Expectation can be a killer. John Turturro's decision to adapt the plotless French novel "Les Valseuses" is a questionable one, but one that might have found an audience, particularly given the casting favours it's director calls in. However, the decision to bring back his character Jesus, from beloved classic "The Big Lebowski" creates an expectation that the film, even if it was better, couldn't possible live up to.
Recently released from prison, Jesus (John Turturro) is met by Petey (Bobby Cannavale) and the pair head out onto the road. They meet Marie, (Audrey Tautou) a free spirted French hairdresser and the trio start out, committing petty crimes and having sex together. Later they meet Jean (Susan Sarandon) a woman recently released from Prison and later still her son Jack (Pete Davidson).
So... whilst there are performances in "The Jesus Rolls" that are decent, as you would expect from the quality of the cast, the lack of plot, or of a theme, or of an analogy just doesn't suit today's cinematic tastes, like it might have done in the 70's when the book was first adapted in it's native France, with Gerard Depardieu as the lead. It's a collection of scenes, some of which are loosely connected, but others that appear for absolutely no reason. It's dull, it's not funny and its implausibly long, especially given that it's barely 85 minutes. Nobody learns anything and the film has nothing to say.
The decision to crowbar Jesus into the adaptation, is just one further level of egregious mistake, as it makes the film operate as a spin off from a true classic and adds another level of disappointment on an already poor concoction.
Recently released from prison, Jesus (John Turturro) is met by Petey (Bobby Cannavale) and the pair head out onto the road. They meet Marie, (Audrey Tautou) a free spirted French hairdresser and the trio start out, committing petty crimes and having sex together. Later they meet Jean (Susan Sarandon) a woman recently released from Prison and later still her son Jack (Pete Davidson).
So... whilst there are performances in "The Jesus Rolls" that are decent, as you would expect from the quality of the cast, the lack of plot, or of a theme, or of an analogy just doesn't suit today's cinematic tastes, like it might have done in the 70's when the book was first adapted in it's native France, with Gerard Depardieu as the lead. It's a collection of scenes, some of which are loosely connected, but others that appear for absolutely no reason. It's dull, it's not funny and its implausibly long, especially given that it's barely 85 minutes. Nobody learns anything and the film has nothing to say.
The decision to crowbar Jesus into the adaptation, is just one further level of egregious mistake, as it makes the film operate as a spin off from a true classic and adds another level of disappointment on an already poor concoction.