Billion-Dollar 'Passion' Enrages the Left

The International Herald Tribune says Mel Gibson's blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ" is projected to rake in a billion dollars, and it is furious.

French film producer Marie-Christine de Montbrial rages today in the paper that the movie is "lousy," "sadomasochistic," "far beyond credibility," "ear-splitting," "a sin against quality entertainment" and an attempt by Mel Gibson "to foist his religious views on the audience," etc., etc.

And you thought only Frank Rich and Tom Shales had that sort of venom.

The Only Kind of Savior
Hollywood Cares About

Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, says "Mel Gibson was the savior of the winter box office in North America."

It suggests a subtitle for his "surprise" hit: "How Mel Saved the Winter Boxoffice Season and Maybe the Year."

Ticket sales during winter season were a record $1.78 billion, up 15 percent over last year.

"But take 'Passion' out of the equation, and the winter tally would have been off about 5% from last year and down a dismal 15% from the 2002 record. Overall, it would have been the lowest winter gross in the past four years."

Editor's note: