My friend Wes has been trying to get me to see Jesus Christ Superstar for a really long time, so I finally got around to it. It's one of his favorite films and, while I can't make the same claim, I can definitely say I am glad to have seen it. I think it's a film everyone should experience.
I have never seen Jesus Christ Superstar on stage, so it might be difficult for me to distinguish between the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber and that of Norman Jewison, the film's director. I do know that I like the film's music. I don't love it, but I like it. Except for the mixing. Whoever mixed the music should have been fired.
It's a rock opera, which is pretty cool, and it was filmed on location in Israel, which is even cooler. The best parts of the film, for me, come in between the musical numbers. There are grand, majestic shots of the holy land, empty. These set up the appropriate mood for the story. It's exciting and bleak at the same time.
Biblically, the plot is not quite on the money, but it's more of an exploration of certain aspects of the biblical account, so I'm willing to let that slide. I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't sing the sermon on the mount, anyway. No harm done, for the most part,
As for the performances, I think Carl Anderson, as Judas, is far and away the best in the film, both in terms of vocalization and presence on screen. His songs are easily the most captivating and energetic. I am not crazy about Ted Nealey as Jesus, maybe because he looks like my dad's cousin Jamie circa 1989. I'm not in love with his voice, either, although a lot of people would disagree with me on that.
Other than that, it's kind of a bizarre film, which is probably the best reason I can give for you to see it. I am really, really, really not a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber, so the fact that I could sit through this means it must be quite a filmmaking achievement.
By the way, there's no dialogue, only music...in case that matters to you.
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