11-Year Old Isaac Andrews Stars Alongside Christian Bale IN Ridley Scott's “Exodus: Gods and Kings”
As more filmmakers, producers and actors collaborate
to revitalize stories from the bestselling book of all time all over the world
translated into all languages - critics and movie audience find themselves in a
great divide on each and every (filmed) interpretation of a story lifted from
the Bible.
Despite
questions circling Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” Rotten Tomatoes’ Audience Score of the film
reveals a high 97% rating in terms of anticipation from those very eager to watch the film. Likewise, early reviews reflect some of the
critics’ positive take such that from Variety’s Justin Chang who says that “What’s
remarkable about Scott’s genuinely imposing Old Testament psychodrama is the
degree to which he succeeds in conjuring a mighty and momentous spectacle — one
that, for sheer astonishment, rivals any of the lavish visions of ancient times
the director has given us — while turning his own skepticism into a potent
source of moral and dramatic conflict.”
Additionally,
Jamie Graham whose review of the film at www.gamesradar.com
positively stated that, “Scott operates on a suitably Biblical scale and
grounds the spectacle with rock-solid turns from Bale and Edgerton.”
Ridley
Scott casts a winning ensemble in “Exodus: Gods and Kings”, Oscar winners and
multi-awarded actors including Christian Bale, Ben Kingsley, Joel Edgerton,
John Turturro, Sigourney Weaver and Aaron Paul.
But audience will probably be surprised that a child who portrays God
will also be one of the most notable role in the film – played by 11-year old
British actor Isaac Andrews, whom Bale’s Moses begins to see once his true
mission is revealed.
Scott’s interpretation and casting
of Andrews as God in the movie, he relates in recently concluded interviews, is
based on how he imagines God speaking like a shepherd boy instead of a voice
hovering around a fire that might deem too terrible for the eye of man, as Cecil B.
DeMille chose to do in his “Ten Commandments.”
In an article by Michael Cieply and
Brooks Barnes of The New York Times, Andrews portrayal in “Exodus: Gods and
Kings” is described as a stern-eyed, impatient, at times vaguely angelic and at
times “Children of the Corn” terrifying — who has already begun to challenge
those who take their Bible seriously.
“I want to avoid the clichés,” said
Mr. Scott, who added that a voice from the clouds was never an option.
Mr. Scott compared the search for Mr. Andrews to
casting a young Dalai Lama. Of his eerie ability to mix innocence with command,
Mr. Scott said: “One gets the sense that he comes from a very clean place. He
only speaks logic and truth.”
Further, Fox noted that at least one
early viewer among the faithful, the Rev. Floyd Flake of New York’s Greater
Allen A.M.E. Cathedral, had a positive reaction to “Exodus” after a private
screening. “I believe it will get a
good response,” Mr. Flake said by telephone. Many Christians, he added, will
probably find the notion of a child God consistent with accounts of Christ’s
birth in the New Testament.
“Exodus: Gods and Kings” opens December 5 in
cinemas nationwide (Philippines) from 20th Century Fox to be
distributed by Warner Bros. Available in
3D and IMAX 3D screens.
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