Movie Review: Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene *** / *****

Directed by: Garth Davis.

Written by: Helen Edmundson and Philippa Goslett.

Starring: Rooney Mara (Mary Magdalene), Joaquin Phoenix (Jesus), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Peter), Tahar Rahim (Judas), Ariane Labed (Rachel), Denis Menochet (Daniel), Lubna Azabal (Susannah), Tcheky Karyo (Elisha), Charles Babalola (Andrew), Tawfeek Barhim (James), Ryan Corr (Joseph), Uri Gavriel (Philip), Shira Haas (Leah), Tsahi Halevi (Ephraim), Irit Sheleg (Mother Mary).

 

The obvious goal of Garth Davis’ Mary Magdalene is to try and rehabilitate the reputation of its title character – who is still seen by most as a prostitute friend of Jesus, even though she was never a prostitute, and was really more of an apostle – the equal of any of the other apostles, and perhaps even more than that if the P.O.V. of this movie is to be believed – perhaps the only apostle who truly understood Jesus’ message. The goal of rehab is a worthy one, and the other message is one that I think thoughtful Christians should at least consider – which of course means the film won’t get seen by those who prefer the Christian movies like God’s Not Dead, which don’t seek to challenge or even provoke thought, but simply to congratulate you on your views. It would be easier to recommend the film Mary Magdalene though if, as a film, it had a little more life to it. This is a slow (too slow) movie, and for big chunks of it, the film seems to be basically be Jesus’ greatest hits – just with slightly more emphasis on Mary Magdalene’s reaction to them than normal. It’s the type of film that is probably more interesting to discuss than it is to actually watch.

 

We only get about 20 minutes or so of a pre-Jesus Mary Magdalene (Rooney Mara). Mary is probably too quiet, too spiritual, too much a rebel for her small fishing town. She is beloved by her father, who indulges her, but her brother is getting tired of her ways – he wants her to get married, and get on with what women are here to do – churn out babies, and raise them. But Mary doesn’t want that – so when the mysterious teacher, (Joaquin Phoenix) and his apostles, come to their town – she is immediately drawn to him – and when they leave, she decides she must go as well. Really only two other Apostles come into focus in the film – Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is suspicious of Mary – he thinks no good will come of having a woman with them, but Judas (Tahar Rahim) is more welcoming.

 

The roles are well cast. Mary Magdalene does a lot of meaningful looking in this film – as she takes in Jesus, and his deeds, and churns them over in her head. And Rooney Mara, if nothing else, is great at this kind of acting – think of how great she is, while seemingly doing so little in films like Carol and A Ghost Story – where she conveys a lot just in the way she looks. If there is a problem here, it’s that Mary isn’t that complex a character – and most her looks convey the same thing. Phoenix is a good choice to play Jesus – he is more tortured here then we often see him – physically, mentally and spiritually in pain with the weight pushed upon him. Mary offers him comfort – but also challenges him – pushes him to talk directly to women, etc. Peter and Judas are the only other characters who get much to do here – and what’s interesting is that they really are portrayed as flip sides to the same coin – both may have gotten into this for the wrong reasons, selfish reasons – although what it leads to them to do is obviously much different.

 

The film was directed by Garth Davis with restraint – way too much restraint really. The film is quiet and thoughtful – but what it really lacks is some sort of life to it – something to really sink your teeth into. As the film falls into the trap of showing the same things Jesus always does – whether it’s bring Lazarus back from the dead, or getting angry at the marketplace in the temple, you start to realize you’re seeing what you’ve always seen – just with more muted emotions. None of the people in the film feel like flesh and blood people – and Jesus doesn’t really feel like God either. Everything about the film is just too muted for its own good.

 

Which isn’t to say the movie is bad. It certainly does give you a lot to think about – a lot to chew on. But it doesn’t quite give you enough to keep you involved – to keep your mind from wandering – as you watch the film. To be fair, your mind often wanders to the questions the film may want you to ask – but it takes you out of the film as you watch it. It is an admirable thing to try to take the story and turn it on its head – it just doesn’t do that enough to make you want to seek out this specific version of the story you know so well.