"The Body" is a fairly entertaining suspense drama set in the crosshairs of religious, political, ethno-cultural tension, Jerusalem. Archaeologist Sharon Golban, played by Olivia Williams, is a UK-born Jewish oleh who married an Israeli military officer, now deceased, who discovers a 1st century AD tomb that contains the skeletal remains of a crucified man. Because the nature of the wounds detected on the remains and other artifacts in the tomb, she and archeologist/priest Father Lavelle (Derek Jacobi) believe it may be the remains of Christ. At the Vatican, a deeply concerned cardinal (John Wood) assigns priest/historian Fr. Matt Gutierrez (Antonio Banderas) to go to Israel to investigate. The cardinal strongly insists that the young, idealistic priest debunk the theory and preserve the traditional tale of the Resurrection as gospel.
"The Body" seems low-budget in its sets, lighting and cinematography, but the cast features several well-known, respected actors who turn in good performances. The script seems a bit thin, with lots of cultural and religious stereotypes and plot twists that are too obvious. However, it's entertaining and touches on timeless, meaningful themes. What preserves our faith? How much faith must we place in historical accounts to support that faith? How is faith jeopardized by religious organizations holding too much power? And, hey, this film tosses the Israeli-Palestinian political conflict into the mix to ramp up the volatility even more.
I found both Banderas and Williams likable in their roles, and if you're willing to suspend a bit of disbelief when the script stretches too thin, "The Body" is an interesting weeknight watch.
"The Body" seems low-budget in its sets, lighting and cinematography, but the cast features several well-known, respected actors who turn in good performances. The script seems a bit thin, with lots of cultural and religious stereotypes and plot twists that are too obvious. However, it's entertaining and touches on timeless, meaningful themes. What preserves our faith? How much faith must we place in historical accounts to support that faith? How is faith jeopardized by religious organizations holding too much power? And, hey, this film tosses the Israeli-Palestinian political conflict into the mix to ramp up the volatility even more.
I found both Banderas and Williams likable in their roles, and if you're willing to suspend a bit of disbelief when the script stretches too thin, "The Body" is an interesting weeknight watch.