Stigmata (1999)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Rupert Wainwright

Writers (WGA):

Tom Lazarus (story)
Tom Lazarus (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Mystery | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The messenger must be silenced.

Plot:

A priest from the Vatican is sent in to investigate claims that a small town in Brazil has a church where statues bleed from the eyes...

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Stigmata | Wound | Vatican | Catholic

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Patricia Arquette	...	Frankie Paige
Gabriel Byrne	...	Father Andrew Kiernan
Jonathan Pryce	...	Cardinal Daniel Houseman
Nia Long	...	Donna Chadway
Thomas Kopache	...	Father Durning
Rade Serbedzija	...	Marion Petrocelli (as Rade Sherbedgia)
Enrico Colantoni	...	Father Dario
Dick Latessa	...	Father Gianni Delmonico
Portia de Rossi	...	Jennifer Kelliho
Patrick Muldoon	...	Steven
Ann Cusack	...	Dr. Reston
Shaun Toub	...	Doctor
Tom Hodges	...	ER Nurse
Lydia Hazan	...	Attending Nurse
Shaun Duke	...	Dr. Eckworth (as Duke Moosekian)

Also Known As:

Toby's Story (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for intense violent sequences, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | Portuguese | Italian | Aramaic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | South Africa:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #36043) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Eastern Columbia Building - 849 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

FGM Entertainment

Trivia:

Some of the footage of the subway car is from Money Train (1995). You can actually see the steel beam sticking out of the front window.

Goofs:

Continuity: The same 1977-81 Pontiac Firebird is seen three times. It shows up two times in the same scene. Frankie is almost hit by the car in the baby scene. She climbs over the hood in the crown of thorns scene and a moment later it drives past as she runs down the street.

Quotes:

Cardinal Daniel Houseman: [while trying to strangle Frankie] I'll not let you destroy my church!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Eagle Eye (2008)

Soundtrack:

Gramarye

Flawed supernatural thriller has some visual style with an fine performance by Arquette that keeps the movie together.

When a priest finds a buried secret and decide to commit suicide in South America. An Atheist Pittsburgh hair dresser (Patricia Arquette) receives rosary beads in the mail that were stolen from the dead priest. She experiences seizures and bloody wounds associated with the crucifixion of Jesus. A Priest/Scientist (Gabriel Byrne) investigates, while a Cardinal (Jonathan Pryce) emphasizes public relation spin over the truth.

Directed by Rupert Wainwright (Blank Check, The Fog-2005) made an entertaining, stylish supernatural thriller. Which this film plays at time like an Big Budget MTV long music video. It is the good performances by Arquette and Byrne keeps your interest.

DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an strong-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD has an running commentary track by the director, deleted scenes, alternative ending, music video and the original theatrical trailer. The DVD best opinion, you choose to watch the original theatrical ending or the film's new conclusion. Terrific Cinematography by Jeffery L. Kimball (Jacob's Ladder, True Romance, Wild Things) are one of the few highlights of this flawed movie. Only Wainwright close-ups of objects is annoying at times. Super 35. (*** ½/*****).