The Gospel of John 2003

Erik Lundegaard, Seattle Times: It's a straightforward, unimaginative narrative, and thus not very memorable. Read more

Lou Carlozo, Chicago Tribune: Events unfold as chronological vignettes, and there's little room for screenwriter John Goldsmith to reimagine scenes to mine their full dramatic potential. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: The sad truth is that director Philip Saville and writer John Goldsmith have made a picture book rather than a film, one that leans so heavily on Christopher Plummer's placid voice-over narration as to be cinematically inert. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: It's like the Discovery Channel version of the Greatest Story Ever Told, an earnest, not particularly distinguished piece of work that has none of the touch of the poet that made Pasolini's The Gospel According to St. Matthew such a triumph. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: Whether you believe Jesus was the Messiah, it is a powerful experience. The movie's images stick. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: There is barely a whisper of the spirit, the lifeblood, the passion that has marked the cinema's most memorable explorations of Jesus' life. Read more

Matt Weitz, Dallas Morning News: The heart of The Gospel of John ... is Mr. Cusick's performance. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: Though I approached The Gospel of John with some trepidation, I've now seen the film twice and consider it to be an extraordinary achievement. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: While it's hard to deny the longstanding inspirational effectiveness of John's message, its value as a screenplay is less obvious. Read more

Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle: Turns out to be surprisingly robust. Read more

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Despite the filmmakers' efforts to make The Gospel of John into a dramatic feature film, it never quite makes it beyond the lesson stage. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: A hero, especially a tragic hero, becomes empathetic when his own actions collide with the hand of Fate. But when the crucified hero is an all-powerful God, when his free will is the only determinism, Fate goes out the window and with it, our sympathies. Read more

Susan Walker, Toronto Star: Suitably scored and costumed, The Gospel Of John is raised off the pages of the Bible, but more in the manner of a pop-up book than an engrossing movie. Read more