La Bible: Joseph

I happened to catch the TV movie Joseph a few weeks ago. Didn't see the beginning but it captured my attention immediately. I am a senior and usually 'fade' around 10 PM, but this movie had me alert and involved until over at 11 or midnight! The realism, the scenery, the accuracy; it was great! Martin Landau was the best I have ever seen him as the Patriarch Father. I absolutely LOVED the Pharaoh portrayed by Stephen Landisi. He was perfect. But Paul Mercurio gets 10 stars in this role. He was superb!!! Throughout he portrays the slave role with quiet dignity; his faith and belief in God absolutely marvelous, convincing, pure. The scene where he reveals himself as Joseph, not as second in command of all Egypt, to his brothers tearfully, poignantly is one of the best acting scenes I have seen in years. How refreshing the movie was, so revealing of human frailties, evil; so full of compassion, forgiveness. Mr. Mercurio has emotional depths there to hopefully portray many powerfully moving roles in the future. Bravo! THE BEST movie I've seen in years. I bought it and have since viewed it three times. My two sons loved it, my sister (a savvy New York theater goer) loved it, and now my future daughter- in-law is to see it with son who wants to see it a second time. It moved me deeply. Mercurio is wonderful. Isn't this the epitome of great film? To bring history alive?To touch hearts and lift the spirit?

The film was the most faithful Bible adaptation I have seen. It kept faithful to the Bible with intelligent in-filling of Biblical gaps of plot and character. The drama was maintained with real depth and passion to the characters

This film is far from the epic scale of DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" but its startling accuracy pays homage to the text of Genesis and it is full of drama, bitterness, provocative character, and spiritual development. The film takes time to address Jacob's family background without taking away from the protagonist's ongoing journey.

Since my school classes covered the story of Joseph with Old Testament commentaries, I am impressed with the remarkable precision in the film from a Jewish perspective. They include Joseph's meeting with a "man" (i.e. angel), his title as "Tzapaneth Paneah", and the incident of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar. While some of the brothers dispute with their father Jacob, it is Judah who redeems himself from his errors.

The casting is well-credited with Ben Kingsley (superb as ever) as Potiphar. Paul Mercurio as Joseph is a quiet and righteous man who restrains himself in the face of fear and temptation.

The simple backgrounds and sets work well and while this is not an elaborate film, it is a great biblical one. Whether others are watching this film for educational, spiritual, or personal reasons, I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.

Joseph is an excellent dramatisation of the Biblical story. It's a tale best known in popular culture today as the basis for the Lloyd Webber musical, but I found it refreshing to sit down and watch a thorough and accurate account of the story as it was in the Bible, and without all the glitzy silliness that Webber brought to the table.

The production values and script are as great as ever for this series, with the Moroccan locations perfectly standing in for Canaan and Egypt (the depiction of the famine in particular is terrifyingly realised). What stands out most, though, is the calibre of the cast in this one.

Ben Kingsley far and away steals the show as the complicated Potiphar; he's a man you could easily hate when he first shows up, but there's much more to him than that. Kingsley isn't the only winner here. Martin Landau, as the ancient elder Jacob, is also outstanding, adding real heart to the production. Lesley Ann Warren is sexy and delicious as Potiphar's scheming wife. Paul Mercurio (STRICTLY BALLROOM) makes a charismatic Joseph, even if he didn't entirely lose his Aussie accent, and it makes you wonder what happened to him.

Competently made Biblical production dealing with revelant epic deeds narrated in the Old Testament. It is a luxuriously mounted production that gives a feeling of religious spectacle. Biblic story of Joseph: Paul Mercurio, and his 10 envious siblings. Covering Jacob, who long time ago was blessed as successor by Isaac posing as Esau, his sons and especially Joseph. He was sold to slavery by his jealous brothers Reuben, Zebulon, Simeon, Judah .. They had a real jealousy of his skills and of being their father's favorite. As they take him, seize, tear off his coat and throw him into a dry well. The following day, he is given to traders on their way to Egypt . At a popular market, Joseph is sold as a slave to Pothipar, the Pharaoh Prime Minister : Ben Kingsley . His prophetic abilities and highly productive work win his master's trust and he is appointed as a major servant. One day, he is seduced Pothiphar's tempting wife : Lesley Ann Warren , but Joseph rejects her . The scorned woman seeks vengeance and acussing him of violation. He is imprisionated and at the jail prophetizes the future of two locked powerful men who served the Pharaoh . Later on, he is called by Pharaoh himself : Stefano Dionisi , to interpret his twisted dreams . As Joseph describes the famous dream of seven thin cows that eat seven fat cows. Then Joseph predicts the dream in which 7 years of plentiful harvest, Egypt will suffer 7 years famine .Later on, Pharaoh Ramses I appoints Joseph as the main Chancellor.

Biblical history miniseries formed by two long episodes , shot in enough budget imitating the American Colossal, but made in Italian style. This Old Testament story is decently told , taking parts here and there of the notorious historical happenings . It contains great production design, spectacular scenes and famous as well as charming actors. The movie gives engaging messages about fraternity, compassion, forgiveness, love, brotherhood and redemption. Paul Mercurio gives an acceptable acting as the good son whose ruthless brothers become increasily resentful of their dad's preference of Joseph, carring out a merciless revenge . Martin Landau gives a good interpretation as Jacob who married Rachel well played by Alice Krige .Support cast is frankly fine, such as Dominique Sanda, Ben Kingsley, Warren Clarke, Lesley Ann Warren, Renato Scarpa, Peter Eyre, Oliver Cotton, Arthur Brass, and Monica Bellucci as Pharaoh's wife, among others.

It packs an impressive and rousing musical score by Marco Frisina supervised by Ennio Morricone. And a colorful, brilliant cinematography by Raffaele de Mertes, shot on location in Morocco. The picture was compellingly directed by Roger Young. Roger is a good artisan, usually filming for TV and occassionally for big screen. He has shot various miniseries which have been a joy of his long career. He filmed several episodes of the prestigious Bible series, such as Jesus, Moses, Paulus of Tarso, Salomon, Barrabbas and Joseph. Rating 7/10. Better than average. Well worth seeing.

This story has been previously adapted as follows : Joseph and hid Bethren 1961 by Luciano Ricci, Irving Rapper with Geoffrey Horne as Joseph, Finlay Currie, Robert Morley, Terence Hill, Belinda Lee, Helmut Schneider. In the beginning 2000 by Kevin Connor with Eddie Cibrian as Joseph, Christopher Lee as Pharaoh Ramses, Steven Berkoff as Puthiphar, Amanda Donohue as his wife.