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Here on the NT Gateway Blog, we've been keeping an eye for some years on the proposed Paul Verhoeven Jesus film. There has been nothing to report for a long time, but now it seems that Verhoeven has published his own Jesus book as a step on the road towards his Jesus film. Predictably, the media has mainly latched onto some of the more sensational elements in the book. Matt Page, on Bible Films Blog, is, as usual, up to speed with developments.

Labels: Verhoeven Jesus Film

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Over on FilmChat, Peter Chattaway mentions this New York Times piece:

Paul Verhoeven Goes to War One More Time
By DENNIS LIM

the second half of which turns to Verhoeven's oft talked-about desire to make a Jesus film (remember his involvement with the Jesus seminar, for example):

It is a firm belief of Mr. Verhoeven’s that nothing is sacred, and his next project will probably serve as ample demonstration. He is finishing a book on Jesus, to be published later this year. A self-described “non-Christian,” he has been involved since the mid-’80s with the Jesus Seminar, an association of Bible scholars devoted to investigating the historical authenticity of the words and deeds of Jesus.

Summarizing the contents of his monograph, Mr. Verhoeven said: “Thesis No. 1 is that Jesus was a man. That’s already a big thing, as opposed to what Christianity says, that he was the son of God.” The book will be based on a close reading of ancient texts, he said, “eliminating everything that’s not possible, in my opinion.” He added: “It’s impossible that Jesus would have multiplied all this bread, isn’t it? And the resurrection. All these things that are not possible are not possible.” . . .

. . . . Mr. Verhoeven said he hopes his Jesus book is the first step toward his dream project, a Jesus movie, one that he said would be like no other: “My hubris tells me it would be more normal and more real.” Dismissing “The Passion of the Christ” (“It’s just about torture”) and “The Last Temptation of Christ” (“Basically fictional”), he said the only such film he admired was Pier Paolo Pasolini’s “Gospel According to St. Matthew”: “He gives it a Marxist spin, which made the Jesus more belligerent, much stronger, more like he really was, I think.”

He hastened to add that despite this confrontational stance, his Bible studies were motivated by an intellectual ardor. “I’m a big fan of Jesus,” he said. “I think Jesus was an extremely interesting, innovative, talented person, a theological genius, and as a poet, his parables are absolutely magnificent. He’s like Mozart.”

Mr. Verhoeven knows his approach is risky. “To do this movie in the U.S. might not be without personal danger,” he said. “The power of the screen is so enormous. That’s why I’m writing the book first. It gives me time to think if I want to get into hotter water than that.”

Well, if the film ever comes off, it should be fascinating.

Labels: Verhoeven Jesus Film

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I received a copy of a colourful, double-page spread on Jesus films in the Salvation Army's WarCry weekly newspaper today. It seems that they have an on-line version too:

It's playback time for Jesus
Mark Goodacre gives guidance on Jesus movies on DVD and VHS
by Philip Halcrow

I am sure you will be sorry to hear that the on-line version does not include the little photograph of me that appears in the print version! This article is based on a phone call I had with the author a fortnight or so ago. I must admit that I had not quite realised that I was the only one being interviewed and that this was going to be so focused on my views. But thankfully there is nothing too odd. There is a mistake, though. When talking with the author, I had thought that Paul Verhoeven was to be one of the contributors to Jesus and Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, which was, I understand, one of the original intentions.

Labels: Verhoeven Jesus Film

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Several years ago it was often reported that Paul Verhoeven, director of Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Robocop and Starship Troopers, was working on or planning a Jesus film. At one stage it was even hoped that he would be able to release it for the millennium. He was apparently a regular attender at meetings of the Jesus Seminar and appeared to be taking this project very seriously. I have heard very little about this recently, however. Has he given up the idea? Perhaps he could cash in on some of the hype surrounding The Passion of the Christ and at the same time make a very different film. He is apparently pretty interested in consulting Biblical scholars and clearly would want to focus much more on Jesus' life. The working title was Christ the Man. I thought it would be interesting to see if there is any more up to date news on the web concerning Verhoeven's project but googling only brings up older material. Perhaps the best round up of material on this is at PaulVerhoeven.net dating to October 1998:

Jesus and Verhoeven

But there is nothing more recent that I have heard. Anyone out there know anything?

Labels: Verhoeven Jesus Film

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