RISEN review by Gary Murray – Joseph Fiennes elevates this ambitious religious epic

RISEN review by Gary Murray – Joseph Fiennes elevates this ambitious religious epic

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Biblical films, much like horror films, are comparable in few aspects. They are both critic proof and both have a built in audience. While the horror flicks have the gothic teens that live for each blood-splattering thrill, the Biblical crowd goes to religious films to fill their spiritual cup at the baptism river. The latest to take on this cinematic Sermon on the Mount is Risen.

Where most productions about the life of Christ end with the crucifixion, Risen almost starts with that moment. The film begins In Medius Rea with Clavius (Joseph Fiennes) walking in a hospitable land. He has part of a uniform on his body but it is out of repair. Arriving at a dwelling, the man inside offers Clavius shelter and food, then notices the Roman ring on his finger. It is the device that takes us back to the beginning.

The Romans are battling the Jews on a mountainside. While the Jewish people have primitive weapons, the Romans have state of the art shields and swords. The fight is easily one of the best action beats of the picture. Eventually, it becomes a one-sided battle and the Romans vanquish the indigenous people. Clavius is tasked to keep order in this far away land that is on the outskirts of the Roman Empire. The Jews have a belief that a messiah is on the way and some believe that he is here. There are rumors of a prophet in the city who is preaching a different tenant, a love for all mankind. It is a message that many find comforting. Clavius and the Romans still pray to different gods.

This idea of a messiah upsets both the Roman conquest army and the Hebrew leaders. Neither believes in this prophet but both have different reasons for keeping the message down. The Romans want to keep dissent behind and the rabbis do not believe that this prophet is the Chosen One. Both want him quelled and this is to be done by death. The man is arrested and nailed to the cross. Clavius witnesses his death and is about to burn the body. Then a letter gets to Clavius’ hand that states that the prophet must be put in a sealed tomb. The Hebrew leaders want this because the prophet has stated that he will arise in three days. They want to prove that dead is dead and he is not the prophet of God. The man is put in a guarded and sealed tomb.

On the appointed day, the tomb has all the ropes split and the body is not inside. The believers say that the prophet has risen from the dead, walking among men. The Romans and the Hebrew leaders both believe that someone has broken into the tomb and taken the body. Clavius is tasked with finding the body. The rest of the screenplay is of the journey of Clavius as he hunts down the body. This goes straight to the disciples who all believe that the man has risen. Eventually Clavius begins to question everything has been taught by his Italian leaders. He goes from being a soldier of Rome to a soldier of God.

The best single element in Risen is the performance of Joseph Fiennes. He finds a different way to express the idea of a disbeliever. It is a fresh take on what could have been a rote role. There is a true element to the performance, more like watching a documentary than fiction. He is a man who is exposed to something he cannot explain with his history or knowledge. We see him go from stoic staunchness to questioning to acceptance while never falling into cliché. It is a brilliant reading of the material. Some of the best scenes are between him and Peter Firth who plays Pilate. They are two men who are stuck in their roles as slave owners to the Jews and slaves to the hand of the Roman government. Both wish to be back in the heart of civilization and not in the far away backwoods of the wasteland. They see little point in being absent from home and everything they cherish. One can feel the weight of their words as they discuss life.

The film is directed and co-written by Kevin Reynolds and he captures the correct tone of the work. The battle scene at the beginning feels like the real thing and the rest of the film feels like a cross between a discovery film and a film noir. There is an almost detective tenacity to the Clavius led investigation into the missing body. He methodically tracks down each and every lead that exposes him the seedier side of Hebrew culture. Through the eyes of Clavius, we see the locals as passionate and believing people who are hateful about being oppressed.

Risen is not the best Biblical film ever made nor is it the worst one created. Depending on your bend to religion, you may either be a The Passion of Christ or The Last Temptation of Christ person (then again, you might be like me and have a Life of Brian affiliation). It may question your beliefs or make them stronger, but few will not find something in the film that will not affect them. That may be the point of Kevin Reynolds in making Risen. At those two ends of the spectrum, the patron may be either thrilled or disappointed by the cinematic representation presented in this time in history. This production fills that milquetoast center in Jesus representation. It is not factual with The Holy Bible but it does keep with the tone of the work.

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