Passionless dialogue [Steer clear of ABC's embarrassing, cliche-surfeited 'Judas']

WORLD ^ | 3/6/04 | Andrew Coffin

[Caleb1411]

On March 8, within two weeks of the release of The Passion of the Christ, ABC will air Judas, a made-for-TV movie about the disciple who betrayed Jesus. The latter film will not be served by its proximity to Mel Gibson's work. The effect is tempering: Those who hope the success of The Passion will produce more Hollywood movies examining the life of Christ should have second thoughts after watching the embarrassing Judas. Or, better yet, take the advice of WORLD and don't watch it.

If nothing else, Judas reveals Mel Gibson to be an artistic genius. The two films are a study in contrasts, but it's not worth dwelling on the comparison. Judas employs nearly every cliché that has become synonymous with bad biblical epics (and that Mr. Gibson sought to avoid), from bad hair to bad sets to really, really bad dialogue.

The movie purports to tell the back story of Judas, identified by ABC as "perhaps the most complex character in the Gospels." To do this, the script makes Judas central to almost every event in Christ's adult life. Judas wants an earthly king to overthrow the Romans, becoming a foil for Jesus, who has a more spiritual mission in mind.

Judas begins by stating that "the following film is an interpretative dramatization of Judas's relationship with Jesus." What exactly the film is interpreting is not clear, since it is most certainly not working from the Bible or accepted historic documents, except in rough outline.

Most of the dialogue hovers between the painfully funny and just plain painful. Judas first meets the Messiah after witnessing Jesus clearing the Temple of merchants. Judas, to Jesus, over a cup of wine: "You know, I have to tell you, I was very impressed with what you did at the Temple today." Jesus replies, somewhat chagrined and regretful, "Well, don't be. You know, I was trying to make a point and lost my temper. You can't change a man's heart by yelling at him, by humiliating him, by taking away his livelihood."

Later, Jesus asks Judas to handle His money, saying, "I'm no good with money. Whatever I have, I tend to lose." In another scene, Herod refers to John the Baptist as "a pain in the ass." It's enough to make one long for Aramaic.

The one interesting aspect of the production is that it works overtime to avoid the perceived anti-Semitism of a literal reading of the Gospels, creating a bizarre conspiracy scenario in which Pontius Pilate (Tim Matheson of Animal House fame) orchestrates the events leading up to the crucifixion in order to pin the blame for Christ's death on the Jews.

[Lurking in Kansas]

Thanks for the post. Why am I not surprised?

[Covenantridge]

Oh brother, the money mongers indulge. God forbid!

[Green Knight]

"the following film is an interpretative dramatization of Judas's relationship with Jesus."

Translation: "We chucked the Gospels right off the bat and just made things up".

[Spok]

The comparison should prove to be an embarassment to ABC. Good.

[concerned about politics]

Liberal ABC will have the movie praising Satan.
I'm not watching it. What a waste of time that would be.

[caisson71]

I don't watch ABC, period.

[Caleb1411]

ABC's Judas just might be an argument for evolution: How many monkeys typing randomly for X years at X computer keyboards would it take to generate Judas?

[Arkinsaw]

ABC is not the first to posit something deeper for Judas. There was a book I read that put Judas in the position as a spy for the religious authorities. In this book, Judas believed that Jesus was a worldly Messiah destined to overthrow the Romans rather than a spiritual one. In that book, Judas betrayed Jesus so he would confront the Jewish authorities and the Romans.

In the book, Judas's spy reports to the Sanhedrin ended up being used by God as the "Q" document used to write the Gospels.

Cool book but with lots better dialog for sure.

[DameAutour]

This movie sounds absolutely dreadful. It's like the Noah movie that had pirates during the flood.

[Miss Marple]

Who in the world cast Tim Matheson as Pontius Pilate? All I would think of was Animal House!

Hollywood is totally clueless, aren't they?

[Miss Marple]

LOL! I forgot about Noah and the pirates! Hilarious!

[concerned about politics]

Hollywood is totally clueless, aren't they?

If any of them were to actually open a Bible they'd burst into flames.

[KitJ]

Who in the world cast Tim Matheson as Pontius Pilate? All I would think of was Animal House!

Must have been how he looks in a Toga.....

[Miss Marple]

HA! Very good!

[karnage]

I directed JUDAS. We shot the film in Morocco in the summer of 2001, and have been trying to get ABC to air it ever since. The controversy surrounding THE PASSION finally convinced the network to schedule JUDAS. The Executive Producer was Fr. Frank Desiderio, C.S.P. The script was written by multiple Emmy-winner Tom Fontana. Coincidentally, several technical personnel worked both on JUDAS and later on THE PASSION. We shot on many of the sets and locations used by Ridley Scott in GLADIATOR. I am a Catholic, and I take my faith seriously. I tried to humble myself before the Spirit and make a film that offers a new perspective on Judas while remaining faithful to the Gospels and the message and mission of Jesus.

[AzSteven]

...in which Pontius Pilate (Tim Matheson of Animal House fame)

Pilate: I wash my hands of this ... place him on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION!

[BibChr]

Must-Miss TV! {tm}

Dan

[Dogbert41]

They always make Jesus look feminine, helpless, and out in la la land.

Won't they be in for a suprise when they meet someone more resembling Conaan the Barbarian with sword in hand?

[Miss Marple]

Yes, but Tim Matheson? Really, you should have thought about that.