Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption (2012) User Reviews

This is a documentary, NOT the actual play.

[eastonkellan_ru · 3/10 · 26 July 2019]

I have watched this documentary last May 2019 and read the reviews. I find it funny that they are reviewing the play and not this documentary.

I will not review this, as others review this documentary with religious implications. but how they presented this documentary about their struggles to stage this play.

It's very mediocre, lacking in zest/conviction in presenting it. Some interviewees shows emotions which is superficial and not convincing enough that their play is good.

This documentary itself sucks BIG TIME.

Genesis 19-- the rest of the story

[jeniask · 1/10 · 18 May 2018]

It is true that God said he'd spare 50 righteous people IF there were that many. Apparently Abraham knew better because he talked God down to 10 people. Whoever has ACTUALLY read the story would know that Sodom and Gomorrah WAS destroyed because only four nearly escaped the same distribution of the towns. I say nearly because Lot's wife was one of the four, however God said leave and don't look back. She looked back, and since God is true to his word he destroyed her as well by turning her info a pillar of salt. God does love and he shows that to those who truly believe in him. This movie is an abomination to God, it represents something he hates!! True Christians would know that. He's not just a thing to believe in, but he's to be obeyed. Read Romans chapter 1. People, you must realize that the Bible is not written based on verse by vesre, but by stories of real life events and words to live by. Not pick and choose what verse works for you today!! Pray about things before you put your trust in it. I'm morn for those who don't see through the devil's games. Just believing there is a God will NOT get you into heaven. God is very precise with details, look at the exact instructions of the ark, the Tabernacle, the clothes the high priest wore. Don't be fooled into thinking salvation isn't just as precise!! Seek the truth!! And to answer your question, no I do not think I'm holier than everyone, but I do live every moment hoping I'm not leaving God out. And I strive to keep the Holy Ghost within my heart and cry out to God when I know it's not there. I love you and pray for you...

Muhammad was gay and possibly a pedophile?

[coenieinafrica · 1/10 · 4 January 2017]

So there's nothing sacred anymore? Open season? Let's ridiculed and break down each other's religions and beliefs! So what would happen if we make a movie where Muhammad is gay? Nevermind the FACT that he was a pedophile and forced a little 9 year old girl to marry him! This is just a plot for media coverage and to make money. Pushing the artistic boundaries needs to be somehow kept in check. This actually goes against human rights and is intolerable of others most sacred beliefs. Dear Director and Cast: Just because you don't have any moral compass doesn't mean we all have to swallow your nonsense. Absolute rubbish and deplorable!

UTTERLY deplorable

[rumbihove · 4 January 2017]

This is just a full faced attack on Christianity. I am appalled that something so horrible as this actually exits. For making a mockery of Christianity these folk should be sued. I think it's wrong and very disrespectful to mock another person's beliefs no matter how awkward they maybe to you and for that the cast should be jailed. Freedom of expression does not mean you have the right to cause offence. If your actions are offensive to someone else don't do it especially if they ask you not to and Christians have been against this thing for years now. This is utterly disrespectful and the people involved in this wretched thing have no conscience whatsoever!

A mockery of the truth warning, truth ahead

[Dwlaceyusa7 · 1/10 · 26 March 2014]

Most understand political correctness, most understand the social contract and our part in it. . To promote such mockery of truth fits neither without violating the senses of the majority. . To even acknowledge such blasphemy suggests a total lack of empathy for us all and furthers the world view of the USA as the amoral society that it has recently demonstrated to other nations. . Shame on IMDb for even listing this film.

In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah , Abraham asked the Lord to spare the city if he could find 50 righteous people. God responded to Abraham's plea "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous people within the city, then I will spare all ...Genesis 18:16-33

I, and the majority of other in the USA and throughout the rest of the word, cannot find 50, even 1 righteous moment on this movie or the characters portrayed in it; so, what were you thinking IMDb?

Sorry to break it to you...

[tbjones-55888 · 1/10 · 6 January 2019]

...but God is not mocked. He is not blind to blasphemy, nor does He take it lightly. Unless the makers of this mockery see and acknowledge the true love of God and character of Christ and turn away from their attempts to lead others astray, there can be only one final destiny for them. In the meantime, I hope and pray they will have a change of heart and decide not to release this film, both for their own sakes and for the world at large. The time of the end, as depicted in the book of Revelation, is not far off and I feel sorry for anyone who chooses to remain on the wrong side.

Garbage

[airrider16 · 1/10 · 21 March 2018]

A waste of time. I would have rather watched Thor.

This movie is the result of a depraved mind

[haimanotkasahun · 1/10 · 5 February 2019]

Roman 1:28 "furthermore, just as they didn't think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God,so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done"

The Church of the Future

[revdrbobshoregoss · 10/10 · 25 April 2013]

Playing with Redemption is a documentary about the cast members who came to perform Terrence McNally's play, Corpus Christi, that was threatened religious fundamentalists when it came to Broadway a decade or so ago because of its religious content. The documentary traces how unchurched cast found spirituality and transformation in a story about homophobic violence and religious intolerance. Corpus Christi was written after the hate crime/murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming. McNally pens in the Preface to the play, "Jesus Christ did not die in vain because his disciples lived to spread the story. It is this generation's duty to make certain Matthew Shepard did not die in vain. We forgot the story at the peril of our very lives." And I would add "our souls." The documentary affirms a deeply profound and spiritual truth that love conquers hatred, even homohatred. This is a story for people spiritually and humanely who are committed to end hatred, violence, and children bullied for being LGBT.

Blasphemy + bad acting = Corpus Christi

[christianworldorder · 1/10 · 11 October 2015]

Documentary or else wise. Yes there is the blasphemy which is an issue in and of itself. But the other truth is , the acting in this " movie" was so bad as to not qualify it for a movie. Michael Moore is a consummate professional in documentary film making , but this was thrown together with glue and paper as the old saying goes as to only qualify it as a low heresy, all be it a heresy. The passion of the Christ being the grand heresy. Then Dan Brown's 2 efforts being high heresies. Then the last temptation, Montreal, God spell and superstar being the 4 mid heresies. This being the 8 heresies over 4 decades. One every 5 years.

pretty good movie about a pretty bad play

[jm10701 · 17 October 2014]

The problem with this documentary movie is that the play at its center is badly written - so bad that hearing just a few lines of it is enough to make me cringe. People have complained that this movie doesn't show the full play, but I'm grateful it doesn't. I assume they included the best parts, so the rest of it must be even worse.

I love Terrence McNally very much as a person, but as a writer he's not that good. His writing is pretentious and clumsy, and it never sounds like real human beings talking. If he weren't gay, weren't a very attractive, compassionate and charismatic man, and didn't therefore have an automatic following in the gay community, I think he'd probably have had to spend his life doing something else.

The bad actors who are putting on the play's 2006 revival in LA don't help any, but the play itself is so leaden and contrived that I don't think ANY actors could bring it to life. What's most disturbing about this movie is not the virulent but oh-so-predictable opposition to it from "Christians" - whose loudest spokespeople are always the stupidest - but the fact that so much energy was wasted on such an embarrassingly bad play. (McNally's claim in this movie - that the opposition from fundamentalist Christians came as a total surprise to him - is not credible. NO one could be that naive.)

That's too bad, because the concept - a strong and loving gay Jesus - is fantastic. I just wish a more talented playwright would rise to the challenge and give us a play that's WORTH fighting for.

This movie should be banned and/or destroyed

[wzeagler · 1/10 · 15 February 2019]

Nothing but an attack on Christianity. Those who read the Bible and that are true Christians will boycott and ban this movie.

UTTERLY DISGUSTING!!!!

[pattersonsilvohn · 1/10 · 18 February 2019]

This is truly an abombination and a disgrace!!!! All of the people responsible for this atrocity will meet their maker soon! This is beyond my comprehension of horrible! We are truly in the last days....you think you can make a mockery of our savior? You will pay the price!!!

Only reason it got 1 Star is because I can't give it 0.

[blparker-31738 · 1/10 · 22 April 2019]

This movie is an utter joke. The only way a person would listen to this crap is if they want to hear lies. This is a worthless waste of time.

Why didn't they perform in San Francisco or christopher street?

[ptomley47 · 1/10 · 4 December 2021]

I just want to make a comment I believe in freedom of speech but I really suspect the filmmakers deliberately set out to cause controversy and upset people of true faith and belief. They know if they performed in San Francisco or Christopher St it would have been politely applauded but not received national news coverage.

Why didn't they talk about a gay Mohammed or gay Moses? No that might upset and offend Muslims or Jews and we can't do that but Christians are right wing extremists and we can offend them to pay back for offending our feelings.

I am NOT a Christian but I think EVERY faiths belief should be respected even if their values conflict with yours Martin Luther King Jr was a man of faith would they want to offend or disrespect him even if he didn't agree with them?

What a Journey

[revjshoregoss · 10/10 · 24 April 2013]

This is a fantastic Journey. A group of actors take on Terrance McNally's Play of Corpus Christi their lives are changed. The message of Gods love for all is touching the hearts of their audience and the way they look at themselves. There are stories of healing. There are stories of redemption. The greatest story is how a group of actors have committed themselves to spreading a contemporary message that is as old as the earth itself. God loves you! Join this amazing cast on a journey of spiritual transformation.

As a Pastor of a Christian Church this is a must see for those who wish to teach God's unconditional Love for all.

This IS a documentary

[cesarevv · 10/10 · 19 June 2013]

Unfortunately, there are other "reviews" on this site that are simply nothing more than closed minded individuals attacking a documentary about subject matter that they don't like or fully understand. It's beyond ironic and exceptionally sad that so much of this documentary is about how people have been attacking a play rather than actually watching it and seeing what the message of the piece is, and now the film's rating on this site are being subjected to the same type of closed minded bigotry the play received. This is a movie (that yes, I have actually seen at Q-Fest in St. Louis) about people who came together under less than open circumstances to perform a simple play, and the journey, both physical and spiritual, that they went through from the initial performance through an extended, multi-country tour. The play, also titled "Corpus Christi" (the play itself is referenced and some of it's performances are show in small parts, but the entire play is not shown), has long been a lightening rod for discrimination by certain people, and that obviously impacts the company who tours to produce it, but, in many ways, this film is about the opposite of that- this film does not, in any way, try to vilify any groups or faiths that are protesting the piece. Protesters are interviewed, but treated with the respect that any documentarian who is interested in showing the entirety of their subject matter would show. There is very much an agenda with this film, but it is simply to show the path of the subjects- their individual stories, perspectives, and struggles. At no point do the film makers say that their play is the "right" version of events, or that the people who dislike it are "wrong". They fully understand that their purpose, as documentarians, is to show, not tell, and that's all this film does, and does well, through many interviews with cast, crew, audience members, and the individuals, primarily religious leaders, who brought the play into their communities to be see, as well as it's protesters. This film is about individuals' growth, and any review claiming it's disrespectful or denouncing the subject matter of the film is from a place of ignorance of the simple facts about what this film is.

Excellent story of LOVE!!!!

[Asali · 10/10 · 11 July 2013]

I have read (a couple times) the amazing screenplay of Corpus Christi: Playing With Redemption by the ever so talented Terrence McNally and to me it is an extremely powerful play filled with a message of LOVE, unconditional LOVE. I am really looking forward to seeing this documentary written by James Brandon and Nic Arnzen come to life with it's cast of very talented actors, I am sure I won't be disappointed. I hope that viewers give this documentary a chance by seeing it for themselves to understand the story that is being told and tell others what a great story this is. We are all born equal and this is depicted in Corpus Christi: Playing With Redemption, I hope this documentary helps towards ending homophobia and religious bullying.

Documentary

[christine-721-440864 · 10/10 · 25 June 2013]

We had the pleasure of hosting this documentary for a sneak preview at our theater in Bridgeport, Connecticut this past Sunday. It was not only riveting, it was of the highest quality. It brought to the audience the vital importance of love and equality in our world. Everyone should see this film to understand the necessity of its message. The cast was honest and moving. The footage was extremely well done, as were the placement of the interviews of the cast and the professionals. THis film will have an impact on everyone that sees it, not just on people who are gay. THis film is not an attack on any organization or organized religion. Rather, it is a beautiful depiction of the intelligent, thoughtful play that Terrence McNally clearly wrote from his heart. It invites the viewer to embrace spirituality. We look forward to having the film return to our theater for an extended run.

Beautiful and spiritual

[gptenor · 10/10 · 27 April 2021]

Beautiful and spiritual, Intelligent and compassion-based. A documentary about how theater changes lives. This particular play, Corpus Christi Terrence McNally ask the audience to open their minds and hearts a little bit further. I give it a 10 out of 10.

An Important Documentary

[lavignebiz1 · 8/10 · 20 October 2017]

No matter how you feel about it's topic, this is a vitally important documentary. I could relate to it, because 30 years ago, I directed Christopher Durang's Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All to You at a community theater housed in a park. The Catholic League came down on us, many people walked out (but didn't ask for their money back) and eventually the show was brought to the City Council. At the time Jesse Ventura was the Mayor and he was on our side. He concluded the topic by reading the First Amendment "for the record."

I saw this play about 15 years ago and thought it was quite good. I rather like McNally's work and while this is a minor work, it's still a marvelous theater piece.

I think this documentary is important because of what it reperesents: First Amendment Rights being challenged by the Christian Right. This is the kind of crap that Trump's minions are against. No one has the right to tell you what you can and cannot do ultimately. When Godard's Hail Mary came out, the print was stolen from the theater that showed it here and the Pope condemned it. Clearly he didn't see it, because it's a tedious bore. I fell asleep at the screening. When The Last Temptation of Christ came out, there were picket lines. No one bothered to interpret the title correctly. The movie, which depicts Jesus married and the father of children, is an hallucination, aka a temptation. It's from the Gnostic Gospels and has nothing to do with the Jesus we all know about.

Wake up, people! This is the 21st Century. People are entitled to new interpretations!! Grow up!

Wrong on every level!

[redmoon-58369 · 28 April 2019]

Seriously who would watch this or even bother supporting it? Stop shoving gay rights in everyone's faces and leave my God out of it. This is blasphemy, that's all it is. Everyone is so careful not to offend any other religion, so why does it make it ok to always attack Christianity?

Very powerful and emotional

[SteverB · 10/10 · 10 April 2023]

This documentary is one of the more powerful ones I've seen. It follows the cast of a Terrence McNally play called, "Corpus Christie," through several years of productions, starting in 1998 and ending somewhere around 2012. The play itself is not shown, although there are several scenes from it used effectively to illustrate points during the doc. Mostly, the film is made up of interviews with the cast that slowly make one realize the profound changes they've gone through by being a part of this cast. You, as an audience member, actually see these changes through time. It's utterly fascinating.

Naturally, in our culture of people who don't seem to have the faith of their spoken convictions, a play like "Corpus Christie," that we find out portrays a gay Jesus living in Texas in the 1950s, is especially controversial. People are unable, apparently, to suffer the "blasphemy" of Jesus being portrayed as anything but a straight, white male with blond hair and blue eyes -- or so illustrations of Him would lead us to believe. The fact that he was more than likely a swarthy Arab, being from the Middle East, is ignored and denied because it's exceedingly inconvenient for the "faithful" in America. But I digress. So, naturally, there are protests whenever a production of "Corpus Christi" is announced. And death threats. And bomb scares. And all of the other things anyone paying attention would know about; chanting, signs, lines of people lying about what is contained in a play they've never seen. These views are also covered in a fair way -- without commentary, letting each speaker speak for themselves.

I am old enough to remember the same kinds of protests over "Jesus Christ, Superstar" and especially, "The Last Temptation of Christ." I'm sure documentaries could have been made about those shows too, but alas, no one thought of it. Fortunately, we have this documentation of what happened as a result of being actors in this particular play, and it is again, powerful and very moving. It made me want to see the show itself, but I suppose that's not going to happen, especially now. I can, however, order the script and at least be able to experience what to me, seems like a lot of people need right now. HIGHLY recommended.