Save Me!
Jesus is a pretty big guy in the Western world - known as one of the head honchos in a common religion, a nice chap of good moral fibre, or at least a keen facial-hair enthusiast. Whoever you believe this historical figure to be, you will most likely know of him and the main 'plot points' of his story (immaculate conception through self-sacrifice) and recognise that christian or not, filmmakers have often used these personal traits and events in their work. The films in this collection all incorporate (obviously and less so) this character and/or story arc, and show an interesting range of uses for them in a culture saturated with this particular religion.
Pictured: 'The Buddy Christ' - Kevin Smith brings Jesus to the kids in "Dogma".
The Last Supper (1995)
6.8/10
Director: Stacy Title
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Ron Eldard, Annabeth Gish, Courtney B Vance, Bill Paxton, Nora Dun...
Darkly comic satire in which five liberal graduate students share their weekly dinner together with a racist red neck who threatens them. After they k... Read more
End of the Spear (2005)
7/10
Director: Jim Hanon
Starring: Louie Leonardo, Chad Allen, Jack Guzman, Christina Souza, Chase Ellison
In the 1950s, a group of Christian missionaries went to Ecuador in order to reach the violent revenge-based Waodani people. Five of the men were spear... Read more
The Book of Life (1998)
6.7/10
Director: Hal Hartley
Starring: Martin Donovan, Thomas Jay Ryan, P J Harvey
This French produced quirky offering tells of the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus (Martin Donovan) and his assistant Magdalena (P J Harvey) are sent b... Read more
The Exorcist: Extended Director's Cut (1973)
8/10
Director: William Friedkin
Starring: Kitty Winn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J Cobb, Jason Miller, Jack MacGowran...
Controversial and popular from the moment it opened, the frightening and realistic tale of an innocent girl inhabited by a terrifying entity, her moth... Read more
Monty Python's Life of Brian ( Blu-ray ) (1979)
Director: Terry Jones
Starring: Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idl...
Highly original madness from the Monty Python gang, 'Life of Brian' follows the woes of poor Brian born the same night as Jesus, repeatedly mistaken b... Read more
The Matrix (1999)
8.7/10
Director: The Wachowski Brothers
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Hugo Weaving
Cutting-edge visuals and production design feature in this mind altering tale about a computer hacker (Keanu Reeves) who discovers he is living an ill... Read more
The Chronicles of Narnia 4 - The Silver Chair (1990)
Director: Alex Kirby
Starring: Camilla Power, David Thwaites, Tat Whalley, Tom Baker, Patsy Byrne
On the run from bullies at school, Eustace and his friend, Jill, suddenly find themselves in Narnia. Prince Rilian, son of the old and frail King Casp... Read more
The Nativity Story (2006)
6.8/10
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Hiam Abbass, Shaun Toub, Ciaran Hinds, Shohre...
Director of 'Thirteen', Catherine Hardwicke, uses her empathy for pregnant teens to good effect in telling the story that ends with the birth of baby... Read more
The Garden (1990)
6.8/10
Director: Derek Jarman
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Johnny Miles, Kevin Collins
Controversial director Derek Jarman's stunning examination of organized religion and its role in the oppression of homosexuals depicts the arrest and... Read more
Dogville (2003)
8/10
Director: Lars von Trier
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Harriet Andersson, Lauren Bacall, Jean-Marc Barr, Paul Bettany, B...
From director Lars von Trier ("Dancer in the Dark") comes this riveting drama focusing on mysterious fugitive Nicole Kidman as she hides from gangster... Read more