RISEN - MOVIE REVIEW

I have seen a who lot of Jesus Movies in my 47 years of life.  There is some good stuff in a lot of them and there is some real cheese in some of them too.  The most gritty and realistic one, was of course, 2004's controversial movie The Passion of the Christ.

Risen is a haunting and unique movie in the Jesus film genre.  This is the most unique Jesus movie I have ever seen.  For one, you don't have to endure the torture and crucifixion of Jesus; although you have to endure the after effects of the Roman brutality. But writer and director Kevin Reynolds instead takes us inside the life of Roman Commander Clavius, excellently played by Joseph Fiennes. Clavius who works for Pilate has to clean up the political mess that Pilate is involved in with Caiaphas, the leader of the Pharisees.

When Jesus' body goes missing out of the tomb, Clavius is tasked with shutting down this whole Resurrection rumour by producing the corpse of Jesus.  Supposedly the body was stolen by Jesus' followers who are were to stage a resurrection.

The writer and director, Kevin Reynolds, who directed Robin Hood, Water World and The Count of Monte Cristo, along with other big Hollywood films, knows what he is doing.  The movie is tight, suspenseful, beautifully filmed and has some twists and turns that make the subject material fresh and insightful.  The movie doesn't resort to cheesy cliches and cheap stunts to get your attention at all. Instead the movie is very human.  It shows the struggle between faith and living in this world of pain that jades us.

Cliff Curtis is now my favorite onscreen Jesus next to Jim Caviezel.  He makes Jesus both tough and gentle and on not a waif-of-a-man that you could knock over with a sneeze.   The Disciples are well casted and their humanity is welcome.  There is more humour in a biblical film than I have ever seen before and the timing and tastefulness of this very real, human humour was well placed.  The movie's score by Roque Banos is excellent and the tasteful and haunting music paints the movie with even more deep colours.

This is an action filled, mysterious, well-written, well acted and tautly directed, faith-building, resurrection affirming film.