Constantine's Sword (2007)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Oren Jacoby

Writers:

James Carroll (writer)
Oren Jacoby (writer)

Release Date:

18 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

An exploration of the dark side of Christianity, following acclaimed author and former priest James Carroll on a journey of remembrance and reckoning. |

Cast

Liev Schreiber	...	Constantine (voice)
Philip Bosco	...	Gian Pietro Caraffa (voice) (as Phillip Bosco)
Natasha Richardson	...	Edith Stein (voice)
Eli Wallach	...	Piero Terracina (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Carroll	...	Himself
Ted Haggard	...	Himself
Gary Hart	...	Himself
Dr. Kristen Leslie	...	Herself
Monica Limentani	...	Herself
Peter Mazur	...	Himself
Jarek Mensfeld	...	Himself - Auschwitz-Birkenau Guide
Melinda Morton	...	Herself - Former Air Force Academy Chaplain
Dr. Reiner Nolden	...	Himself
Stan Obirek	...	Himself (as Father Stan Obirek)
Elaine Pagels	...	Herself - Biblical Scholar
Brent Parsley	...	Himself - Youth Pastor
John Pawlikowski	...	Himself
Piero Terracina	...	Himself
Amanda Weinstein	...	Herself
Casey Weinstein	...	Himself
Mikey Weinstein	...	Himself
Leon Wieseltier	...	Himself
Tullia Zevi	...	Herself

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Filming Locations:

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Company:

Storyville Films

Movie Connections:

Features Lenny (1974)

Soundtrack:

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Intelligent, riveting and expertly presented.

Seldom does one find themselves mesmerized by the sheer intelligence of a documentary, but in Constantines Sword the film makers articulate exploration of the all encompassing question of religion and it's place in the world is breathtaking. The film exposes, quietly and without manipulation, an underlying and unhealthy historical familiarity between the modern evangelical Christian movement and previous fervent Christian crusaders. Their anti-Semitic nature perfectly presented.

The film expertly navigates its way through complex historical and philosophical religious concepts, made easy through the very personal story of James Carrol. Part narrator part subject Carrol's view of the world is one we wish all men could share.

Pitch perfect, expertly edited, researched and directed Constantines Sword is a truly remarkable documentary, one that could only be born of such conservative times.