Jesus is a 1999 Italian-American biblical historical drama television miniseries 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 | |
| Teleplay by | Suzette Couture |
| Directed by | Roger Young |
| Starring | Jeremy Sisto Jacqueline Bisset Armin Mueller-Stahl Debra Messing Gary Oldman |
| Music by | Patrick Williams |
| Country of origin | Italy United States |
| Original languages | English Italian |
| Production | |
| Producers | Russell Kagan Roberta Cadringher |
| Cinematography | Raffaele Mertes |
| Editor | Benjamin A. Weissman |
| Running time | 174 minutes (without commercials) |
| Budget | $17 million[1] |
| Original release | |
| Release | December 5 – December 6, 1999 |
| Release | May 14 – May 15, 2000 |
Overview
editThe 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.
As it appears in the credits, it was dedicated in memory of Enrico Sabbatini.
Cast
edit- Jeremy Sisto as Jesus
- Jacqueline Bisset as Mary, mother of Jesus
- Armin Mueller-Stahl as Joseph the carpenter
- Debra Messing as Mary Magdalene
- David O'Hara as John the Baptist
- G. W. Bailey as Livio
- Luca Barbareschi as Herod Antipas
- Christian Kohlund as Caiaphas
- Stefania Rocca as Mary of Bethany
- Luca Zingaretti as Simon Peter
- Ian Duncan as John, son of Zebedee
- Elena Sofia Ricci as Herodias
- Gilly Gilchrist as Andrew
- Thomas Lockyer as Judas Iscariot
- Claudio Amendola as Barabbas
- Jeroen Krabbé as male Satan
- Gary Oldman as Pontius Pilate
- Gabriella Pession as Salome
- Maria Cristina Heller as Martha
- Manuela Ruggeri as female Satan
- Peter Gevisser as Lazarus
- Fabio Sartor as James, son of Zebedee
- Sebastian Knapp as Matthew
- Sean Harris as Thomas
- Karim Doukkali as Philip
- Said Bey as Jude Thaddeus
- Abedelouhahad Mouaddine as James, son of Alphaeus
- El Housseine Dejjiti as Simon the Zealot
- Mohammed Taleb as Bartholomew
- Omar Lahlou as Nathanael
- Roger Hammond as Joseph of Arimathea
Soundtrack
edit| Jesus: Music from and Inspired by the Epic Mini-Series | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various Artists | |
| Released | March 8, 2000 |
| Genre | Gospel |
| Label | Capitol Records/Sparrow Records |
| Producer | Bill 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 and Inspired by the Epic Mini-Series | |
| |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [7] |
A soundtrack, Jesus: Music from and Inspired by the Epic Mini-Series, was released on March 8, 2000, for the series.[8] "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".[9]
| No. | Title | Recording artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jesus" (Theme from the original soundtrack) | Patrick Williams | 2:49 |
| 2. | "I Need You" | LeAnn Rimes | 3:48 |
| 3. | "Jesus, He Loves Me" | Eric McCain | 4:36 |
| 4. | "Nobody Ever (Only You)" | Steven Curtis Chapman | 4:27 |
| 5. | "Spirit in the Sky" | dc Talk | 3:44 |
| 6. | "The Love That You've Been Looking For" | 98 Degrees | 4:33 |
| 7. | "Shining Star" | Yolanda Adams | 3:33 |
| 8. | "Love Can Change Your Mind" | Lonestar | 4:17 |
| 9. | "Fly to You" | Avalon | 3:49 |
| 10. | "When You Walked Into My Life" | Jaci Velasquez | 3:46 |
| 11. | "City by a River" | Hootie & the Blowfish | 3:49 |
| 12. | "Pie Jesu" | Sarah Brightman | 3:55 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "'Jesus' won't bless TNT". July 20, 1998.
- ^ "Italians flock to 'Jesus' mini". December 29, 1999.
- ^ Jesus: Music From and Inspired by the Epic Mini Series (CD). Various Artists. Capitol Records. 2000. G2 7243 8 51730 2 8 SPD 1730.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1342. March 17, 2000. pp. 152, 156. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ Jessen, Wade (October 7, 2000). "Country Corner" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 41. p. 35. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Fly To You" at Discogs
- ^ William Ruhlmann (March 28, 2000). "Jesus: The Epic Mini-Series [Original Television Soundtrack] - Original Television Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ^ "Jesus: Music From & Inspired by the Epic Mini Series: Patrick Williams, Various Artists: Music". Amazon. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
- ^ "I Need You / Spirit in the Sky: Leann Rimes, Dc Talk: Music". Amazon. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
External links
edit- Official website
- Jesus at AllMovie
- Jesus at IMDb
