Gabriel Byrne Movie:

Editorial Review:
Gabriel Byrne plays Father Kiernan, a young Jesuit priest whose degree in chemistry makes him a sort of priest/detective as he investigates weeping Marys and the like around the world. Meanwhile, Frankie (Patricia Arquette), a rave-generation Pittsburgher, is afflicted with the stigmata--holes that appear in her wrists, resembling the wounds of Christ. The young woman's symptoms filter back to the Vatican and Father Kiernan is assigned to the case. The priest is puzzled by Frankie's atheism; usually the stigmata only appear on the devout (hence the age-old controversy of miracles vs. hysteria). Other manifestations appear on Frankie, and the priest's cardinal (Jonathan Pryce) is brought in, leading to political maneuvering within the Church hierarchy. The film owes a large and obvious debt to The Exorcist (at one point, Frankie's bed scoots across the room and she levitates into a crucifix position), but to term it an Exorcist rip-off would be to shortchange Stigmata. The premise and screenplay are more cerebral than in the l973 film, and the source of the phenomenon is coming from a completely different place.

Unfortunately, amid Stigmata's high-octane editing and slick technique, the chills of The Exorcist aren't there, giving the movie a sort of identity crisis: horror movie or intellectual thriller? Several elements of the film challenge basic tenets of the Catholic faith, hence the brief furor that erupted at the time of the film's release; if nothing else, the internal workings of the Church are shown in a very unflattering light indeed. Byrne excels as the skeptical priest, as does Arquette as the tortured young woman. All told, Stigmata is a rather uneven effort, but one with a thought-provoking combination of theology and thrills served up in a thoroughly modern, stylish package. Fans of TV's Ally McBeal will recognize Portia DeRossi in a supporting role. --Jerry Renshaw

Stigmata [Region 2] Reviews:
Well Done
2009-07-12 - Well done movie. Obviously one that the Catholic church would not approve of. High quality acting, suspenseful, well-done but not overly done special effects.

Stigmata Non Grata...
2009-07-04 - When STIGMATA first came out, I avoided it. I figured that it would be another hokey, religious / supernatural mega-dud like END OF DAYS. Years later, I finally watched it, and was pleasantly surprised. Patricia Arquette is both tough and vulnerable as Frankie Paige. She is bewildered by what's happening to her, without losing her modern cynicism. Gabriel Byrne (Gothic, Spider) makes a believable, world-weary Father Kiernan, who goes from skeptic to believer in due course. Jonathan Pryce is subtly eeevil as the pompous Cardinal Houseman. If you like religious horror / thrillers that aren't (overly) dependent on cgi or insulting to your intelligence, then STIGMATA should be a hit... P.S.- I prefer the director's darker, more powerful alternate ending over the "happily ever after" hollywood bilge...

excellent
2009-07-02 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/6305718954/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title
I recieved my Stigmata Dvd very promptly and it was in the condition it was expected to be in.

A Good Buy
2009-05-20 - Stigmata was always one of those movies that I loved and never got around to buy and was very happy, because Amazon was the place to get Stigmata a good price and very good condition. Thank you once again as always

SPLIT A PIECE OF WOOD, AND I AM THERE... LIFT UP A STONE, AND YOU WILL FIND ME...
2009-05-03 - I saw this film years ago when it was first released and enjoyed it. I saw it again recently and enjoyed it even more the second time around. I had forgotten that the film was based upon the Gospel according to St. Thomas, a gospel that is not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church and is not included in the New Testament. The Gospel according to Thomas is not about the life of Jesus. Rather, it is about the things that Jesus said. There are one hundred and fourteen such sayings that have been translated. One of those sayings is at the heart of this film. "Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up a stone and you will find me."

The film is about an investigative Jesuit priest, a young atheist who suffers from the stigmata, and a conspiracy within the Roman Catholic Church to suppress a certain gospel, as if fears its destruction should that gospel become public. The investigative priest, Father Andrew Kiernan, is played with appropriate gravity by Gabriel Byrne, a serious man with a faith issue, as he is not just a man of the cloth, he is also a scientist with a degree in chemistry. He travels around the world investigating alleged miracles. The young atheist suffering from Stigmata is Frankie, a twenty-three year old hairdresser played with great sincerity by a young and nubile Patricia Arquette. Cardinal Houseman, the politically savvy church official seeking to suppress the perfidy of the Church, is played with zealous determination by Jonathan Pryce.

I loved everything about this film. While there are elements of horror intertwined with its underlying intellectual theme, these two odd bedfellows merely make the film more interesting. I certainly did not find the juxtaposition of these two elements incompatible. The special effects do not overwhelm the film, but, instead, serve to enhance the experience of the viewer in understanding the film's themes and message. The film also boasts a wonderful soundtrack that meshes perfectly with the film and adds to its drama. Moreover, the film boasts stellar performances by its entire cast.

This is a very entertaining film that is well worth having in one's personal film collection. I loved this film!