Jesus 

A movie about the life, work and death of Jesus as we know it from the Bible.

Stars:

Jeremy Sisto, Debra Messing, Armin Mueller-Stahl

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Sisto	...	Jesus
Debra Messing	...	Mary Magdalene
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Joseph
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Mary
Gary Oldman	...	Pontius Pilate
David O'Hara	...	John The Baptist
Claudio Amendola	...	Barabbas
G.W. Bailey	...	Livio
Luca Zingaretti	...	Peter
Luca Barbareschi	...	Herod Antipas
Christian Kohlund	...	Caiaphas
Elena Sofia Ricci	...	Herodias
Stefania Rocca	...	Mary of Bethany
Gabriella Pession	...	Salome
Maria Cristina Heller	...	Martha of Bethany

Storyline

Jesus dreams of a medieval battle in the name of Jesus Christ and of a dying world war soldier who, in desperation, calls out the name: Jesus. Jesus awakes, distraught. What is the meaning of this nightmare? Why are these strangers using his name? Jesus is a simple carpenter, like his father Joseph. Both are presently looking for work, but they've been wandering for days from town to town without finding any. Times are difficult in Galilee. Roman taxes are stifling the country. The hated Jewish tax collectors, viewed by the people as traitors, rob people of their last means of subsistence. Revolts and bands of revolutionary thieves are spreading uncertainty throughout the land. Herod Antipas, the Jewish king, is merely a weak shadow of his feared father Herod the Great. The real power lies in the hands of Caiphas, the high priest. To strengthen his position, he plays the Jewish interests against the Roman interests with religious fervor. His most dangerous opponent is the new Roman ...

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Plot Keywords:

tv mini series | roman | judas | john the baptist | miracle | 

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Taglines:

The greatest story of all time.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Five Mile River Films Lux Vide

Country:

Czech Republic Italy Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jésus

Filming Locations:

Ouarzazate, Morocco

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Antena 3 Televisión,Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ARD),Beta Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

240 min (2 parts) 158 min (commercial free on TBN)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeremy Sisto was 25 years old when he played 33 year-old Jesus.

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Goofs

When the officials are talking about taking the adultress before Jesus to trap him, her eye makeup is all smeared. Yet when they are talking to Jesus, it's been cleaned up.

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Quotes

Jesus: What's the matter Andrew? You don't dance?
Andrew: I'll dance... When Israel is free and people are honest!
Jesus: It'll be a very slow dance!

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Crazy Credits

In Memory of Enrico Sabatini

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Alternate Versions

The international version of this film includes scenes that had to be cut due to time constraints on the CBS network. These scenes include:

• Extended version of the flashback scene where Mary tells Joseph about the angel
• Extended version of Jesus' farewell to Mary of Bethany, with Lazarus throwing him out in anger
• Satan showing Jesus the execution of Joan of Arc during the Gethsemane temptation
• Extended crucifixion with closeups of the nail going into Jesus' wrist and of Him screaming
• Brief scene of Judas hanging himself after the crucifixion
• Alternate ending involving Jesus coming back to present day while joyously meeting up with various children

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Connections

Referenced in Danville 2nd Ward Young Men: The Amazing Race Birthday Party 2010 (2010)

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Soundtracks

I Need You
Written by Ty Lacy & Dennis Matkosky
Produced for Le Ann Rimes by the Acrynon Production Group
Le Ann Rimes appears courtesy of Curb Records

User Reviews

Less passion, more compassion

Forget Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ". "Jesus", the television mini-series first aired in 1999, and reprised (the second half only) in March 2004, offers a more comprehensive view of Jesus' ministry, mission, death and resurrection. It provides a better understanding of the reason for His death -- not so much the result of political infighting between Romans and Jews, as Jesus' acceptance of His Father's will that humanity should be redeemed by one deed, one life of perfect obedience and love.

Sure, there are some historical improbabilities in the mini-series. For one thing, Pilate (Gary Oldman) and Herod are shown as being on good terms with each other. The Gospels tell us they did not become friends until the day Jesus died. The calling of the apostles looks amusingly as if Jesus is choosing up sides for a game of scrub, followed by a group hug.

But the crucifixion scene is accurate in its detail, yet not as excruciating (I use the term deliberately because it is derived from the Latin noun "crux" or cross) as Gibson's gorefest.

There are also some other very nice touches. Chief among them is Jesus' temptation by Satan, played by Jeroen Krabbe, attired as a 21st-century corporate executive. Satan tries to convince Jesus (Jeremy Sisto) that His sacrifice will be in vain because humanity will use religion to perpetrate acts of hatred such as the Crusades. He suggests that, with a wave of His hand, Jesus can make humans and life on earth perfect. But that would mean denying people freedom of choice. Jesus resists the temptation, believing in the power of love freely chosen.

Debra Messing ("Will and Grace") turns in a very creditable performance as Mary Magdalene. So does Jacqueline Bisset as Mary, the mother of Jesus. The raising of Lazarus is a very powerful scene, and Jesus' own resurrection goes beyond the empty tomb to its effect on the apostles -- something Gibson fails to show.

"Jesus", the TV miniseries, succeeds where Gibson's movie fails -- by showing less passion, and more compassion.