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One Night With the King By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- Based on Tommy Tenney's novel "Hadassah," "One Night With the King" (Gener8Xion Entertainment) tepidly recounts the Old Testament story of Esther (Tiffany DuPont), a devout Jewish maiden who becomes a queen when she is chosen as the bride of the powerful Persian King Xerxes (Luke Goss). Though hiding her Hebrew identity out of fear for her life, she uses her elevated station to save her people from extermination by dissuading her husband from ordering the slaughter urged by a vengeful court adviser, Haman, the Amelekite (James Callis). Haman is driven by a genocidal hatred of the Jewish people stemming from an ancient enmity. The deliverance won by Esther's trusting in God is celebrated to this day in the Jewish festival of Purim. The biblical drama has impressive production value and cameos by Oscar-pedigreed actors such as Omar Sharif and Peter O'Toole, but it's handicapped by an inferior screenplay by Stephan Blinn -- which makes some changes to the story -- and awkward, if earnest, direction by Michael Sajbel. Still, the power of the tale's enduring theme of faithful witness in the face of persecution isn't completely diminished by the filmmaker's uninspired telling. The film contains some discreet violence and sensuality and mature thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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