princesss_buttercup3

In my opinion, this is almost a perfectly crafted movie from beginning to end. It has everything a good Hitchcock thriller should have- suspense, romance, humor, and intrigue- all in perfect balance. Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly are wonderful together. Despite the age difference between the actors, they have detectable chemistry and seem to enhance each other's performance. Solid writing, solid directing, solid acting- truly one of the best films out there. Remarkable considering it's almost entirely set in one room. It's the perfect example of how Hitchock can build suspense around the things you don't see. I've seen this film about 25 times, and I never get tired of it.

I'd put off watching this version because the length (5+ hours) seemed so daunting. Honestly, however, after 10 minutes I was HOOKED. I'm convinced that this film is as true to Jane Austen's book as it could be, and is equally brilliant. The casting is flawless. Colin Firth is genius as the dour, insufferable, smolderingly sexy Mr. Darcy. Crispin Bonham-Carter is equally endearing as Mr. Bingley. And Jennifer Ehle and Susannah Harker bring Elizabeth and Jane Bennett to life. The film's commentary on 19th century society is humorous and illuminating. And I daresay you'll walk around using words like "daresay" for days after seeing it. If you haven't seen this yet, by all means, set aside a weekend afternoon, call a couple good friends, and sit back and enjoy the indulgence. This is one film I can see myself watching again and again in the years to come.

I just returned from seeing "The Passion". This is the first time I can recall having such a compelling need to write something down, but without knowing where to begin or even exactly what I want to say. As you've probably read, the film has already inspired unprecedented controversy for two reasons. First, the utter brutality and violence of the persecution and crucifixion of Christ. And second, the alleged anti-Semitic perspective.

On the first critique, I can't recall seeing a film that more graphically and viscerally portrays human physical suffering. It is incredibly difficult to watch, yet I could not take my eyes off the screen. I believe this is a credit to the actors, who manage to convey a level of spiritual suffering that transcends the physical infliction of pain. It is not only Christ's sacrifice, but that of Mary and the disciples, and by extension, everyone who came to know this individual and his message. It is the most human and touching of moments when Mary asks her son to let her die with him. And that simple message of pure love and profound loss is conveyed beautifully. It may have been possible to tell the story without the graphic violence, but it would not have been as profound. The story is not just about the persecution of Christ, but about the power of all-encompassing love, forgiveness, and spiritual strength. The message works precisely because Christ's physical suffering is something we can all identify with. It makes him more human, and thus makes his faith more remarkable.

The second critique is hardly worth addressing. This is not to disparage my Jewish friends, but this film, like (my reading of) the gospels, is not about the special cruelty of one group or another. It is about human nature, and more specifically, human frailty, weakness, fear, and ambition. It is a comment on politics- the struggle to gain and keep power. To be fair to the film (and I don't think this gives too much away), while it is the Jewish priests who demand the crucifixion of Christ, it is the Roman guards who carry out their orders with a mixture of brutality and glee that would make any feeling person's skin crawl. Even Caiphus is shown repenting, albeit too late, for his blind ambition. If viewers, Jewish or gentile, saw the message as anti-Semitic, I believe that they have utterly missed the point. Jesus, like others who went both before and after him, had a message that challenged the prevailing wisdom, and thus, the legitimacy of the powers that be. To question the conventional wisdom, religious or ideological; to threaten the perception of what is widely believed or portrayed to be reality (and to do so in the quest for a larger truth)- well, it is the single most courageous act a person can commit. And often those who have done so- Socrates, Galileo, Gandhi, Sakharov- are condemned as crazy or criminal, as was Christ. But without the courage and faith of these individuals, humanity would not evolve.

Which brings me to the main message of the film. As a friend so perfectly put it as we were parting ways in the parking lot, for all the criticism and analysis of Gibson's interpretation, the simple fact remains: we have not come very far. That is the real sorrow. I had read that audiences who saw early screenings had an unusual reaction at the conclusion, and my experience was no different. As the credits began to roll, the theater was silent. For nearly 10 minutes, no one moved or said a word. I imagine that it was a collective gathering-of-thoughts, a reverence and remembrance. Yet I can't help but think that once everyone finds themselves back in the safety and security of their own homes, the introspection will fade to a kind of distant nostalgia. Meanwhile, brutal wars and crimes against humanity rage on around the globe in the name of religion and righteousness and our own "democratic" leader calls for limits on equality and disguises it as piety. Human hypocrisy, ambition, and greed in the time of Christ is no rival for that which we are witness to today. In that sense, this film could not have been more timely. I hope we listen.