Baylor alum’s latest film, ‘Risen,’ debuts nationwide this weekend
Between John Lee Hancock, BA ’79, JD ’82 (The Blind Side, The Rookie), Kevin Reynolds, BA ’74, JD ’76 (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Fandango), and the writing duo of Derek Haas, BA ’91, MA ’95, and Michael Brandt, BBA ’91, MA ’94 (Wanted, 3:10 to Yuma, Chicago Fire), it seems we’re good for at least one new film or TV show from a Baylor Bear each year.
The first new effort of 2016 from any of this prolific quartet is Risen, which debuts in theaters this weekend. Written and directed by Reynolds (the son of former Baylor President Herbert Reynolds), Risen tells the Biblical story of the Resurrection through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius, a Roman soldier played by Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love, Luther), is tasked with finding Jesus’ body following the crucifixion in order to disprove rumors of a risen Messiah. Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series) plays his aide.
Produced by Affirm Films, the Christian arm of Sony Pictures, the story fills in some gaps in the Biblical narrative without making any heretical missteps. The film is more historical fiction than evangelism tool, and will be of interest to anyone (believer or not) curious to see another take on the days following Jesus’ death and resurrection. It has far more in common with old-school Biblical epics like Ben Hur or The Ten Commandments (though on a smaller scale) than modern Christian films like Fireproof or Courageous.
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One critic summed up the plot as “CSI: Jerusalem,” a fitting description as Clavius spends most of the film trying to solve the mystery of what really happened following Jesus’ death — a New Testament police procedural of sorts. I got to preview the film, thanks to advance screenings arranged for the Baylor community. Bottom line: If you watch the trailer above and think it looks interesting, you’ll probably enjoy the film.
Sic ’em, Kevin Reynolds!
You might also like:
* Baylor Film and Digital Media now its own department, thanks to transformative gift (July 2015)
* Bears in Hollywood: What films and TV shows should be in a Bear’s media library? (Sept. 2013)
* ‘Hatfields & McCoys,’ directed by Baylor alum, shatters basic cable ratings records (June 2012)