The Nativity Story (2006) New Line/Drama RT: 101 minutes Rated PG (some violent content) Director: Catherine Hardwicke Screenplay: Mike Rich Music: Mychael Danna Cinematography: Elliot Davis Release date: December 1, 2006 (US) Cast: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Hiam Abbass, Shaun Toub, Ciaran Hinds, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Stanley Townsend, Alexander Siddig, Nadim Sawalha, Eriq Ebouaney, Stefan Kalipha, Alessandro Giuggioli, Farida Ouchani. Box Office: $37.6M (US)/$46.4M (World)
Rating: ***
In my original review of The Nativity Story, I described the Biblical drama as “a rather boring affair” that “doesn’t give the most important historical event of all time the epic treatment it deserves”. My opinion of it has changed. On viewing it a second time, I realized it was a good choice of the part of director Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) to not go big with it. More than that, it was the right choice. It’s not boring; it’s low-key. I like to believe that’s how Jesus would want His story told.
Reviewing The Nativity Story won’t present much of a problem as it’s literally impossible to drop any spoilers. Presumably everybody knows the story of the birth of Christ and the events surrounding it. It’s in the Bible, a book that’s been in publication for about 1500 years. It’s been taught in every Sunday school class. It’s the real reason we celebrate Christmas.
The movie opens with the Massacre of the Innocents. That’s when King Herod (Hinds, Belfast) ordered the slaughter of all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem. He’s scared that the prophesied Messiah, a leader of men, will usurp him.
Most of The Nativity Story centers on Mary (Hughes, Whale Rider), the virginal 14YO from Nazareth chosen by God to conceive His only begotten son through Immaculate Conception. Her parents have arranged for her to be married to 32YO carpenter Joseph (Isaac, Dune). The law of her people dictates she must continue to live with her parents and remain pure for one year after which she’s allowed to take up residence with her husband. The news of her impending motherhood is delivered by the archangel Gabriel (Siddig, Syriana) who also tells her to name the child Jesus. Naturally, nobody believes her story, not even her husband. That changes when Gabriel appears to him a dream and gets him up to speed on what’s happening.
The Nativity Story covers all the salient points like the Magi (aka the Three Wise Men) journeying to Bethlehem to see the newborn King and Mary’s cousin Elizabeth (Aghdashloo, House of Sand and Fog) miraculously giving birth to a child who would grow up to be John the Baptist. Of course, we also get Joseph and Mary’s trek to Bethlehem after a mandatory census is decreed. It’s really a ploy by Herod to weed out the Messiah. Then, of course, we get to the main part of the story.
When I think of Biblical films, I consider The Ten Commandments to be the pinnacle of the genre. For a movie that was made nearly 70 years ago, it has some really awesome special effects. The parting of the Red Sea still blows me away. The Nativity Story is as humble as its subject. Hardwicke doesn’t attempt to dazzle audiences with expensive effects and grand-scale action set-pieces. The closest we get is a scene where Joseph saves Mary from drowning as they cross a river. Oh yeah, there’s also the depiction of the Massacre. That’s about it. In lieu of action, we get something resembling a thriller with the villainous Herod plotting to kill the Messiah. While Hinds does camp it up a bit in the role, Hardwicke always manages to keep The Nativity Story grounded in reality or something resembling it.
The whole understatement motif extends to the love story as well. I guess I wanted a little more emotion where Mary and Joseph are concerned. We see their love develop, but it never reaches the emotional heights one would like it to. There are some tender moments like when Mary tends to Joseph’s blistered feet while he rests. Both actors go a job in their respective roles. Hughes is a Mary for our times, good and respectful with a streak of independence. Isaac convincingly conveys the idea of loving and dutiful husband, a man who stands by his woman. Everybody else is good too, especially Stanley Townsend (The Song of Names) as Zechariah, the husband of Elizabeth struck mute after learning of his wife’s pregnancy.
The Nativity Story looks great with its sets and costumes. It looks authentically Biblical. At the same time, it doesn’t deliberately attempt to convert non-believers. It’s not that kind of religious picture. It simply retells a story that’s been told millions of times over the years. It’s a nice rendering of it. Some of it is quite beautiful. It’s a good movie. Unfortunately, I doubt it will appeal to the secular crowd. I really hope I’m wrong because it’s a story for the whole world.
