|
| |
Mel Gibson Defends
Written by: Emily Assad
Gibson talks with talk radio host Sean Hannity about movies, life, and politics
They said he would fail. His movie would be a bomb. His personal investment of millions would disappear. Now that "The Passion of the Christ" is nearing the $300 million mark, Mel Gibson talks with Fox News correspondent and talk radio host, Sean Hannity.
"The Passion" has been under scrutiny long before hitting the movie theatres. Based on the final hours of Jesus Christ's life, Gibson adapted the biblical story to the big screen while he directed it as well. With Jim Caviezel as Jesus and Maia Morgenstern as Mary, the story's insurmountable success is evident. The film has spent three consecutive weeks at the number one spot. With Easter quickly approaching, the film is expected to make over $450 million in the theatres.
Because the film was self-financed with $30 million of Gibson's money, he stands to pocket nearly $350 million after its success in the theatre and DVD sales. This grand total becomes one of the biggest individual paydays in film history.
But in an hour-long interview with Gibson, Hannity covers more than Gibson's multi-million dollar paycheck. When first speaking with Gibson, Hannity soon mentions that he sees "The Passion" as the greatest epic of all time, regardless of one's religious background or affiliation. He then quickly brings up Gibson's difficulty releasing this film into theatres. Gibson explains that he had never experienced this kind of furor, prejudgment, censorship, and discrimination when dealing with a film before. "I thought it was pretty unfair and I think the people have spoken and it has silenced the people who had the loudest voices," he adds.
These loud voices included critics from the New York Times, Andy Rooney, and presidential candidate John Kerry. But he takes the criticisms and negativity in stride. "Just let people say that and forgive them... After you get a little steamed, you just kind of have to let it go and just let it roll off because I don't want to carry this stuff around," Gibson says.
Even through the hardships of creating this film, Gibson calls this experience amazing and gratifying with a success unlike what some critics had originally suggested. "This (movie's success) indicates that there is a hunger for this line of material out there. It's filling a void that has been vacant for along time now."
Hannity also spoke with Gibson about the dark demons that led to the creation of this film. There was even a time that Gibson once contemplated suicide. He knew then it was time to rethink his life. "When you get to a place of spiritual bankruptcy, you have to take stock of where you've been and where you're going and how are you going to change things so you don't end up back at that place again." Both he and Hannity agreed that, "pain is the precursor of change."
Because of the huge success of the film, critics are now saying Gibson masterminded the controversy for free marketing. Gibson defends this by stating, "I would never do that. Why would I invite insults and pretty nasty editorials and having my family insulted and offended? Why would I purposely do that to myself in the name of marketing? That is ridiculous."
Gibson's own success has now led Hollywood to rethink religious films, but Gibson has some advice for the next media victim. "Get ready... you are going to ruffle feathers... look carefully and decide if this is what you want," he advises. But he also says that if the next religious film "is not done for the right reasons, it could become a cropper and that is Australian for falling on its face."
Talk to other readers about this story.
|
|
|
|
|
