|
Movie Review - The Nativity Story (2006)
|
|
|
|
|
(What this rating means)
|
|
| |
|
| Director: |
Catherine Hardwicke |
| Starring: |
Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, and Shohreh Aghdashloo |
| Rated: |
PG for some violent content |
| Length: |
101 minutes |
| Genre: |
Drama |
| Tagline: |
Her child would change the world. |
| Studio: |
New Line Cinema |
| Website: |
The Nativity Story |
| Release: |
December 1, 2006 |
|
PLOT
|
In the year 1 B.C. (well, it is!), Mary is pledged to be married to Joseph. An angel visits Mary, a virgin, and tells
her that she is to bear a child. And that child just so happens to be the Savior of the world. Meanwhile, the ancient
prophesy compels three wise kings to journey west and causes a king to begin to fear a child. The telling of the
story behind the Christmas story ensues...
(Hold on - a Christmas movie without Santa Claus in it? Wow! What a concept!)
|
|
NIKKI BLUEJEANS' TAKE
|
It's only fitting that my first attempt at public movie-reviewing should involve a film about the Nativity. Perhaps,
God will be with me... and you, dear Reader...
As I sat down to watch this film, I honestly didn't know what to expect. Many church groups in the Phoenix area were
invited to the screening, so I figured that the filmmakers must have felt fairly confident in their film - otherwise,
they were risking having quite the angry mob at its conclusion.
Knowing that The Bible is event-oriented, I knew that anything in between those events would be pure
speculation. That sort of thing is a very touchy subject with me, and it was weighing heavily on my mind as I waited
in the screening line.
By the way, there were a lot of people at this screening! We were lined up out the door and through the courtyard
area of this particular complex. In fact, while I waited for the rest of my party to arrive, I had a couple of people
ask me if the line was for the new Bond movie... and I realized that we looked like a
line for a flashy blockbuster! But it was - of all things - quite the opposite. Perhaps it showed people's desire for
a film about something important... or perhaps it just showed people's appreciation of a free movie - any movie. It
was hard to tell at that moment.
Anyway, I was concerned about the film taking too many liberties and effectively undermining the actual source
material. I was pleasantly surprised; however, that most of the speculation seemed to be well within the lines of
possibility, if not probability - from the initial reactions of Joseph and Mary's parents to her miraculous
condition, to the innocent and uncomfortable interactions between the parents-to-be while enduring the perils of
their cross-country pilgrimage.
And that believability - it was obvious - was not an accident. Whereas artistic license and supposition were used to
make this film, the filmmakers obviously went to great lengths to ensure that the scenarios and situations were
accurate for the time, in keeping with the customs of the day, and within the context of Godly living. There is
some manufactured drama, and a random modernism here and there, but for the most part, the film is unpretentious -
and surprisingly un-preachy. And I didn't find it to be of any Christian denomination in particular - it merely
tells its story, against the backdrop of the well-known Biblical events.
This film is extremely well-acted. Keisha Castle-Hughes of Whalerider is a wonderfully strong but subdued
Mary, and Oscar Isaac is an equally-compelling Joseph. They both bring a sense of innocence and normalcy to the
roles, making them easy to identify with.
As the story of Mary and Joseph unfolds, the three kings begin their journey from Persia. Based on their scientific
calculations, three heavenly bodies will converge to form the bright star, which has been prophesied as the sign of
the Savior's arrival. They are compelled to travel to meet it. Enter Larry, Curly, and Moe. Okay, perhaps that's an
exaggeration, but these three proceed to bicker like a collective old married couple and thus serve as the comic
relief for the film... at least that was the intention. I found the Three Wise(-cracking) Men's "comic" relief to be
awkward and distracting in a story that was doing just fine being quietly reverent. A few more modern nuances are
present with this lot, and (despite hearing a few laughs around me), I didn't think it worked.
I was moved to misty-eyed in several scenes, one being the first scene between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, mother
of John the Baptist. Shohreh Aghdashloo is nothing short of brilliant in this brief supporting role. I would be
neither shocked nor argumentative if she were to receive recognition for it come awards season.
The music in the film is lovely. Beloved Christmas hymns are incorporated into the dramatic orchestrations, beginning
with the eerie and magnificent prologue set to a variation on the hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Chills
ensued.
The scene of the birth is also moving - for all the reasons you'd expect - and it comes together nicely. Each person
there had their story told somewhat - and we are thus able to appreciate it from each of their perspectives.
I doubt this film will either make or break anyone's faith. I would wager that the people with the most interest in
the film know the events leading up to the birth of Jesus and are anxious to see them brought to life on the big
screen. They will not be disappointed. However, they will also get a glimpse into what Mary and Joseph may have
experienced when they were given their holy charge - to be the earthly parents of a Heavenly King.
So, if you're looking for a little less commercialism and a little more substance to your Christmas season, this is a
great place to start. I think this will be considered a classic and grow to be a Christmas staple for many
families.
|
|
ODDS & ENDS
|
- Screenwriter Mike Rich began writing the screenplay of the movie on December 1, 2005, exactly one year before
its release.
- This was the first feature film ever to premiere at the Vatican.
- "We got the script into the hands of as many historians and theologians as possible," says screenwriter Mike
Rich. "They have all helped elevate the authentic feel of this film, not only visually, but from a standpoint of
culture and tradition."
- The cast were taught how to use certain tools used 2000 years ago as well as how to build homes, how to press
olives and grapes, how to make bread, how to make cheese, and how to milk goats.
- Because the actual locations of Bethlehem and Nazareth have become fairly modernized over the years, the
production decided to shoot in the village of Matera, Italy, which has been virtually unchanged for centuries (also
appears in The Passion of the Christ).
- Nikki feels silly for having been adamant to her church group that it was filmed on location in Jerusalem before
gathering all of the facts...
- The names of the 3 Kings/Wisemen are believed to have been Melchior, Balthasar, and Gaspar. No, I didn't cheat
and look that up on imdb.com... it just so happens that I was in the Menotti opera Amahl and the Night
Visitors in college, which involved a fictional "stop" that the kings made at the house of a poor widow (me)
and her crippled child while on their way to Bethlehem.
- The screening audience did applaud at the end of the movie, so my earlier question was answered. At first, I
figured that they were applauding because they had heard that THE Nikki Bluejeans was in the theatre... but the bolt
of lightning that zapped me at the thought quickly convinced me otherwise.
- Shohreh Aghdashloo was in House of Sand and Fog with Jennifer Connelly, who was in A Beautiful Mind
with Russell Crowe, who is in the upcoming film American Gangster with Josh Brolin, who was in
Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.
|
|
MAMA'S APPROVAL
|
This is much more appropriate for children than another Biblical epic,
The Passion of the Christ (perhaps you've heard of it?). There are
only a few tense moments, namely when Herod's decree is carried out, but the idea is communicated through shadows
and editing, and there is no real view of the violence. (I witnessed a mother explaining to her child what had
happened after the cutaway, which is probably the exact result the filmmakers had hoped for. The child learned the
reality, but didn't have to witness it.)
|
|
TRAILER COMPARISON
|
What you see is pretty much what you get - and that's a good thing.
|
|
THE GIST
|
If you're up for a moving story that will no doubt take you away from the stress of the holiday season (even just
for an hour and 45 minutes), this is it. It's a subtle and peaceful film, but the pace doesn't suffer for it - and
you'll definitely come out of it with a better appreciation for the fears, doubts, and most importantly - faith -
that the people involved must have felt in the face of the monumental task ahead of them. (Hint: that monumental
task wasn't to fight the crowds for a TMX Elmo...)
|
|
