Tom Shales: Gibson's "Space in Hell Has Already Been Reserved"

Washington Post ^

[GulliverSwift]

Jesus Christ was one groovy dude -- at least according to "Judas," an ABC movie that tells a very familiar story but from a unfamiliar point of view.

In the modern-vernacular film, airing tonight at 9 on Channel 7, Jesus is certainly the Good Guy (okay, the Best Guy), but Judas isn't simply the bad one. History's most famous traitor, in effect, gets plopped down on an analyst's couch and probed, and though he's guilty as sin of betraying Jesus, we're asked to consider him as a complex human being with traces of decency as well as dishonor running through his veins.

At least these filmmakers adhere to the physicians' credo "First, do no harm." Unlike Mel Gibson's notorious "The Passion of the Christ," ABC's movie seems happily lacking in anti-Semitic aspersions. Writer Tom Fontana, whose impressive credits include the uncompromising "Oz" on HBO, has Pontius Pilate's wife tell her husband, as the assassination of Jesus is plotted on Palm Sunday: "Fix it so the Jews themselves are held responsible."

It might have been better still if the conversation had continued with Pilate scoffing, "Who'd believe that?" and his wife replying, "You can always find a few bigots and idiots who'll believe anything." Regardless, the Big Lie was born, and two millennia later, Gibson would find a way to recycle it and gross more than $200 million in the process. Surely his parking space in Hell has already been reserved.

[GulliverSwift]

Regardless, the Big Lie was born, and two millennia later, Gibson would find a way to recycle it and gross more than $200 million in the process. Surely his parking space in Hell has already been reserved.

What would this smarmy, humanist, mush-headed liberal know about a "parking space in Hell"? At least one good thing has come out of this movie. Before, liberals wouldn't even mention the concept of Hell, because they were too smart for that--- or at least they acted to smart for that.

For some reason, they don't list the e-mail for Tom Smells.

[BunnySlippers]

I wonder if he was even half this hard on the film "Natural Born Killers".

[GulliverSwift]

Here is Shale's most recent column at TV Week, talking about the Sopranos:

"The show's so good that even a congressman or an FCC commissioner can probably detect that the sex and violence are wholly justifiable within the milieu depicted."

[BlessedBeGod]

Tom Shales: Gibson's "Space in Hell Has Already Been Reserved"

Wow. He must have the same direct line to God that Andy Rooney does.

[truthandjustice1]

"You can always find a few bigots and idiots who'll believe anything"

Smarmy a$$hole.

[Aquinasfan]

Just spell the name right Tom. I was concerned that the stupid articles were going to wind down after the film's release, with people seeing the film being able to see the reviewer's lies with their own eyes. But this hasn't diminished the reviewers' vitriol one bit, which is all well and good for the box office. The longer they keep the movie in the news, the greater the box office. Thanks useful idiots!

[Ronin]

Style Columnist?

I cannot think of any person less qualified to pass judgment on who goes to Heaven or Hell than a Wash. Compost style columnist.

[SandRat]

Surely his parking space in Hell has already been reserved.

Somebody needs to tell "Tommy Boy" not to count the pitch forks going to Mel so fast, he might just a painful surprise when it's his turn to stand before St Peter.

[F16Fighter]

Hey Shales -- have another donut...

[Petronski]

This does not offend me as much as pro-abortion "Christians," like the pro-abortion "Catholic" John Kerry.

[AreaMan]

Tom Shales: A piece of canine fecal matter on the sole of society's shoe.

[pgkdan]

The byline reads "Tom Shales, Style Columnist". With that hair and those glasses he's the WP's style columnist???

[GulliverSwift]

You can contact the Washington Post Ombudsmen Here

You used to be able to e-mail Smells, but he's written so much garbage over the last few years, and gotten a lot of flak. Now he wants to write his garbage without having to hear any response.

[GulliverSwift]

I wonder if he was even half this hard on the film "Natural Born Killers".

Of course he has. That movie was probably "smart, savvy, and tightly written."

[Just mythoughts]

"Gibson would find a way to recycle it and gross more than $200 million in the process."


Guess he thinks that there will be a shortage of liberal money from the Hollywood funders.

[GulliverSwift]

"Style" is the name they use for their soft, feature-type section, the one that also hosts the comics. But the name is strange, since not much of it has to do with fashion.

[savedbygrace]

Wow. He must have the same direct line to God that Andy Rooney does.

They're really just talking to each other - and each one thinks he's hearing from God.

[oldtimer]

The boy can only cast his rocks through his word processor.

Although we are not to judge, we need to send him an asbestos suit for his future needs.

I absolutely cannot believe the libs attacking The Passion like they are...but they are.

[Joe_October]

A little movie about Christ scares the sissy liberals. Gosh maybe we need a separation of Church and Everything provision in the Constitution for the liberals to cling to.

You know the third amendment hasn't really been fully interpreted by the Liberals (You know: No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.)

The liberals could interpret that to mean just about anything (Heck look what they did to the other nine members of the bill of rights.)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

wind down...

That's far too optimistic

If anything, they've ratcheted up the rancor, literally telling Gibson to go to Hell in print.

I can't wait for next Monday, when the domestic grosses reach $300,000.

These days overseas box office exceeds domestic totals, and DVD sales now account for more than double the worldwide box office.

The apoplexy has only begun.

Very satisfying.