I was under the mistaken impression that this was a detective mystery set in Biblical times where two Romans are asked to investigate the death of Jesus. Superficially that is the premise of the story, but rather than a detective mystery it is more of a "faith film". People who are looking for a faith film will be more pleased with the film than I was.
The film seems more like a docudrama than a film, as the acting is certainly understated and the sets are not exactly overwhelming. Nonetheless it has appeal, and the acting of Joseph Fiennes (the Roman detective), Cliff Curtis (Jesus), and Maria Botto (Mary of Magdala) seems sincere.
There are problems with the film, the major one being the depiction of Mary as a street walker (which she wasn't) and the de-emphasis of her role as a disciple. As such the film has a view of the life of Christ which is more mid 20th Century than contemporary views.
I don't see where this film adds anything to the pantheon of films about the life of Jesus. It's not a bad film, and as I said, if you're looking for a faith film you will enjoy it.
The film seems more like a docudrama than a film, as the acting is certainly understated and the sets are not exactly overwhelming. Nonetheless it has appeal, and the acting of Joseph Fiennes (the Roman detective), Cliff Curtis (Jesus), and Maria Botto (Mary of Magdala) seems sincere.
There are problems with the film, the major one being the depiction of Mary as a street walker (which she wasn't) and the de-emphasis of her role as a disciple. As such the film has a view of the life of Christ which is more mid 20th Century than contemporary views.
I don't see where this film adds anything to the pantheon of films about the life of Jesus. It's not a bad film, and as I said, if you're looking for a faith film you will enjoy it.