Heaven and Mel: Our One and Only Mel Gibson Discussion Thread

[therewillbeblus]

I remember enjoying this Slant piece discussing The Passion in conversation with The Last Temptation of Christ. I know you're no fan of the latter, but I still think this article might articulate some of the issues that make the Gibson less powerful. It did for me, at least!

Thanks! I'll give it a read before I watch the Scorsese again. I really should give it another go one of these days, since I remember being very put-off by all the NY accents without realizing that was an intentional anachronism (I mean, duh) so obviously wasn't in the 'clearest' state of mind to make a fair assessment!

[John Cope]

I finally got around to Passion of the Christ a few years ago and hated it, but not because it was offensive or anything (having grown up in a Jewish culture, and obsessively searching for the antisemitic issues while watching, I was surprised to come up completely empty, though that's not to say they aren't there somewhere). I just found the film completely boring and not affecting in the least. I feel like it's hard to make a film like this anything but "powerful" on some level, but whatever it was doing just whooshed right by me.

If you ever look at it again, I highly recommend the "theological commentary" which is present on one of the discs. For me that was just invaluable especially in terms of drawing out and positioning those specifics of the film, such as, for instance, the structuring of it all around The Stations of the Cross. Also, there are of course many references to classic and religious art throughout which emphasize a connection or correspondence to, as well as a foundation in, fine art presentations.

[Captain Paranoia]

Now I’m probably the only one who saw Flight Risk (and even then, only on Prime months afterward with relatives), but I figured this thread would be the best place to discuss it. With a nine year gap between directing a film you could see the movie made following that gap to be great if not the director's best, this is not that sort of film. As I only recall seeing the poster with the tagline "Y'all need a pilot?", I assumed the movie would be a much different film than what is was, I can't remember much from when I saw it other than being the oddball in Gibson's filmography, and how bad the movie was. The performances are comically awful (with Wahlberg at least seemingly knowing what movie he's in as an unhinged hitman) and I could not tell whether or not this film was intended to be a serious thriller or a comedy, complete with idiotic character decisions. Add to that a stupid plot twist at the end, perhaps watching on Amazon. Definitely Gibson's worst film by a mile.

[beamish14]

Flight Plan is atrocious, and not even really comedically amusing. Horrible screenplay that is on par with the lowest depths of direct-to-Tubi trash, and Topher Grace’s character made me shake my head in absolute disbelief and horror

[Beloved Aunt]

Topher Grace’s character made me shake my head in absolute disbelief and horror

Uh oh, does he play a villain?

[beamish14]

Topher Grace’s character made me shake my head in absolute disbelief and horror

Uh oh, does he play a villain?

He’s supposed to be a charming rogue who serves as the engine for the story; the “flight risk” in question who needs to be transported by the tight-ass federal agent

[Beloved Aunt]

charming rogue

haha the stupidity vibes from this film are already overwhelming me

[hearthesilence]

Mel Gibson is consulting with excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò for the The Resurrection of the Christ which is currently still shooting in Italy.

Viganò, who is the Vatican’s former ambassador to the United States, was excommunicated in 2024 for refusing to recognize Pope Francis’ authority and rejecting the Second Vatican Council that modernized the Roman Catholic Church. He has repeatedly referred to Francis as a liberal “servant of Satan” and a “false prophet” in public statements.

[cantinflas]

Pretty on brand for Mad Mel. I only want to see if it lives up to the "acid trip" sequences he's been raving about for years.

[MichaelB]

Gibson's late father Hutton Gibson, a minor celebrity in his own right even before his son's fame, was outspokenly opposed to Vatican II, and had a fair number of other somewhat colourful opinions as well, some of them rabidly antisemitic and Islamophobic.