The Last Supper Review – There wasn’t much meat on the bones at Jesus’ famous last meal | film

AAnother contribution from the rapidly growing industry of faith-based filmmaking, this dramatization of Jesus’ last meal and the events that preceded it is as essential as it gets. However, it’s perfectly serviceable for what it was undoubtedly intended for: something religious families can put on TV for teenagers while the adults prepare the holiday banquet. As the dried theology goes, it contains all the essential theological elements of the New Testament—including the miracle of the loaves and fishes, Jesus’ dispute with the Jerusalem rabbinate, his invention of the Eucharistic sacrament at the titular supper, and the betrayals of Judas and Peter—and then ping-pong-pong, and the crucifixion and resurrection are briskly executed by the time the bread rolls come out of the oven.

Of course, there is no doubt here that our man Jesus (played by Jimmy Ward) is none other than the Son of God and therefore the Messiah. But viewers who live in more secular families or even with other faiths may find this not only a useful primer on Christianity, but also a respectful reminder of how Jesus was primarily Jewish, and that the Last Supper was a Passover celebration with its own rituals and sacred meanings.

Interestingly, the screenplay, co-written by director Mauro Borelli and John Collins, focuses strongly on the experiences of the Apostle Peter leading up to, during and after the Passion. Played by the steely-blond James Oliver Wheatley, Peter, who also played John the Baptist in the TV series Jesus: Crown of Thorns, brings a bewildering openness to the role, along with an arch swagger that suggests he’s spent more time riding horses than fishing. His handsome qualities help audiences forgive him for his prophesied denial of Jesus three times before the rooster crows, in contrast to the scuff-faced Judas (Robert Knepper) who is clearly in the wrong because he is always questioning things.

In terms of production values, the film is good, although the score is overbearing, but the Moroccan locations provide an attractive backdrop. However, it is disappointing that she did not take a bold leap and present a film consisting solely of the dinner itself in real time, perhaps continuing the cooking aspects of the meal and the chat between the disciples sitting apart from Jesus, quietly arguing in the background or fighting over who would get the delicious lamb chops on the plate. We can only pray that someone makes this movie one day.