The Second Coming

Author(s): Pat
Location: NY

"The Second Coming"

Directed By Ridley Scott
Written By Eric Roth
Music By James Horner

Main Cast

Matt Damon (Sean Pendleton)
Maribel Verdu (Sister Isabella)
Adrien Brody (John Smith)
Patricia Clarkson (Marianne Parker)
Colm Meaney (Father Gregory Byrne)
Anthony Hopkins (Pope Leo XIV)

Tagline: "Prepare for the beginning of the end"

Synopsis: Ridley Scott teams up with Oscar-winning writer Eric Roth for this new glimpse-into-the-future drama about the possible second coming of Christ. Sean Pendleton (Matt Damon), a skeptical theologist at Notre Dame, learns that a respected Irish Minster named Gregory Byrne (Colm Meaney) tells the press that he has had a vision that the resurrection of Jesus Christ will occur within the year and Pendleton decides the disprove Byrne’s proclamation. He and a nun, Sister Isabella (Maribel Verdu), travel to Ireland to debunk the priest’s claims but begin to believe that he is telling the truth when a grade-school teacher (Patricia Clarkson) in Georgia reveals that she has found a man (Adrien Brody) who she believes is the resurrected Son of God because he can heal those with mortal wounds. John Smith is brought before several world councils until the Pope (Anthony Hopkins) declares that he is Jesus and announces that “Armageddon is upon us”. This simple phrase ignites a worldwide panic situation that begins to open pockets of terror and violence across the globe. Sean Pendleton and Sister Isabella race against time to prove that the world is not coming to an end but cannot help but believe that it is. And then, Sean is faced with the ultimate task when Father Byrne informs him that the only way to stop the madness is for John Smith to be assassinated. Will Sean kill the resurrected Son of God or will the Second Coming bring an end to the human race?

What the Press would say:

The acclaimed director of “Blade Runner” and “Gladiator”, Ridley Scott, takes on a new political drama called “The Second Coming”, a story about one scientist’s quest for truth when the world believes it is coming to an end. Matt Damon stars as Sean Pendleton, the scientist, in a role that is sure to win him some major awards. Damon gives an amazing performance as the only man in the world with hope who is forced to give up his life to stop the Armageddon from coming. In the film’s final act, when Sean decides that he must kill the Son of God, Damon’s tortured soul really comes out and shines in the tragic final scene. Adrien Brody gives a subdued yet powerful performance as John Smith, the man who claims to be Jesus Christ. It is somewhat like his role in “The Village” without the mental problems and, in this film, he can heal with the touch of a finger. Patricia Clarkson provides a great deal of the comic relief as an eccentric Southern church goer who claims that John Smith appeared in her car as she drove down a highway. And Maribel Verdu consistently plays the calm, controlled nun who is forced to choose between the Pope’s orders and those of her personal beliefs when the Pope announces that anyone trying to disprove John Smith will be excommunicated. But it is Irish veteran Colm Meaney who steals the film as the man who starts it all with a vision but realizes that he made a mistake. Over the course of the film he goes from powerful prophet to regretful human in one of the most tragic roles in cinematic history. “The Second Coming” is a tense, dramatic thriller that mixes social commentary with the historical fear related with the Bible’s words and it is a film that should not be missed.

Awards

Best Picture
Best Director-Ridley Scott
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor-Matt Damon
Best Supporting Actor-Adrien Brody
Best Supporting Actor-Colm Meaney
Best Supporting Actress-Patricia Clarkson
Best Supporting Actress-Maribel Verdu
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Art Direction
Best Original Score