Too Subtle for Critics? Too Balanced for Zealots?

Rating: 6/10 (20 May 2006)

This is not Howard's best work, but I would recommend seeing this film for several reasons. The first is that even more so than the book, the film tries hard to walk the fence between decrying religious faith and exonerating Jesus' divinity, and is less about persuasive refutation and more about questioning basic assumptions of history. The second is that all of the actors do a wonderful job navigating the more obtuse aspects of their roles. This is where I think the critics misunderstood: these performances are not wooden or "sleep walking," they aim for subtle, and often hit the mark. If anything, the editing is a bit heavy-handed, putting exclamation points on the end of already compelling statements (i.e. Yes, this person really DID choke! And they really ARE dead! Look how DEAD they are!). Because of this contrast, the more nuanced acting is often lost (or perhaps better understood by European audiences?).
Lastly, there is real magic in many of the sequences, and it continually probes our understanding of history, religion and very personal spiritual faith. Probes  and excites controversy  but as the verbal sparring between the "historical authorities" in the film so often reveals, the story doesn't slam the door shut on any one particular worldviewor on any possibility. Personally, I found the film inspiring, exciting (despite the fact that I had read the book and new the outcome), and much more enjoyable than I had anticipated.