Year:
1999
Studio:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Movie:
4/5
DVD:
3/5
Teaser
Father Andrew Kiernan (Gabriel Byrne) is a member of the Congregation
for the Causes of the Saint in the Roman Catholic Church. His job is to
travel around the world investigating miracles -- seeing if they are
miracles or merely the work and imagination of man. Frankie Paige
(Patricia Arquette) is a young atheist hairdresser living and working
in New York (or is it Philadelphia?). They have nothing in common until
she starts to show Stigmata -- the same types of wounds that Jesus
Christ received when he was crucified by the Romans. Miracle, mental
illness, or something else? That's what Father Kiernan has to determine.
Movie
I like this movie. It blends Catholism with mystery and drama. It's the
type of movie that piques my interest, in this case an interest in the
Catholic Church. I already knew they had people who travel and
investigate miracles, but this movie goes into a little more detail
about the inner workings of the Vatican. One thing I learned is that
there are lots of gospels -- because any writings concerning Christ,
written by people who lived at that time, can be considered a gospel.
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Actors
Gabriel Byrne and Patricia Arquette do fine jobs. Arquette especially
has to act possessed and thrash around a bit while Byrne always has to
maintain a serious and yet compassionate demeanor.
DVD
The movie is presented in wide-screen format in your choice of English
or French with optional French or Spanish subtitles. Director Rupert
Wainwright provides the commentary track. Nothing exceptional though he
does explain some things a bit more. From the anecdotes he tells, it
does seem like everything the studio forced him to change in the movie
was a good idea. There are three or four deleted scenes, including a
slightly different ending. Natalie Imbruglia's music video, "Identify",
and the theatrical trailer round out the extras.
Recommendations
I likes this movie, I think you'll like it too.
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