Google ‘God.’
On second thought don’t. I got 1.6 billion results.
God is what you make of Him and in “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” opening Friday, they made God an 11-year old boy.
Not just His voice, His being. He wears a brush cut and a toga like sheath, sits on rocks and makes Biblical small talk. And when Moses’ efforts to free the Hebrew people from slavery meet with mixed results, an irritated God gets his smite on.
He is reportedly played by British schoolboy Isaac Andrews.
To this former seminarian’s eye much of the film – starring Christian Bale as Moses – rang true of the Biblical story and to this film critic’s eye much of it was accessible in a mainstream blockbuster way.
But the idea of God as a child – not the one in the stable but looking like the young kid in “Boyhood” – has struck literal faith based observers as scripturally impertinent.
Since God is ultimately uknowable, the portrayal is defensible on several levels.
But leave it to the secularists in Hollywood when it comes to not sticking to the script in their portrayal of a tangible God.
A lot of actors have portrayed the son of God and the image – long hair, flowing robe – is culturally familiar.
But how to portray an infinite deity is in the eye of the filmmaker. Here are a few familiar ones.
“Dogma” (1999) Played by singer Alannis Morissette in cheeky Kevin Smith film. Joan Osborne was apparently unavailable.
Sayeth the Lord: Wordless, except for an ear shattering scream.
“Oh, God” (1977) Played by George Burns, as a schlubby retiree
Sayeth the Lord: “Not what you expected, eh?”
“Bruce Almighty” (2003) Played by Morgan Freeman as an affable chairman of the board.
Sayeth the Lord: “Everything you’ve said, or done or thought about doing is right there in that file cabinet.”
“The Ten Commandments” (1956) Unclear who provided the stentorian voice of God. According to a Turner Classic Movies credits included director Cecil B. DeMille and actors Charlton Heston, Alan Jeffory and Guy Prescott.
Sayeth the Lord: “Taketh thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place where art thou standest is holy ground.”
“Time Bandits” (1981) Ralph Richardson is a Shakespearean Supreme Being in the Terry Gilliam fantasy.
Sayeth the Lord: “Is the pig with you? Right. Well, we’ll sort him out first.”
“A Little Bit of Heaven” (2912) Whoopi Goldberg sits on a white couch in a cloud filled room and tells Kate Hudson she’s dying.
Sayeth the Lord: When asked if she is God: “Not really. This is just the way you wanted to see me.”
“Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975) Animated collage by Terry Gilliam of a bearded, crown-wearing figure in a cloud, voiced by Graham Chapman.
Sayeth the Lord: “Oh, don’t grovel. There’s one thing I can’t stand it’s people groveling.”
“In God We Tru$t” (1980) Grey bearded G.O.D. is played by Richard Pryor in parody directed by Marty Feldman.
Sayeth the Lord: (Singing) “I did it my way.”
“All that Jazz” (1979) As he is played off the stage, dying Roy Scheider dances toward the light that is Jessica Lange.
Sayeth the Lord: Wordless, except for the zip of the body bag.
“Superstar” (1999) Will Ferrell as Supreme Being in the image of Catholic girl Molly Shannon’s dream date.
Sayeth the Lord: “Spirit in the Sky. That song’s about me.”
Posted by