Jesus (1999 film)

Jesus is a 1999 American biblical historical drama television film that retells the historical events of Jesus Christ. It was shot in Morocco and Malta. It stars Jeremy Sisto as the titular character, Jacqueline Bisset as Mary of Nazareth, Debra Messing as Mary Magdalene and Gary Oldman as Pontius Pilate. The miniseries was broadcast in Italy in two parts on December 5 and 6, 1999[2] before being broadcast in the United States on May 14 and 15, 2000.

Jesus
DVD cover
Written bySuzette Couture (teleplay)
Directed byRoger Young
StarringJeremy Sisto
Jacqueline Bisset
Armin Mueller-Stahl
Debra Messing
Gary Oldman
Music byPatrick Williams
Country of originItaly, United States
Original languagesEnglish, Italian
Production
ProducersRussell Kagan
Roberta Cadringher
CinematographyRaffaele Mertes
EditorBenjamin A. Weissman
Running time240 minutes
DistributorRAI Fiction (Italy)
MTM Enterprises
CBS (United States)
Antena 3 Televisión (Spain)
Ceská Televize (Czech Republic)
British Sky Broadcasting (United Kingdom)
Budget$17,000,000[1]
Release
Original release
  • December 5, 1999 (1999-12-05) (Italy)

Overview

The film's chronology entails a cinematic blending of the Four Gospels with the addition of extra-biblical elements not found in the New Testament accounts. It provides a down to earth approach through its focus on the human aspect of Jesus. Compared to more solemn and divine portrayals in earlier films, Jesus expresses emotions weeping at Joseph's funeral, throwing stones in Lake Galilee upon meeting Simon Peter and James son of Zebedee, dancing at the wedding at Cana, and starting a water-splashing fight with his disciples.

While the film mainly presented familiar Christian Episodes, it provides extra-biblical scenes such as flashbacks of his first trip to Jerusalem with John as well as scenes of war and destruction waged in the name of Jesus during the medieval and modern times. Likewise, the film's Satan comes in two different forms: a visual exemplification of a modern man and a woman in red, instead of the traditional snake that can be found in most films. The film also adds a composite character, an apocryphal Roman historian named "Livio" who watches and comments as events unfold; he is presumably named after Livy. The film has been generally well received but it also been criticized for having an unrealistic Crucifixion scene as the person nailing Jesus to the cross is not a Roman Soldier but a Jew from the crowd. It has also been criticized for having a highly unsympathetic portrayal of Pontius Pilate, who appears to deliberately do everything to annoy the Jews, which is unlike most other media works in which he is usually depicted as an unwilling gentile participant dragged by the Sanhedrin into the unjust proceedings.

As it appears in the credits, it was dedicated in memory of Enrico Sabbatini.

Cast

Soundtrack
Jesus: Music from and Inspired by the Epic Mini-Series
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
ReleasedMarch 8, 2000
GenreGospel
LabelCapitol Records/Sparrow Records
ProducerBill Hearn, Eddie Degarmo, Evan Lamberg, Mike Curb, Russel Kagan, Saul Melnick, Lorenzo Minoli, Patrick Williams, Acrynon Production Group, Edwin McCain, Craig Shields, Scott Bannevich, Larry Chaney, Dave Harrison, Greg Archilla, Steven Curtis Chapman, Adam Anders, Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, Mick Guzauski, 98 Degrees, Big Baby, Sugar Mike, Dan Huff, Mark Hammond, Keith Thomas, Mark Heimermann, Don Dixon, David R. Murray[3]
Singles from Jesus: Music from & Inspired by the Epic Mini-Series
  1. "I Need You"
    Released: July 18, 2000
  2. "Spirit in the Sky"
    Released: July 18, 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]

A soundtrack, Jesus: Music from and Inspired by the Epic Mini-Series, was released on March 8, 2000, for the series.[5] "I Need You" was released as a single for the soundtrack by American country music recording artist LeAnn Rimes. "Spirit in the Sky" by dc Talk was also released as a B side with "I Need You".[6]

No.TitleRecording artist(s)Length
1."Jesus" (Theme from the original soundtrack)Patrick Williams2:49
2."I Need You"LeAnn Rimes3:48
3."Jesus, He Loves Me"Eric McCain4:36
4."Nobody Ever (Only You)"Steven Curtis Chapman4:27
5."Spirit in the Sky"dc Talk3:44
6."The Love That You've Been Looking For"98 Degrees4:33
7."Shining Star"Yolanda Adams3:33
8."Love Can Change Your Mind"Lonestar4:17
9."Fly to You"Avalon3:49
10."When You Walked Into My Life"Jaci Velasquez3:46
11."City by a River"Hootie & the Blowfish3:49
12."Pie Jesu"Sarah Brightman3:55

See also

References
  1. https://variety.com/1998/tv/news/jesus-won-t-bless-tnt-1117478602/
  2. https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/italians-flock-to-jesus-mini-1117760324/
  3. Jesus: Music From and Inspired by the Epic Mini Series (CD). Various Artists. Capitol Records. 2000. G2 7243 8 51730 2 8 SPD 1730.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. William Ruhlmann (March 28, 2000). "Jesus: The Epic Mini-Series [Original Television Soundtrack] - Original Television Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  5. "Jesus: Music From & Inspired by the Epic Mini Series: Patrick Williams, Various Artists: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
  6. "I Need You / Spirit in the Sky: Leann Rimes, Dc Talk: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
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