The French director known simply by the name Pitof is probably best known for his work on the masterpiece known as Catwoman. After such a success it only makes sense that you would want to work with the biggest name in the industry: JESUS CHRIST. The skinny is provided by our friends at moviehole:
“Only in New York”, written by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld and Geebee Dajani, follows a recently paroled street hustler looking for a new life and seeking redemption only to find his path blocked by the combustible melange of New York elements that once did him in.
I can totally see Jesus (also known to some as Jim Caviezel) as a street hustler. He loved to hang out with hookers in the bible, and surrounded himself with a gang. Jesus/Caviezel totally has a New York look going for him and I think this is a perfect casting. Pitof was wise to cast Jesus; if he can turn water into wine maybe he can turn shit into a decent 90 minute movie.
Strangely, neither Bale or Sisto was typecast as Jesus. Yet they also played Jesus, before Batman (Bale) and Six Feet Under (Sisto).
I would also typecast Powell as Jesus, and Heston as Moses. Because it is funny.
I hope Pitof knocks it out of the park with his next one as much as anyone. Until then – he directed Catwoman.
BTW, typecasting Caviezel as Jesus is kinda stupid. It was his biggest role, but he was already known from other movies – say Frequency, Monte Cristo, Pay it forward etc. Also, there are other actors that played Jesus well – my first choice would be Robert Powell from Jesus of Nazareth.
Before working on Catwoman, Pitof was best known for doing the visual effects in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s movies – which always looked pretty good. His first feature film, Vidocq, that he wrote and directed, was also quite visually impressive and a decent movie overall. I don’t know what happened with Catwoman – I could blame the screenwriters and the studio, but the fact is I have no idea what went wrong. It’s worth noting, though, that usually after foreign directors move to Hollywood the quality of their work drops significantly. Anyway, the guy is definitely no Uwe Boll. Boll has made 10 “masterpieces” so far – he deserves all he gets; Pitof’s second project and first english movie is a bad one and suddenly he’s the most despised filmmaker? Yeah right. I for one am looking forward to his next project. Maybe it will suck, maybe not. Time will tell.
I refer to cavizel as jesus; because that is his biggest role, and it is a funny type cast.
I intended to suggest that ant work with Pitof is a mistake, and that only a miracle may change that.
I stand corrected. Jim Cavizel appears to have signed on for the role. However, now I have a slight problem with Doug’s post. His sarcasm originally led me to think Pitof’s new film had something to do with (Christian themed) redemption and/or Jesus, not the actor who once played him. What’s the problem? Is Doug stating Cavizivel is a bad actor (he’s not), or making the wrong choice in working with Pitof?
1. Know when Doug is bullshitting. Jim Cavizel isn’t in the film. Neither is Christian Bale. Or Jeremy Sisto from Six Feet Under.
2. Know that Doug in his descriptions may be the wrong wording, but metaphorically (“his gang”) is fairly accurate. He could have also said his ‘overzealous fan base, paparazzi, the autorities and screaming women’ if he chose to do so
3. Jesus, Buddha or L Ron Hubbard…nobody could help that genius Pitof in making a good film. Pitof could thank, and may be indebted to, Jesus for the life of Uwe Boll. If it were not for Boll, Pitof would be the most despised filmmaker today.
4. In all respect to Doug, if one is an atheist, what good is that degree?
Hey Godfather,
hehe… be very careful about trying to debate points of biblical history or theology with Doug. No kidding here… he graduated with a bachelores degree from Bible College and went to Seminary as well.
LOL
Doug
Historical tidbit – Jesus hanging with hookers isn’t really what happened. It’s misinterpreted that way, but Mary Magedaline wasn’t a hooker. Check that shit out…
As for Jim Caveziel in this, the movie sounds interesting, and I sure feel for anyone caught in that dead spot where they just can’t escape their pasts and are really needing a helping hand.