The Body (2001)

A crucified body dated back to the first century A.D is uncovered at an ancient cave in Jerusalem. Trouble ensues as word spreads.

Director:

Jonas McCord

Writers:

Richard Sapir (novel) (as Richard Ben Sapir), Jonas McCord (screenplay)

Stars:

Antonio Banderas, Olivia Williams, John Shrapnel

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antonio Banderas	...	Father Matt Gutierrez
Olivia Williams	...	Sharon Golban
John Shrapnel	...	Moshe Cohen
Derek Jacobi	...	Father Lavelle
Jason Flemyng	...	Father Walter Winstead
Lillian Lux	...	Mother
John Wood	...	Cardinal Pesci
Makram Khoury	...	Nasir Hamid (as Makram J. Khoury)
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Monsignor
Ian McNeice	...	Dr. Sproul
Mohammad Bakri	...	Abu Yusef (as Muhamed Bakri)
Yoav Dekelbaum	...	Avi (as Yoav Deckelbaum)
Sami Samir	...	Achmed
Jordan Licht	...	Dorene
Limor Goldstein	...	Galic

Storyline

An ancient skeleton has been discovered in Jerusalem in a rich man's tomb. Coloration of the wrist and leg bones indicates the cause of death was crucifiction. Other signs, include a gold coin bearing the marks of Pontius Pilate and faint markings around the skull, lead authorities to suspect that these could be the bones of Jesus. Politicians, clerics, religious extremists, and those using terror as a means to an end, find their beliefs and identities tested while risking their lives to unearth the truth.

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Plot Keywords:

jerusalem | cave | tomb | skull | street shootout | 

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Taglines:

If this is His tomb... If this is the truth... It would change history and destroy the belief of millions

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violent sequences and brief language

Details

Country:

USA Israel Germany

Language:

English Arabic Hebrew

Release Date:

13 December 2001 (Germany)

Also Known As:

El cuerpo

Filming Locations:

Israel

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,988, 22 April 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$33,565, 29 April 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avalanche Films, Compass Productions, Diamant Cohen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kristin Scott Thomas was offered the role of Sharon Golban.

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Goofs

When Sharon Golban is at the airport to pick up Father Matt Gutierrez, she leaves the keys in the ignition. When she returns, she takes her keys from her pocket.

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Quotes

Abu Yusef: As you said before, God has no place in politics.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Freddy Got Fingered/Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles/The Body (2001)

User Reviews

Religious as well as exciting thriller developed in city of Jerusalem

A crucified body dated back to the 1st century A.D is uncovered at an ancient cave in Jerusalem . Then , a priest named Matt Gutiérrez (Antonio Banderas) is assigned by a Vatican's cardinal (John Wood) to discover if a skeleton of a crucified man found beneath a a shop in location of Jerusalen can be the remains of the body of Christ . The priest along with an archaeologist named Sharon Golban (Olivia Williams , though Kristin Scott Thomas was formerly offered this role) will have to resolve the strange enigma . Another priest (Derek Jacobi) is about the tracks of the events that result to be each time more difficult and complicated . Trouble ensues as word spreads . As they'll take on a lot of dangers and in middle of two confronted parts , ¨Jews and Palestines¨ because both of them want the enigmatic body for their own purposes .

It's a spiritual thriller but with little action , it results to be slow-moving and sometimes a bit boring and tiring . The ending confrontation with noisy shootouts between the starring and the enemies is ridiculous and embarrassing . The storyline by Jonas McCord (film director) is clunky and confuse , in spite of being based on a successful novel . Antonio Banderas (Zorro) and Olivia Williams (The 6º sense) interpretation is average and other actors have a wooden acting with exception to Derek Jacobi (I Claudio) who plays astoundingly a priest of lost faith . Vilmos Zsigmond cinematography is excellent , he has a long career as cameraman with splendid films (Deer hunter, Heaven's gate , Sugarland express). Being shot on location in Jerusalem , Salesian Convent, Bet Jamal , Israel and Ospedale Santo Spirito, Borgo Santo Spirito , Rome Lazio, Italy . Serge Cobert's musical score is nice including some esoteric and spiritual notes and he creates a mysterious atmosphere . The picture was regularly directed by Jonas McCord . The yarn will appeal to spiritual thriller enthusiasts and Antonio Banderas fans . Rating : Average though entertaining.