Yes, that's our very own Cliff Curtis suffering for his art as Jesus, who we first see upon the cross about to be put out of his earthly misery with a Roman spear. But other than bleed painfully, and smile beatifically in later scenes among the disciples, Curtis doesn't get to do a lot in this retelling of the resurrection.
This American film, clearly aimed at the international Bible belt, starts off as as swords and sandals detective story, with Jesus the missing person, before defaulting to a hollow gospel drama.
Joseph Fiennes plays Clavius, an earnest, efficient Roman officer charged by Pontius Pilate (Michael Firth) with cleaning up after the crucifixion, the reasons for which the movie assumes its viewers will be familiar with.
But when the crypt holding the body of Yeshua (his Hebrew name) is busted open and left empty but for a familiar shroud, Clavius is charged with finding the body before Yeshua's followers start proclaiming him the risen Messiah.
Clavius, aided by Lucius (Tom Felton), goes about his mission with stern resolve, disinterring fresh graves and rounding up a disciple or two as well as Mary Magdalene (Italian actress Maria Botto). Finding her does allow for one amusing gag that might have made the cut in The Life of Brian.
