“The Passion of the Christ”
By Matt Grady, Revelry Writer
Nine years since he stepped behind the camera and stunned the entertainment industry with “Braveheart,” actor/director Mel Gibson has done it again in “biblical” proportions.
Gibson at the production helm leads James Caviezel, Monica Belluci, and Maia Morgenstern in the long-awaited film “The Passion of the Christ.”
Amidst relentless criticism from religious ministers and scholars, Gibson has pulled through and awarded audiences with a film well worthy of its hype.
“The Passion of the Christ” gives an in-depth personal account of the final 12 hours of Jesus Christ. The film gives an up-close look at critical events such as Jesus’ conversation with God in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ Scourging at the Pillar, and the prolific Crucifixion. Gibson also briefly portrays Jesus’ resurrection to make for a truly glorious ending.
Gibson incorporates the element of evil into the film with superior skill. He portrays Satan not as a ferocious monster, but in a plain human form that adds a brilliant, chilling effect to the story.
One of the primary elements that moviegoers should keep in mind about the film is the violence. “Passion” contains several scenes, especially the scourging at the pillar sequence, that portrays brutal and unrestrained violence.
While this brutality has been another source of controversy for the film, the Passion was a historically violent episode, and the excessive amount in the film was necessary to accurately portray this event.
All in all, “The Passion of the Christ” is a brilliant, breathtaking account of a truly pivotal event in human history. Also, the on-screen performance of Caviezel as Jesus combined with the offscreen brilliance of Gibson make this film nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece.
A+
“When the Sun Goes Down”
By Matt Grady, Revelry Writer
Country star Kenny Chesney continues his climb up the ladder to country music glory with his newest studio release “When the Sun Goes Down.” This album follows Chesney’s multi-platinum 2002 release “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems,” which put him on the map as a star.
“When the Sun Goes down,” gives listeners a unique flavor of country music. In songs like “Being Drunk’s A Lot Like Loving You” and his latest single, “There Goes My Life,” such somber but enchanting lyrics helps deliver a passion that has not been felt in previous Chesney albums.
To satisfy listeners in need of a more upbeat tune, Chesney provides songs like “Keg In the Closet” and “Live Those Songs.” He also teams up with Uncle Kracker in the album’s title track “When the Sun Goes Down.”
While Chesney has done enough in his music to take his place among country music’s superstars, his latest album leaves one reminiscent of previous hits like “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and “Don’t Happen Twice.” While he enraptures listeners in his slower, passionate songs, the slightly mind-numbing style of Uncle Kracker in “When the Sun Goes Down” leaves one with a hint of disappointment.
B-
Revelry Ranks
March 1, 2004