Run time: 1 hour, 48 minutes.
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Fiennes doesn’t play Jesus in Risen- that role goes to Kiwi actor Cliff Curtis – rather a Roman soldier tasked with overseeing the crucifixion, then, in the days after, quelling “rumours” that this so-called messiah has walked from his grave.
Speaking to Zap2it, stars Joseph Fiennes and Cliff Curtis share how “Risen” gives a refreshing take on one of the most popular stories of all time.
But the overall mood is respectful, even pious; no surprise when you consider Risen was produced by Affirm Films, an arm of distributor Sony Pictures specializing in Christian-themed entertainment.
He becomes a Christian convert in the end and you don’t have to be gifted with second sight to divine the fact that Clavius will soon be displaying similar inclinations.
Faith Driven Consumer says it serves 41 million Christians who spend $2 trillion annually, and that its recommendations reach more than 10 million people via its emails, website and other means.
Set in the Judea of A.D. Peter Firth has a fine time playing the odious Pilate, who cares only about saving his own hide. Think of it as “CSI: Nazareth”, and Clavius as your David Caruso.
But an investigative imperative will prevail, and eventually Clavius does find a body he identifies as Yeshua’s. Yet, somehow, the Nazarene mysteriously managed to find his way out! Bartholomew is questioned by Clavius, Thomas makes an apology for doubting the reappearance of Jesus and Peter is instructed to “feed my lambs”, but that’s about it.
It’s probably not a spoiler to reveal that Yeshua’s body disappears anyway. “I read the Bible”, says Curtis.
Before long, however, Clavius will see something that does open his eyes, and possibly his heart, and puts him in the crosshairs of Pilate and Lucius.
Fiennes’ performance is a big part of this, a mixture of profound weariness and determination all driven by a clever mind and a need to understand what had happened. His Clavius is calm yet compelling.
Things get sticky when Pilate is strong-armed by the same Hebrew clerics that clamored for Christ’s death to avoid further unrest by producing his lifeless body.
One reason the Apostles’ post-Jesus lives are rarely filmed is they’re too sprawling, too same-y for the movies – not unlike those wild, sometimes nasty Old Testament tales, with their animal-filled arcs, fits of mass genocide and fathers nearly stabbing their sons.
Into the baggy dampness of inspirational cinema director Kevin Reynolds (“Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” and “The Count of Monte Cristo”) and his co-writer Paul Aiello deliver “Risen”, a surprisingly well-crafted Biblical mini-epic that makes Ridley Scott’s embarrassing “Exodus: Gods and Kings” look, well, embarrassing.
Fortunately, Fiennes is the battle-hardened anchor for a solid drama that resembles any number of film and TV crime stories.
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In its review of “Risen”, FDC praises the film’s Biblical accuracy: “While much of the story line in Risen is extra-biblical, it is nevertheless plausible and holds close to the biblical narrative in a creative and engaging way”. And, if nothing else, a wider audience should be able to appreciate this is a well-known story being told from a different perspective. Two stars out of four.
