The passions of Mel Gibson

Veteran Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas has offered an advice to embroiled actor Mel Gibson: seek spiritual advice from his own church before speaking with rabbis and Jewish groups. Mel is a Catholic. Mel Gibson has twice apologized to the Jews. But some sectors in Hollywood are not biting including Douglas who said that Mel’s first apology was "contrite" but "not remorseful" and the second, an "after thought." Kirk Douglas is best known for his movie Spartacus directed by Stanley Kubrick. Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch Demsky in Amsterdam, New York to poor Belarusian Jewish parents, and is the latest celebrity to take offense on the Gibson controversy.

Mel’s dilemma started when on July 28, 2006, he was arrested in the famous Malibu highway in California for speeding and on suspicion of drunk driving. Reports say that Mel was abusive and ranted to the arresting officers, "Are you a Jew? Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." Mel issued apologies denying he is an anti-Semitic and apologized to the Jewish community.

Kirk is just one of the many who has shown disgust over Mel’s racist remarks. They include Sony Pictures chairwoman Amy Pascal, comic Rob Schneider, and talent agent, Ari Emanuel. Rob Schneider, who is of American, Jewish and Filipino descent, promised he will never work with Mel. Although Hollywood, the biggest movie making industry in the world is heavily populated with Jews, there are those who have taken a more compassionate stand on Mel’s plight. These include his Maverick co-star Jodie Foster, Patrick Swayze, and most recently, Signs director M. Night Shyamalan, who spoke highly of Gibson saying, "Mel is very kind to everyone around him, he has never treated anyone badly. Who he is will always come out and he’s an inspiring, sweet guy, so eventually he’ll overcome all this." Patrick Swayze, on the other hand, said that Hollywood cannot ignore Mel’s talent."

Some critics say, Gibson’s problem runs deeper. And reportedly, Mel’s father who is a Catholic, is a Holocaust denier. The actor has had bouts with alcoholism and has been arrested for drunk driving. Critics are also of the opinion that Mel’s actuations are deeply rooted. Mel’s alcoholism dates back to his teenage years. In 1984, he was arrested for drunk driving after he rear-ended a car in Toronto. He was banned from driving in Canada for three months and was fined $400. And when the driver of the car which he bumped started shouting at him, Mel just laughed off and offered him a drink. Mel’s problems with alcohol have also led him to contemplate on suicide. Mel has been in alcohol treatment at the prodding of his wife Robyn who reportedly threatened to leave if he did not lick the habit. Mel, often contemplated on The Passion of Christ while he was trying to beat alcohol and it was here where the idea for the film was born.

Mel was born in Peekskill, New York, the sixth of 10 children of Hutton Gibson and Anne Reilly Gibson. He also has an adoptive brother which makes the total number of children in the family to 11. A younger brother, Donal, is also an actor. Mel’s first name comes from a fifth-century Irish saint, Mel.

Mel has done several pictures like Lethal Weapon, Franco Zeffirelli’s Hamlet where he was cast alongside such experienced Shakespearean actors as Ian Holm, Alan Bates, and Paul Scofield. And while shooting the movie in some Scottish highlands, Mel was advised that he can do better with the long lines if he were able to control his breathing. And since he was chain smoking, he had to switch to nicotine gums to control his smoking while doing the movie. Braveheart captured everybody’s and Hollywood’s heart when he played the role of Sir William Wallace, a 13th century Scottish knight. Braveheart won for Mel two Academy Awards – the Best Director and Best Picture. Mel who is a fan of epic movies similar to Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus said that he was attempting to make a film in the scope of Spartacus. In Braveheart, where shooting took place in Ireland, Mel used members of the Irish Army Reserve as extras for the battle scenes.

The Passion of the Christ is Mel Gibson’s most controversial film ever. He co-wrote, produced and directed the movie which was based on the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus. It was done in Aramic, Hebrew and Latin. The movie had mixed reviews ranging from praising the film, to criticisms of violence, manipulation and anti-Semitism. Mel said that Passion of the Christ was not meant to "upset the Jews" rather, "to tell the truth." Mel was accused of being anti-Semitic and the accusations went further with revelations that his father believes that much of the Holocaust was "fiction." Passion of the Christ grossed $611,899,420 worldwide and $370,782,930 in the US alone. It became the eighth highest-grossing film in history and the highest-grossing rated R film of all time.

Mel Gibson became a star in Mad Max. He almost did not get the movie because of a brawl that occurred the night before he was set to audition. Nevertheless, Mel got the role because the casting director wanted "freaks." Mel’s latest movie scheduled for release in December is Apocalypto, which is about the decline of the Maya civilization.

After Apocalypto, what could be Mel’s next movie? Could it be the Passions of Mel Gibson?

Shock Value

Playwright Floy Quintos has another obra maestra in his hands with the play Shock Value, a satirical look at the world of television. Shock Value is the story of Matt Desaparesidos, host and producer of the hit program Shock Value at W.O.P. TV. Wes Gatchalian, a reporter from the rival network, KOTV captures on tape one sexual indiscretion of Matt with a young sex worker. Is it over for Matt? Shock Value includes in the cast, Andoy Ranay, Jay Cruz, Missy Cunanan, Pola Muñoz, Stella Cañete, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Dexter Santos, Jomari Jose, with Mario Magallona, Mon Confiado and Dulaang UP ensemble..

The play goes on stage at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, UP Diliman from Aug. 30 to 31, 7 p.m.; Sept. 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 7 p.m. and Sept. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. For inquiries, call Dulaang UP at 926-1349.