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With the notable exception of a few Romans, these people are Jews. And in the story, they come off rather badly.

Krauthammer and some other critics of this movie seem remarkably blind. They see only negative portrayals of Jews. Rabbi Joe Patasnik (sp?) here in NYC has been complaining that only the Jews are portrayed with bad teeth and "hook noses."

I just saw The Passion today, and I noticed:

(1) Only a couple of the Jews portrayed had "hook-noses" -- and they were the GOOD GUYS (or in one case, it was a woman: Veronica). Perhaps the most prominent "hook nose" in the whole movie was that of PETER (Cephas), the disciple.

(2) Some of the Romans had WAY worse teeth than any of the Jews.

(3) There are many good Jews in the movie, starting with Jesus himself. Add to that all the disciples (except Judas), Mary, Mary Magdalene, Veronica, Simon who helped carry the cross, the crucified criminal who sought redemption, and the many weeping people in the crowd who accompany Jesus to Golgotha).

These complaints about anti-Semitic stereotypes of Jews are silly. I have to believe that Krauthammer, usually a very perceptive man, had blinders on when he watched The Passion.