Tablet Says The Best Movies Are Religious (Even If They Are Not Bible Stories)

Posted on March 5, 2014 at 3:55 pm

In the midst of the silly battles over “Noah,” Liel Leibovitz has a superb piece on the Tablet website about how the best movies always have a religious component.

As is often the case when we strive to talk seriously about popular entertainment, we’re asking all the wrong questions. Rather than fretting about whether Hollywood gets religion—it does, gloriously so, and to great effect—we should wonder why, given its stratospheric success with religious-themed films, is Hollywood so reluctant to give its audiences what they so clearly desire.

This, first and foremost, is a question of definitions. Who’s a religious person? And what kind of film might he like? To hear marketers, in Hollywood and beyond, tell it, a religious person is someone whose cultural horizon begins with Genesis and ends with Revelation, some sort of sniggering simpleton who grows suspicious unless his entertainment features swords, sandals, and the heroes he’d read about in Sunday School. This lazy and skewed approach is no less offensive than the efforts to market products to women simply by slapping on pink packaging, and no less ineffective: Women, like religious people and members of minority groups and the young and the old and people with terrible nut allergies and anyone else who was blessed with the breath of life, are complex and nuanced people whose tastes and predilections run far deeper than a single, simple note.

I like the way Liebovitz understands that movies like “Groundhog Day” and “2001” are religious movies because they engage us in the deepest questions of meaning and purpose. People of faith — whether those who are confident in their beliefs and affiliations or those who are seeking a better understanding of our connection to the infinite — are drawn to stories that explore those themes, and not just reiterations of Bible chapters.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Bible stories were a staple in Hollywood, with big, star-studded, prestige movies like “King of Kings,” “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” “The Bible,” “The Ten Commandments,” and “Song of Bernadette.” It is interesting to think about why that changed. There are a lot of theories and the answer probably encompasses most of them. The controversy over “Noah” is at least one indicator of at least one of the reasons. As mainstream audiences have shown less interest in explicitly religious films, those who strongly identify as observant are

This year, in addition to Son of God and “Noah,” we will also see Christian Bale as Moses in “Exodus.” I hope that both self-described faith-audiences and those who do not define themselves that way will give these films a try — and look for the spiritual themes and inspiration in whatever movies they attend. The wonder of the Bible is that it gives us so much to ponder, and it can be a joy to share the way it speaks to each of us, even if those ways are different. I hope these films get more people interested in reading and discussing the Bible and considering its lessons more deeply.

Trailer: The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life

Posted on March 5, 2014 at 8:00 am

One of the most touching moments of the Oscars was the award for a documentary short called “The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life.” It is the story of Alice Herz-Sommer, the world’s oldest Holocaust survivor, who died at age 110 just before her story was celebrated at the Oscars. She was born in Prague. Her parents’ friends included Kafka and Mahler. After the Nazis invaded, she was sent to Theresienstadt with her son. That camp was notoriously used to mislead Red Cross inspectors and others and she performed in over 100 concerts for visitors.

Her husband died in Dachau. After the war, she emigrated to Israel, and later lived in London. “I am Jewish,” she said, “but my religion is Beethoven.” A book about her life, A Century of Wisdom: Lessons from the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer, the World’s Oldest Living Holocaust Survivor, was published in 26 countries.

Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed accepted their Oscar for the film on Sunday night and spoke movingly of their admiration and affection for Herz-Sommer. I hope this award helps make their film widely available.

Contest: Bible Secrets Revealed

Posted on March 4, 2014 at 8:00 am

The History Channel’s Bible Secrets Revealed premieres on DVD today and I have three copies to give away!

The series covers the history of the Bible and its translations and editors over the centuries, from the moral codes of the Old Testament to the apocalyptic predictions of the Book of Revelation. Over the course of six episodes, scholars, archaeologists and religious leaders share their knowledge about the Biblical text on sex, prophecies, the life of Jesus, the portions of the original documents that have been removed, and the state of Israel, with on-location photography and compelling reenactments. Professor Robert Gargill, consulting producer of the series, understands the sensitivity of the material. He says that “the show isn’t attempting to ‘debunk’ anything. The show is attempting to show how scholars read some of the more significant texts in the Bible. The divinity of the Bible is up to the reader to conclude or not. What we’re trying to show is that the text isn’t always as simple as it appears, especially in multiple translations.” If, as some people of faith believe, the various translations and amendments to the text were divinely inspired, it is all the more reason to study the changes and ponder the reasons. The series features scholars from conservative Christian schools, as well as state schools, private Christian and Catholic colleges, and private secular colleges, including Bob Mullins (Azusa Pacific), Jeffrey C. Geoghegan (Boston College), Bryan Givens (Pepperdine), Chris Keith (St. Mary’s University College), Candida Moss (Notre Dame), as well as Muslim, Jewish, atheist, and agnostic scholars, to provide a broad spectrum of how scholars of different viewpoints read the texts.

If you would like to win a copy of this thought-provoking series, send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with “Secrets” in the subject line and tell me a teacher who inspired you. Don’t forget your address! (US addresses only). I’ll pick a winner on March 10. Good luck!

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Son of God

Posted on February 27, 2014 at 6:00 pm

Lowest Recommended Age:	Middle School
MPAA Rating:	Rated PG-13 for intense and bloody depiction of The Crucifixion, and for some sequences of violence
Profanity:	None
Alcohol/ Drugs:	Wine
Violence/ Scariness:	Intense and graphic torture and abuse and disturbing images in depiction of crucifixion, swords
Diversity Issues:	Religious diversity issues
Date Released to Theaters:	February 28, 2014
Date Released to DVD:	June 2, 2014
Amazon.com ASIN:	1455585831

“Son of God,” re-cut and expanded from the popular miniseries produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, “The Bible,” tells the story of Jesus from birth to crucifixion and resurrection in a thoughtful, reverent, and dignified manner. This is a movie made by believers for believers. It expects viewers to be familiar enough with the story to fill in some of the gaps and devout enough to assume the significance of each moment. It tells the story in a westernized, conventional manner that can seem superficial at times, more a cinematic Sunday School lesson than a movie. It is unlikely to persuade anyone, but it is undeniably moving and many believers will find it inspiring.

The production values are high, with Morocco providing the Biblical landscapes, elaborate sets and costumes, and a stirring Hans Zimmer score. Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado plays Jesus with dignity. He is very handsome, though his western features seem out of place. The portrayal of the Jews is always a sensitive issue in the depiction of the New Testament story. This version is more sympathetic than some, showing the political pressure that gave the Jewish community in Rome-occupied Jerusalem little choice. But it seems odd that Jesus and his followers, who considered themselves Jews, show no evidence of Jewish practice other than the Hebrew prayer for he dead following the crucifixion. Even the Last Supper, which has no elements of a Passover seder, though the Gospel of Mark says that Jesus prepared for the Last Supper on the “first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb.”

The movie also reflects its source with some odd re-cuts and deletions. Those who are not familiar with the details of the Gospels may have trouble understanding who some of the characters are and how they fit in. The death of John the Baptist is mentioned briefly without making it clear what his contribution was and how he died. Roma Downey has explained that they chose to literally cut the devil out of the story, in part as a result of some claims that the actor cast in the role for the television version bore a resemblance to President Obama. But that means eliminating a key element of the story, the Garden of Gethsemane, which is an important part of understanding the way Jesus saw his role and his sacrifice. This is an accessible version of the story, but it is also a simplified one.

Parents should know that the New Testament storyline includes illness, bigotry, and graphic and disturbing images of torture, abuse, and crucifixion.

Family discussion: How does this differ from other versions of the story? What was Jesus’ most important statement and why?

If you like this, try: the rest of “The Bible” miniseries and other depictions of the life of Jesus including “The Gospel of John” and “King of Kings”

Interview: Roma Downey and Mark Burnett on “Son of God”

Posted on February 26, 2014 at 8:00 am

“I just put on hand cream, so I can’t shake your hand,” Roma Downey said as I walked into the room. “You’ll just have to get a hug.” Fine with me!

I was there to talk to Downey and her husband, Mark Burnett, about “Son of God,” adapted from their ground-breaking television series, “The Bible,” and released in theaters this week, in time for Lent.

I know you had an overwhelming response to the television series. Tell me about the comments that you got that were most meaningful for you.

MB: I think the biggest comments initially were the result of the viewership; it being the number one show of the night. I think they were surprised there was a big audience. It was the number one show of the night and then of course they repeated it and the repeats beat most of the new shows. It just became like this wave and all press; faith press and secular press, like to get on board with something is that hot. And so, the big discussion’s for five weeks. Whoa, everyone is talking about the Bible! Everyone is talking about the Bible!

RD: We’ve been so humbled and excited as we travel around the country now with the film, “Son of God,” letting people know the movie’s coming up, people stepping up and shaking our hands and thanking us for having put “The Bible” on TV. And it’s a bit like I would imagine maybe serviceman returning feel. There’s been such a overwhelming sense of gratitude being expressed from people who are around the country as we go in to do interviews; the receptionists, the guy in the elevator, the driver of the taxi, everybody just responding that it brought enlightenment to Scripture, for families that it gave an entry point into a bigger conversation around the kitchen table. In office places it allowed for an entry point for conversation around the watercooler. The people at work who typically didn’t speak about faith or it hadn’t come up at the workplace. It was like it gave people permission to have that bigger discussion and that’s very encouraging.

And we had wanted to relay the story in an exciting and dynamic way, but ultimately to reveal it for the love story that it is and I think that that certainly came through in the series. With this film, to see the Jesus narrative stand alone in the feature film experience, you really get a sense of this extraordinary life in a way that’s grand and epic and sweetening and it is surprisingly intimate.

You chose to play Mary. In that agonizing crucifixion scene, that you have to do everything with your eyes.

RD: I just had a few lines in the entire film and yet they speak volumes with no words. Mary and Jesus had this extraordinary relationship between them. What a teacher Mary is really. It is the ultimate trusting; that she had to trust God, that she was so privileged to be the mother of the Savior, that she had to stand there as a mother and watch her son being murdered and trust that that is what he came to do. It was a very emotional few days filming those scenes for everybody.

As producers, what did you do to create the kind of spirit on the set that could be felt through the film?

RD: I think everything begins with intention. We prayed on this from the beginning, from its beginning as a whisper in our hearts, we prayed on it and we continued to pray and asked others to pray for us and with us. And I think that has been part of the spiritual engine, certainly behind the project from the beginning. There were moments over there we clearly could feel the presence among us. Every day we had to clear away one or two snakes, but on the day when we filmed the crucifixion, there were over 40 snakes to be cleared away.

MB: She told this story, at the National Shrine and people gasped.

RD: As our cast would arrive in Morocco, Mark and I wanted to do something that would be special for each and everyone of them. I have memories myself as an actor, of showing up on a location and how strange that can be sometimes when you don’t know anybody and yet as an actor you are often required to do your most vulnerable scene first or to step in pretending you know everybody and so I thought it would be nice if we greeted each person personally and it became clear that it was fine for the first few actors coming in. But then we were actually out and working and on the set so it wasn’t possible so the next best substitute was a handwritten letter and so every actor who came into a hotel room late at night on that late flight from Casablanca would receive a little hand selected gift of some sort and letter which was just a letter of welcome. And as they started this journey with us of shining a light; because our company is called Light Workers, tired of cursing the darkness; we wanted to be part of shining a light, shining his right. And what is interesting is that we got to know them after that, a few of them that they were so deeply touched by this; the warmth of the welcome immediately put them at ease and a few others thought we were complete nut cases but once they met us and knew our hearts, that everybody immediately felt so comfortable.

And I think what also happened with all the actors. This is where the spirit just wove itself through everybody. There was such a camaraderie that the developed among the actors. You know I’ve been on many sets my whole life and I can’t remember too many where we sat around on rocks in a desert reading Scripture together. There were times we would go into a scene and we had to emotionally reset; we would say “shall we reread this Scripture leading up to the scene” We were about to pray just to give everybody a reminder of where they are coming from and what is about to happen. And so we would sit around and read and pray and that is very, very special.

Downey wrote a piece in the Washington Post about why they decided to keep the devil out of this film.

I wanted all of the focus to be on Jesus. I want his name to be on the lips of everyone who sees this movie, so we cast Satan out. It gives me great pleasure to tell you that the devil is on the cutting room floor. This is now a movie about Jesus, the Son of God, and the devil gets no more screen time, no more distractions.

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