4. The Passion Of The Christ (2004)
Director Mel Gibson took one of the biggest risks in cinematic history with The Passion Of The Christ, both on a personal and theological level. Footing the $45 million production bill out of his own pocket because nobody wanted to make this film, Gibson utilized New Testament sources in re-creating the final day of Jesus Christ to tell the story of his Passion and crucifixion. The film from the outset was shrouded in controversy before a frame was even shot, with some criticizing the devout Catholic Gibson as the wrong person to tell the story. When released there was an outcry in the way the story was told, that Gibson had taken an anti-Semitic approach to telling the story of Christ's crucifixion in the film, with the blame put upon the Jews (in particular high priest Caiphas) for allowing Christ to be put upon the cross. Debate whether this was a historical inaccuracy or an intentional oversight still fumes on. Gibson stands by his film and his story, claiming that there are no overtones of anti-Semitism in his framework. This has historically been questioned when Gibson was arrested in 2006 for drunk driving and was documented on record for making several disparaging remarks against Jews. Regardless of the implications of a religious and racial agenda the film does strive to tell the story of Christ's death as accurately as possible without taking too many cinematic liberties.