The Passion exists as pure evangelical sensationalism, a uniquely incendiary realisation of Gibson’s dogged religious cast was absolutely flawless, Jim Caviezel gave a powerful performance as Jesus, Maia Morgenstern as Mary brought me to tears, and even though Monica Bellucci spoke only a few lines, her performance and beauty astonished me.
After all, the original film was never engineered for traditional creative success. His highest-profile recent role was a five-year stint on CBS crime drama Person of Interest, for which he won scant praise.Ĭaviezel’s slump, combined with Gibson’s ignominious decline, means the supposed sequel is unlikely to capture the world’s attention in the same way as the original. Since 2004, Caviezel’s career has failed to live up to his early box-office return, and he has dedicated much of his time to his religion, often speaking at Christian events. But his career survived, and he received a best director Oscar nomination in 2017, for Hacksaw Ridge.Ī long-rumoured sequel to The Passion, titled The Resurrection of the Christ, was confirmed by Caviezel a year ago, with Gibson expected to be involved again. He was largely responsible for his son’s branch of faith, as both are part of the Traditionalist movement, a small, ultra-orthodox sect of Catholicism known for its rejection of modernist church reforms.Īfter Gibson’s antisemitic rant in 2006 and a series of scandals in 2010 involving a misdemeanour battery charge and a leaked recording of another racist tirade, Gibson worked on the fringes of Hollywood for a few years – a far cry from the days when he was earning over $20m per film. His father, Hutton Gibson, has made many public antisemitic remarks and has been accused of denying the Holocaust. Gibson’s antisemitic soundbites and battery charge since the film’s release seem to validate that criticism – and viewed today, it’s a problematic exercise in unpleasantness, rooted in one man’s particular faith. The Passion, an earnest retelling of the final days in the life of Jesus, was attacked in some quarters for its alleged antisemitism and lurid violence – the venerable critic Roger Ebert deemed it “ the most violent film I have ever seen” – and disputed its historical accuracy. The film writer-director Mel Gibson described as a potential “career-killer” was, in fact, a phenomenal hit, becoming the then-highest grossing R-rated release of all time and accumulating over $600m (£463m) in total worldwide box office receipts.īut with the success came controversy.
When The Passion of the Christ was released in February 2004, the reaction was overwhelming.
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