Movies/Scenes
Representing Suffering Servant Types
- The Green Mile
(1999)
- John Coffey as suffering servant - see review at Hollywood Jesus.
- The Matrix
(1999)
- Neo is beaten up and killed. He comes back to life to save the world. (Luke Gibbs)
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Pleasantville (1998)
- "Trial" scene. The boy is a Christ/Jesus figure who has no attorney (no fair trial). He's being tried because he's been stirring up the people and changing the status quo--which those who don't want change find threatening. The difference is that in this scene the boy finally does present his own defense and in the process "saves" everyone (the town and everyone in it is now in living color). (Alix Pridgen)
- The Fifth Element (1997)
- Leeloo takes on the sins of the world.
- Sling Blade
(1996)
- Karl and Vaughn are both scorned by Doyle for their kindnesses to Frank and Linda because they are "unclean" characters.
- Phenomenon
(1996)
- A great "Messiah" movie. Think of Jesus before Pilate when George Malley is being interviewed about his "gifts." Think about Mary anointing Jesus' feet when Lacy washes George's hair and shaves his face. Think about communion when George's friends gather at the end of the movie for a commemorative meal. Etc., etc., etc. (Jim Somerville, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Washington, D. C.)
- Powder (1995)
- Powder as despised, afflicted healer.
- The Stand (1994)
- Nick Andros is attacked as he attempts to be compassionate to the other prisoners (DVD, part 1)
- Rudy (1993)
- Rudy is the suffering servant for the Notre Dame football team. His effort and heart earn him a place as a walk-on on the prep team. This means he is essentially a tackling dummy for the A-Team. Rudy will not allow the A-Team defense to ignore him. When his fellow players urge Rudy to tone it down and not be so aggressive (because he makes them look bad or he's going to get hurt) Rudy explains to them that if he doesn't insist on taking the hard knocks, then he's not doing his job to help them be their best. At the end of the movie, a caption states that Rudy was the first member of his family to go to college. His five younger brothers followed in his footsteps and went to college. Rudy's hard work opened the way - he was their pioneer. Heb 2:11-14. (Chris Benjamin)
- The Giant of
Thunder Mountain (1991)
- Eli Weaver, "the giant," lives like a hermit on thunder mountain, due to the hostility, gossip, and rejection of the local townspeople, who, without evidence, accuse him of murdering his parents. A young girl, Amy Wilson, seeks to turn the tables by befriending the giant?learning that Eli was innocent of the tragic deaths of his parents. Eventually, she succeeds in winning his heart, and Eli agrees to visit the townspeople again, only to be rejected and cast out a second time. However, Amy and her brothers persist in keeping their friendship alive with the giant. Through a series of suspense-filled events, which are totally misunderstood by the townspeople, a lynch mob erroneously hunts down Eli. However, the truth is revealed in the nick of time, and Eli is instrumental in capturing the real criminals, associated with a travelling carnival. The townspeople, finally accepting the truth, regard Eli as a hero. Eli, in several respects, comes across as a Christ-figure in the movie: suffering many hardships from the rejection, scorn and derision of the townspeople, reminding me a little of William Butler Yeats? "rough beast" exterior, contrasted with the biblical tender, gentle Jesus who loves and welcomes children. Themes: How destructive hasty judgments and gossip can be to an individual?s reputation (Matthew 7:1ff., James 3:5ff.), think before you speak and act, external appearances are often very deceptive and have tragic consequences, God?s and Christ?s love for the outcasts of society (Matthew 11:19, Luke 15, etc.), risking one?s life and loving others (John 15:12ff.). Highly recommended for family viewing. (Reviewed by the Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson)
