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| The Passion [2008] | ![The Passion [2008]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Gr6eVjXxL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Nigel Stafford-clark
Actors: James Nesbitt, Paul Nicholls, Penelope Wilton, Mark Lewis Jones, Laura Fraser
Studio: Acorn Media
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £12.98
You Save: £7.01 (35%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 7352
Format: Pal
Language: English (Unknown)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running Time: 180 minutes
Number Of Items: 2
EAN: 5036193096969
ASIN: B001CBZDXU
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: October 20, 2008 (In 9 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Not yet released
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| Customer Reviews:
 Utterly Compelling Production October 10, 2008
I watched this when it was broadcast on BBC One at Easter earlier this year and was completely entranced. For me it ranks as one of the best pieces of drama that has been produced by the BBC in recent years. Stunning scenery, amazing cinematography and breath-taking performances from Joseph Mawle as Jesus, James Nesbitt as Pontius Pilate and the wonderful Penelope Wiltin as Mary - a near perfect adaptation of one of the greatest stories of our time. Can't wait to get the DVD so that I can watch this again and again.
 Painfully close to being brilliant September 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Below is my original review from Easter 2008:
'Originally shown in 4 parts (3 hours in total) 'The Passion' exceeded all hopes and, despite one or two stumbles along the way, emerged as a moving, gripping and - thank god - honest interpretation of the last week in the life of Jesus.
The edgy mood was set from the word go as Jesus enters Jerusalem and the disciples and his own family start to question and turn against him. The ambiguity of the writing even had this viewer wondering 'is he mad?' or 'is he God?' at various moments. The fact that I forgot the story (despite knowing - obviously - how things would pan out) is a testament to the brilliant writing, acting and directing, though mostly the writing, because the script managed to nimbly tread a fine line between 'traditional' biblical storytelling and heart stopping moments of fresh perspective. The scene where Jesus questions his own divinity and ponders the real possibility that he is wrong and destined to oblivion is a beautiful moment where, lo and behold, the piety that has marred this sort of production in the past, is quite usefully thrown out the window, adding a real dramatic core to the moment. Even the ditching of 'It is Accomplished' to something more touching had this atheist in tears.
I was also impressed with the way the resurrection was handled and played out. And even Caiaphas was spared the evil beard stroking lunacy of Gibson's sadistic blood bath. The entire film ends with new life and hope. Jesus is arisen and Caiaphas is a father. Maybe it was the only cliche in the script but it was a beautiful one regardless.
Unfortunately, James Nesbitt...
As fine an actor as he is, he was simply miscast as Pilate. It was only during the trial and his moment of losing face, then extracting petty revenge, did Pilate really come to life. The rest of the time, he simply failed to convince with his performance on any level. I feel bad about saying all this, because he's a great actor.
Also, the usually reliable Debbie Wiseman contributed a score that was magnificently dark and brooding one moment, and then a cliche ridden ethnic hotch-potch the next. At times, the music was so intrusive it detracted from a great deal of the first hour.
Alas, the near perfect script tripped up with some fudged motivation between characters. Judas was just a confusing plot device to get Jesus from A to B. Still, Paul Nicholls did a pretty good job. And the disciples - though brilliantly acted - became faceless. I just lost track of who was who in the end.
Overall, it was an impressive and mercifully mature piece of drama. Pious sentimentality and a 'perfect' Jesus was out the window, and anger, frustration, doubt, confusion, fear and pretty much all the negatives of the human condition were 'in' and spread thickly over the characters becoming the prime moving force in motivation through the script. There's never been a more fearful and edgy version of the Passion. It even pips Gibson's sick horror show and is more affecting with muddled accents and an honest script than simply putting a man through a meat grinder for 2 hours and watching him suffer. Gibson's film was cheap and easy and targeted, where as this production has so much more going for it.'
There's more I'd like to add to the above review for the official DVD release.
In hindsight, the production comes very close to being something radical and different, but gets cold feet at pivotal moments. I personally think that the resurrection would have been infinitely more moving (and involving) had it stuck to its guns and stayed a more 'subjective' experience in that Jesus lives on in people he touched in life (THAT is what the resurrection in this 'Passion' was desperately hinting at), but of course it's a more humanistic/psychological spirituality than the all defining Christ conquering sin and death. And this is the BBC! So I think this production - had it been with another channel - could have been something wonderful to behold. What we get is a series of great ideas transcending the typical framemork of the biblical narrative whilst staying faithful to its orthodoxy.
I still feel that the 'perfect' Jesus drama has still to be made. Scorsese's 'Last Temptation' got close, but at least 'The Passion' gives it a serious run for its money. Then again, the perfect Jesus would differ between tastes. I'd actually like to see a drama series on Jesus's life and not his death.
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