| One of the most compelling stories in the Bible is Jacob. Here is a modern day retelling with a little seasoning from a few other Bible stories. Bible names are used: Seth, Rachel. |
COMMANDMENTS
(1997)
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Starring Aidan Quinn, Courteney Cox and Anthony LaPaglia. Directed/Written by Daniel Taplitz (who also did the Bible related Rapture in 1990). Produced by Ivan Reitman, Michael Chinich, Joe Medjuck and Daniel Goldberg.
Rated R for language and sexuality.
Running time: 105 min. |
People Magazine says: "Brush up on your Old Testament before seeing Commandments.... There are elements of Job, Moses and Jonah in this story.."
Mr Show Biz Michael Atkinson says: "Just smell that Old Testament" in this film about "a Job-like
schmoe biblically named Seth."
Rita Kempley of the Washington Post says: This "darkly humorous story parallels the Old Testament parables of Jonah and Job."
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Review by
David Bruce |
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| One of the most compelling stories in the Bible is Jacob. Here is a modern day retelling with a little seasoning from a few other Bible stories. Bible names are used: Seth, Rachel. |
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| Seth (Aidan Quinn) wants answers about life. His quest begins after his wife dies in a drowning accident. The problem comes when God does not answer. It isn't that God is silent -just the opposite. The more he questions God the more disaster Seth suffers. For example, after one prayer time his house falls down. |
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His boss fires him because because God hardened his boss' heart (sound familiar?). No wife, no house, no job! Can it get worse? Yes! He's struck by lightning, ends up in the hospital where he learns God has killed his dog. This is the last straw. Desperate for God's attention Seth plans revenge by deciding to break each of the Ten Commandments.
Seth's wife was the sister of Rachel (Courteney Cox) who is married to Harry (Anthony LaPaglia). Harry thinks Seth is crazy and not worth the time of day. Rachel reacts differently and sympathizes with Seth and tries to help him through his struggle. The similarity to the Bible story of Jacob is striking. Jacob was married to Leah whose sister was Rachael. Jacob eventually marries Rachael. In the film it is with Rachael that Seth breaks the "thou shalt not commit adultery" commandment. |
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| Here, too, is the battle between brothers Jacob and Esau. An intriguing parallel develops between Seth and Harry. Harry breaks the commandments too. But thinks nothing of breaking them if it suits his goals. He is self righteous and despises Seth. He sleeps with a prostitute and brings down a police chief all in the name of his own rules. He has no regard for God's rules at all. As each man breaks one commandment after another, the two eventually work their way to the last and toughest: Thou shalt not kill. Seth commits murder through "suicide" by attempting to jump to his death off the top of a lighthouse. |
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| Harry learns that Rachael is pregnant. He has lost his wife. The film begins to end the way it started. Harry is drawn to the beach where a dead beached whale is being cut open. Seth is rescued. Reborn from the belly of a whale. A modern day Jonah and like the story of Job everything is restored to him symbolized in the relationship with Rachael. |
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| Seth is restored. God has been gracious. Harry, on the other hand, has lost everything. Only now does he finally turn to God for answers. |
RELATED HUMOR
You know it's a bad day when...
Your horn sticks on the freeway behind 32 Hell's Angels.
You've been at work 3 hours before you notice that your zipper is open.
Your twin sister forgets your birthday.
Your birthday cake collapses from the weight of the candles.
You call suicide prevention and they put you on hold.
You have to sit down to brush your teeth in the morning.
Everyone avoids you the morning after the company office party.
Your income tax refund check bounces.
It costs more to fill up your car than it did to buy it.
The bird singing outside your window is a vulture.
You wake up and your braces are stuck together.
Your blind date turns out to be your ex-spouse.
You put both contacts in the same eye.
Your mother approves of the person you are dating.
Your doctor tells you that you're allergic to chocolate.
You have to borrow from your Visa card to pay your MasterCard.
Nothing you own is actually paid for.
Everyone loves your driver's license picture.
The health inspector condemns your office coffee maker.
You invite the peeping Tom in ... and he says no.
The Gypsy fortune teller offers to refund your money.
People think that you're 40 and you're only 35.
You call your mom and tell her that you'd like to eat out tonight and when you get home, there's a sandwich on the front porch.
You start to put on the clothes that you wore home from the party last night...... and there aren't any.
And the all time favorite …
You arrive at your office and find a 60 Minutes crew waiting for you !
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RELATED NEWS
Sept 9, 1998. "What Part of 'Thou Shalt Not'. . . didn't you understand?" Florida billboards read. Others along Interstate 95 call on people to stop using God's name in vain and warn of the existence of hell. Messages on nine billboards and more than 300 signs on local buses are signed, "God," Reuters said. The campaign will run for three months at an estimated cost of $200,000 and has been paid for anonymously, Andy Smith of a Fort Lauderdale advertising company said. "There is no call to action. There is no name on the billboard except God and these people are just doing this because of the problems we have in this world," he said. "They just want people to think about how there are alternatives to many things that people do.
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VISITOR RESPONSE
Nov. 2, 1998.
Here are my comments.
Aidan Quinn is a fine actor!
COURTNEY COX WAS SUPERB
June 27, 1999.
I thought this film was fantastic...I loved Courteney Cox in it its nice to see her playing other roles than Monica in friends....my favorite scene was when Courteney was balancing the spoon on her nose...what is it that Seth says to Rachel just before he says what about temptation and then they kiss ? anyway I loved the movie |
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