Director Kevin Reynolds
Genre Action | Adventure | Drama
Cast Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth, Cliff Curtis
Rating PG-13
Release Date February, 19th 2016
“Follows the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius, a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius, are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Yahshua in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.”
I will admit that I was skeptical of Risen initially, partly due to the fact that the release seemed to come out of nowhere or was just simply overshadowed by big name releases like Deadpool. The cast also seemed to lack any names I recognized. Once the buzz for the film began circulating I couldn’t help but get sucked in as I started to realize that Risen had the potential to be a powerful film. Directed and co-written by Kevin Reynolds, who also directed 1995’s big budget film Waterworld (it was a bust but still popular), Risen seemed to pick up momentum and actually released with fairly high expectations. After finally making my way to the theater I am more than pleased to report that I enjoyed the entire hour and 47 minutes of the Biblical drama.
Considering it includes a fairly unknown cast (unless you're a Harry Potter fan), Risen is a film that delivers top-notch acting from top to bottom. Lead Joseph Fiennes who plays Clavius is no stranger to old-age filmmaking, having played a role in the 2014 portrayal of Hercules as well as a starring role in the series Camelot. Fiennes was invested in his character in such a way that viewers will have no choice but to admire the flawless execution he exhibits. Viewers will also recognize Cliff Curtis who plays a vital role in the film, as he recently starred in AMC's Walking Dead spinoff, Fear The Walking Dead, and has quite the acting resume. The rest of the cast has a plethora of experience between them and ensure that this very important story is told just as it should be. Character development was clearly an important focus and it shows.
Risen is well shot and felt true to the time period in my personal opinion, with meticulous set design and quality costumes. The soundtrack for the film felt authentic and helped to emphasize the dramatic tone. I was genuinely impressed by Reynolds directing style which I found to be both intimate and creative. I had concern that Risen might be over the top in certain respects but it never felt that way, holding true as a dramatic period piece with clear intentions. The film did have a small scale feel to it but I think that may have played to its advantage as far as making the viewers feel that much closer to the story.
Risen is a powerful film with a story that unfolds like a well-written book, which in this circumstance seems to make perfect sense. Even though I do consider myself to be religious, I admittedly attend church infrequently and primarily only attend during important holidays and other family engagements. I do not feel that lessens my beliefs in any way and I found myself genuinely engaged in the story from the beginning. Risen is an enjoyable film that should appeal to more than just the religious audience, which will allow it to get more exposure. If you are seeking a well told story and a quality balance of substance over flare, you should give this film a chance.
