NEWSWEEK INTERVIEW: Actor Jim Caviezel

Yahoo News ^ | February 10, 2004

[NYer]

NEW YORK, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Caviezel, the 35-year-old actor who plays the role of Jesus in Mel Gibson's controversial new movie "The Passion of the Christ" tells Newsweek that it has been "frustrating" to watch Gibson being accused of anti-Semitism. "I can tell you this much, the guy is not in the least anti-Semitic. I never saw it," he says. "Maia Morgenstern [who plays the Virgin Mary] is this beautiful Jewish Romanian actress whose parents were in the Holocaust. Every day he'd say, "Maia, tell me about your traditions. Is this OK to do?" He wanted to make this film very Semitic."

• (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040208/NYSU003 )

  In an interview with Senior Writer Sean Smith in the February 16 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, February 9), Caviezel says Jewish leaders have "every right" to defend their faith. "But I believe that when all my Jewish brothers see this film, they will realize that it's not about assigning blame. It's about love. It's about sacrifice. It's about forgiveness and hope," he says.

  The actor, who describes working with Gibson as "a little like waltzing in a hurricane," says the director told him he rediscovered the Gospels after going through a rough stretch in his life. "He began meditating on the passion and death of Jesus. In doing so, he said the wounds of Christ healed his wounds. And I think the film expresses that."

  Caviezel tells Newsweek that physical pain was the most challenging aspect of the role, which required him to wear only a loincloth in winter while filming in Italy. "[During the Crucifixion] the wind was just coming down those canyons, slicing me apart," he says. The cold was just ... have you seen those things at the fair where there's a guy on a wheel, and they spin the wheel and throw knives at him and they just miss? On this movie I felt like they were all hitting me."

  Caviezel also recounts being struck by lightning while shooting the Sermon on the Mount. "About four seconds before it happened it was quiet, and then it was like someone slapped my ears," he says. "I had seven or eight seconds of, like, a pink, fuzzy color, and people started screaming. They said I had fire on the left side of my head and light around my body. All I can tell you is that I looked like I went to Don King's hairstylist."

  When asked whether playing the role has deepened his faith, Caviezel says he loves Christ "more than [he] ever knew possible." "I love him more than my wife, my family. There were times when I was up there [on the cross], and I could barely speak. Continual hypothermia is so excruciating. I connected to a place I could have never, ever gone. I don't want people to see me. All I want them to see is Jesus Christ."

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[NYer]

'I Can Tell You This Much, The Guy's Not in The Least Anti-Semitic. I Never Saw It,' Says Caviezel of Director Mel Gibson.

Caviezel Says Gibson Rediscovered The Gospels After a 'Rough Stretch' in His Life; 'He Said The Wounds of Christ Healed His Wounds. And I Think The Film Expresses That.'

[NYer]

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[Alouette]

There were times when I was up there [on the cross], and I could barely speak. Continual hypothermia is so excruciating.

It's being up there [on the cross] that's excruciating.

[NYer]

One of the best and most detailed interviews with Jim Caviezel was given in 2002. It is a long but excellent read!

Christ Complex
GAYLE MacDONALD talks to Jim Caviezel, the actor with the soul of a saint who has been trussed, practically naked, to a cross in an Italian field for 15 days.

[newzhawk]

Gee , who is perpetuating the idea that the movie about Christ is more about who killed him? Just looking at the cover of Newsweek is preposterous!Christ was the King of the Jews- surrounded by Jews- I guess it would have been more likely if Chinese had run into the area and killed him - would it change the meaning of his life any? It is the liberal media's dim view of Southern Christians and the myth that they are obsessed about the Jews being "the one that killed our Lord" - this keeps the story going for them.

[Restore]

Jim Caviezel will be playing golfing great Bobby Jones in his next film, "A Stroke of Genius".

[adam_az]

"Caviezel also recounts being struck by lightning while shooting the Sermon on the Mount. "About four seconds before it happened it was quiet, and then it was like someone slapped my ears," he says. "I had seven or eight seconds of, like, a pink, fuzzy color, and people started screaming. They said I had fire on the left side of my head and light around my body."

Quite ironic!

[Ciexyz]

Good read.

[mattdono]

Caviezel Bump.

He is one of our best actors that we have right now.

He won't get an Oscar anytime soon because he is a devote Christian and a geniunely good person. The leftists and voters of the Academy just won't have any of that "riff-raff" around them.

</unfortunate sarcasm>

[Ciexyz]

Jim Caviezel was very good in The Count of Monte Cristo, which can be rented in video stores.

[bluebunny]

What the perfect person to portray Jesus. He was born to play this role. What a cutie too!

[codyjacksmom]

I first noticed him in Frequency. That was awesome and then in Angel Eyes. I've heard more on this new movie through FR than anywhere else. What I've heard really makes me want to see it.I would love to see a GOOD Christian movie that is accurate. I was really disappointed in Left Behind.

[mdmathis6]

The description of the lightning strike sounds less like lightning and more like the "tongues of flame" that appeared on the disciples when the Holy Spirit fell on then at Pentecost. The actor wasn't hurt apparently. Given the conversions ocurring on the set of that movie, the POWER was obviously flowing...indeed!

[mdmathis6]

see my post at 13

[adam_az]

Do you see His face in tortillas and peeling paint, too?

If other people saw lightning, then why stretch for a supernatural explanation?

[Mudboy Slim]

"Caviezel also recounts being struck by lightning while shooting the Sermon on the Mount..."

"Quite ironic!"

Thought so, too...there's gotta be a lesson in there somewhere...MUD

[spiffy]

He was in "Pay it Forward", too.

[bluejean]

"Gee , who is perpetuating the idea that the movie about Christ is more about who killed him?"

Even more bizarre - the idiots raising Cain (oops) about this movie are actually willing to accept that Jesus may have been real - IF the Jews can be blamed for killing him, or if Christians can be blamed for blaming the Jews for killing him. Which is why it's MUCH more fun arguing about who is to blame. Jesus can then be denied as well as used, the proverbial pink elephant in the living room.

[handy]

There were times when I was up there [on the cross], and I could barely speak. Continual hypothermia is so excruciating.

He picked the right word to describe the pain.

\Cru"ci*ate\ (kr?"sh?-?t or -sh?t; 106), a. [L. cruciatus, p. p. of cruciare to crucify, torture, fr. crux, crucis, a cross. See Cross.]

[lawgirl]

I have loved Jim Caviezel since Frequency, and I am glad to see him getting recognition for what he did- I just hope that this doesnt' destroy his career. Although I am sure God is going to bless him in every more important ways.