Mel Gibson just can’t keep away from controversy. Known better now for his offensive rants than for his Oscar-winning work directing “Braveheart,” Gibson tried for something of a comeback this year with his star turn in friend Jodie Foster’s film “The Beaver.” The movie, in which he played a man dealing with his demons, not unlike himself, got good reviews, but didn’t excite audiences.
Now it seems it wasn’t enough to make the contentious film about Jesus’ last days, “The Passion of the Christ.” He’s signed to make a film about another man from Jewish history — this time one whose heroic deeds are honored every year. And he’s doing it with another figure many in Hollywood love to hate.
Gibson will produce — and possibly direct — a film written by Joe Eszterhas about Judah Maccabee, the second-century B.C. priest-warrior who led the revolt against the Seleucid Empire, which had outlawed Jewish religious practice. The feast of Hanukkah celebrates the restoration of worship at the Jerusalem temple, thanks to Judah’s victory against the Greek-Syrian armies.
Eszterhas is famous — perhaps infamous — for over-the-top eroticism in films such as “Basic Instinct,” “Showgirls” and “Jade.” But after battling cancer, he rediscovered Christianity and it now seems as if he wants to tell more uplifting stories.
The Anti-Defamation League certainly isn’t happy with the news, despite the fact that Gibson’s name could pull in a bigger audience. ADL Director Abraham H. Foxman said in a statement, “As a hero of the Jewish people and a universal hero in the struggle for religious liberty, Judah Maccabee deserves better. It would be a travesty to have the story of the Maccabees told by one who has no respect and sensitivity for other people’s religious views.” He added, “Not only has Mel Gibson shown outward antagonism toward Jews and Judaism in his public statements and actions, but his previous attempt to bring biblical history to life on the screen was marred by anti-Semitism,” and concluded, “While we do not argue with Mel Gibson’s right to make this film, we still strongly believe that Warner Bros. should reconsider Gibson’s involvement in this project.”
Meanwhile, one of the most universally respected screenwriters will have his next project begin filming this month. Tom Stoppard, the playwright whose screenplays include the Oscar-winning best picture “Shakespeare in Love,” has written a new adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina.” Film and television have seen no shortage of takes on the classic romantic epic, but Joe Wright has never shied away from such a challenge: The director’s version of “Pride and Prejudice” starred Keira Knightley, who will take on the title role in the Russian story.
Jude Law will play her husband, while the young Aaron Johnson (from “Kick-Ass”) will portray Anna’s lover, Count Vronsky. The cast will be mostly English and Scottish, with Kelly Macdonald, Emily Watson, Matthew Macfadyen, and Olivia Williams co-starring. The movie will be filmed in the United Kingdom as well — but filmmakers will also make it to a chilly Russia to film some scenes.
Kelly Jane Torrance is The Washington Examiner movie critic. Her reviews run weekly and she can be reached at [email protected].
