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List Price: $14.95 | | Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 8423
Released: February 29, 2000 |
| Our Price: $7.38 |
| Used Price: $1.09 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A lost soul has just received the wounds of Christ and a shocking message that will alter history. Stunning performances from Patricia Arquette (True Romance), Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects) and Jonathan Pryce (Ronin) and a cutting edge score by Billy Corgan of The SmashingPumpkins and Elia Cmiral make Stigmata a visual and visceral feast (Entertainment Today). Frankie Paige (Arquette) has absolutely no faith in God. All of that changes when she suddenly begins to suffer the Stigmatathe living wounds of the crucified Christ. Frankie's miraculous bleeding comes to the attention of the Vatican's top investigator, Father Kiernan (Byrne). But when Cardinal Houseman (Pryce), discovers that Frankie is actually channeling an extraordinary and provocative message that could destroy the Church, he's convinced that she - and the force possessing hermust be forever silenced. Determined to stop this deadly conspiracy, Kiernan risks his faithandhis lifeto save her and the message that will change the destiny of mankind forever!
Description of Stigmata:
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 Reviews:
Excellent 
2008-07-12 - Excellent, fast and economic, I would like to buy this movie for a long time, and I found here and a good price....
Underrated Flick 
2008-05-23 - Somewhat panned by "professional" reviewers-- I just as soon as take the advice of those doing reviews here. Interesting story and well acted. The overflowed bathtub scences proved to be annoying and unrealistic-
note the tub location and the fact it is always overflowed. Poor reality here is one of the few flaws in this movie
Excellent Movie, it's a thinker!
2008-02-23 - This is a great movie about possession and religious theory. It makes you think and the casting is great. Unless you are a bible-thumper or someone with a stick in your you know what, you'll enjoy this movie. It's one of my favorites!
"STIGMATA"
2008-02-12 - A young woman Frankie Paige (Arquette) suddenly starts showing in her skin and experiences the extreme pain and bleeding of the marks and skin lacerations of Christ at the time when he was being tortured and crucified. It isn't long before she catches the attention of Father Kiernan( Gabriel Byrne) the low key Vatican chief investigator of such cases. However Cardinal Houseman ( Jonathan Pryce) who initially sends Kiernan to investigate,comes to the conclusion that public exposure of Frankie's agony could cause great harm or even destroy the Church and engages in a plot to silence Frankie Paige (Arquette) forever. Kiernan becomes aware of Houseman's sinister plan and must race against time to stop him from achieving his misguided and destructive goal and to save the girl's life.
This film shows and deals the phenomena allegedly experienced by some in different parts of the world, its name "Stigmata". To me it carries a powerful message that no one is immune to this phenomena, including those with little or no religious faith. To me its an eye opener.
Superbly well acted. In my opinion, so far, Gabriel Byrne's most memorable role.
Opened new windows in my mind
2007-10-29 - I don't usually watch the kind of movie I thougth this was -- avoid them, religiously. (pun intended) But when I saw the cast, and found a copy of the video for cheap, I had to investigate.
Both Burne and Arquette were wonderful in this, and the visual images were arresting and beautiful. (The flashes of images of crucifixion made religious stories so much more real to me than dunking one's head in a bucket o' blood, like Some Other Movies have done.) But I found the point of the movie to be thrilling, and it instigated in me a lot of new thought and hope.
I was so glad to see how many other people have questioned religion without giving up faith -- or the quest for truth. I had heard of the Nag Hammadi Gospels, but didn't really know what they were. This was a lovely way to introduce me to them, and it inspired me to check them out.
The teachings of the man who threw the moneychangers out of the temple, who came to tell people that there's more to religion than sacrificing a pigeon, have been turned into another monstrous institution that crushes people under the wheels of its machinery. This film dares to question what this Religion has become, and to invite people to hear the words of a simple rabbi in Galilee, who -- far from owning the world's most expensive real estate -- owned nothing more than the clothes on his back.
Great entertainment, intriguing and thought-provoking, and a reward for those who don't follow The Gospel of Movie Critics.
