Review of Stigmata (2009) by Ellie D — 31 Mar 2012

A stylish religious thriller actually worth watching?

Sleek, stylish, sexy religious thriller...'Nuff said.

The Story: A woman who doesn't even believe in God, is "blessed" with the stigmata. For those that don't know, Stigmata is the wounds of Christ, nails driven through the wrists and the feet, the crown of of thorns, the lashings of the whip across the back, and the spear through the side. A priest from the Vatican is sent to investigate, to see if this woman really has the stigmata. What he finds could very well destroy the Catholic church. Like I've already said, this is a stylish movie, great lighting, great cinematography, great sets for the most part, and a lot of violence. This one is not for the faint hearted and weak stomached out there. It moves at a fairly quick pace and is a good length clocking in at just over 90 minutes. The music is hit or miss here, with the help of Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins, some is good, some is just out of place.

The Cast: Patricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne...The acting here ranges from mediocre to really really good. Patricia Arquette is the stigmatic. She's the one showing the wounds of Christ, she definately adds sex apeal to the film, but she actually does a pretty good job here. She's as believable as you could possibly want. Gabriel Byrne is the priest sent to investigate her. He's yet the product of a great casting decision. Not only does he look like a bad ass, he plays the part of the priest pretty damned accurately. These two play perfectly together and make this film worth seeing.

One to Five Scale: 4.

Stylish action, great performances, and memorable characters make this one great.

Tyler.