ones, Madman. I forgot about "On the Waterfront" and that great scene with Karl Malden talking about how every time someone on the waterfront is bullied or beaten up "it's a crucifixion." I LOVE that movie.
"Green Snake" sounds interesting -- and I've never seen "Black Robe" or "A Price Above Rubies."
"The Mission" is another great one.
But some of these aren't very recent. My sense is that Hollywood and the critics have gotten less willing (or maybe able) to deal with religious issues in ways that aren't caricatures.
And since you mentioned A Price Above Rubies, may I just say that Renee Zellwegger is one of my least favorite actresses?
Kate Marie,
You dare to diss Bridget Jones? Actually, I haven't been impressed with Renee Z. lately, but "A Price Above Rubies" was one of the first things I saw her in and I thought she was great in it. Definitely an interesting film with a unique and non-cliche take on spirituality.
"Black Robe" ranks among my favorite films, another movie that deals with spiritual issues with depth and creativity.
There have been a couple of lighter comedies lately that dealt with spiritual issues in an interesting way- "Keeping the Faith" and "Saved" spring to mind. I also liked Kevin Smith's "Dogma," though that admission might get me into trouble on WTR.
Renee Zelwegger should have been hit by a truck after Jerry McGwire.
I despise that stupid movie with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. . not because of it's religious treatment, but just because it is stupid. They should have been hit by 2 trucks after Good Will Hunting.
Madman,
As our own Daryl Ann (my baby sis) is fond of saying, Renee Zellwegger always looks like she just smelled something bad.
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