In this episode of The Catholic Talk Show, the guys review and rank the best portrayals of Jesus Christ on film.
Episode 153:
In this episode, we will discuss:
• What are the best movies about Jesus?
• Who played the best Jesus?
• What should Jesus look like in movies?
• Our top 5 Jesus actors
• and much more
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What Are Marian Apparitions?
In this episode of The Catholic Talk Show, the guys explore the many apparitions of The Virgin Mary from Guadalupe, Lourdes, Mount Carmel, Knock, Fatima, and more.
Episode 159:
In this episode, we will discuss:
• In this episode, we will discuss:
• What are Marian Apparitions?
• Why would Mary appear to humans?
• How many times has Mary appeared?
• How does the Vatican approve apparitions?
• What about fake or fraudulent apparitions?
• and much moreShow Notes:
Map of Marian Apparitions
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/151113-virgin-mary-sightings-mapEsto Vir Expeditions
https://estovirexpeditions.com/
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The 7 Worst Popes In The History Of The Catholic Church
In this episode of The Catholic Talk Show, the guys talk about the 7 worst men to ever sit on the Chair of St. Peter as Pope of the Catholic Church, including murderers, deviants, & heretics.
In this episode, you will learn
• The pope who dug up his predecessor and mutilated his corpse
• The pope who had an affair that led to a son (who would also become pope)
• The shocking and evil scandal of Pope Julius III
• The pope who was called “A demon from Hell”
• The corrupt family who hijacked the Vatican
• and much more
Show Links & Resources:
Exodus 90: exodus90.com
Covenant Eyes: covenanteyes.com (use code CatholicTalk to get 30 days free)
Vicars of Christ by Charles A. Coulombe:
https://www.amazon.com/Vicars-Christ-History-Charles-Coulombe/dp/1944339035The Theophalact Family Tree:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophylact_I,_Count_of_Tusculum#Family_tree -
Why Every Catholic Needs To Go To Rome In 2025
Join Fr. John Tetlow, Ryan DellaCrosse, and Ryan Scheel from the Catholic Talk Show on a Jubilee year pilgrimage to some of the most breathtaking holy sites in Italy. You will experience once-in-a-lifetime sights, such as Saint Peter’s Basilica, The Tomb of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Tomb of Bl. Carlo Acutis, relics of Saints Peter & Paul, relics of The True Cross, the holy doors of the 4 Major Basilicas of Rome, and an audience with The Pope!
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Episode 291:
In this episode, we will discuss:
• What is a Jubilee Year?
• Why Does The Church Open Holy Doors?
• The Plenary Indulgences In Jubilee Years
• The Best Holy Sites To Go In Italy In 2025
• and much more
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Hi guys,
GREAT podcast idea as usual. I don’t have a picture of Jesus in my mind from movie actors. I picture him from the description given by St. Faustina. Like Fr. Rich the appearance or persona of Jesus by these actors does it for me too.
Ryan Scheel your segue into Hallow was hilarious!
I vote for Passion of Christ Jesus, Jim Caviezel, then Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. Before these other movies came along The Greatest Story Ever Told was a favorite of mine that stood the test of time for decades but I never felt like Max Von Sydow was anything but an actor playing Jesus because he didn’t look like Jesus to me. I was 13 or 14 when that movie came out. My third choice is definitely Robert Powell. It was like he was talking to God and not acting.
I liked all the honorable mentions that the Ryan’s and Fr. Rich put out there. Christian Bale was my favorite selection from those.
As far as ratings, I give the show itself a 10 – LOL!
Robert Powell by far is the best portrayal of Jesus. How can you say ” he was too divine?” Jesus is God! How would you like Him portrayed? To me, Robert Powell captured the essence of our Lord. His gentleness, His fierceness (temple scene), His agony on the cross, His interaction with the disciples. He showed emotion, compassion, empathy and with one look could see right through you. He was and always will be the best choice to play Jesus! Kudos to Franco Zeffirelli for choosing such talent.
Exactly!!
What about Jeffrey Hunter from Kings of Kings? This contest is not complete without his entry.
I agree!! I was moved by his performance
Robert Powell in Jesus of Nazareth by Franco Zeffirelli is the best Jesus actor.
Robert Powell was notthe best Jesus actor. He had light eyes and light skin. The actor who best betrays Jesus should look like the image on the shroud
Ok Robert Powell is not middle eastern! Can’t you get past that and appreciate his beautiful portrayal??????
My mother loved Robert Powell and so did I. There is none so far that I like more.
Has to be Jim Caviezel
I totally agree!
HOW DARE YOU not include TED NEELY! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbGEuNi2SKs&list=PLsarZZElTGlCMo7uWzup7hDpPBQxPXv-t&index=3
Caviezel gets my vote
No one mentioned Jeffrey Hunter in King of Kings!
Oh Guys, you got some great ones but, for me the 1961 movie King of Kings with Jeffery Hunter, took me to the Jesus in my mind. Especially as a child growing up. Fun show! Keep up the good work.
I have seen all these portrayals of Jesus over the course of my life, but no one has captured my personal vision of Jesus’ personality as much as Jonathan Roumie. He had me captured from the first. Every other portrayal to me seemed too other worldly, too out of reach. Jonathan captures my vision of God on earth connecting with his creation more than anything else. I will say that Jim Caveziel is a very, very close second, but again, I didn’t have the same connection with his portrayal like I did with Jonathan Roumie’s portrayal. Thank you 🙂
IF YOU PUT A PICTURE OF BRADLEY COOPER NEXT TO THE PAINTING that AKIANE KRAMARIK PAINTED
OF JESUS they look a lot alike…BRADLEY COOPER NEEDS TO PLAY JESUS IN A MOVIE!!!
Ariane saw visions of JESUS like the little boy in Heaven is for Real movie.
You’re RIGHT!!! I knew he looked like someone I had seen before! Good observation!
Ok, this is an honorable mention – it’s more of a meta narrative rather than a direct take on Christ’s life itself – Brett Dalton in the Resurrection of Gavin Stone. I basically only watched this movie because I like Brett in Agents of Shield. He plays a washed up, non-Christian actor who pretends to be Christian to be cast in a church’s passion play as Jesus, largely so he can impress a girl. I don’t want to offer any spoilers, but I think this movie actually has one of the best scenes showing Jesus teaching ever – focused around the scene with the adulteress the people want to stone. Honorable mention for his handling of Jesus as a man who doesn’t actually follow Jesus, but is trying to become Him for a role. Very interesting take.
For me, the best Jesus actor has to be Jim Caviezel. I think for all non-native-English speakers, the fact that the movie was shot in Aramaic and Latin, doesn’t alienate the rest of the Christian world. Not to mention that Jim Caviezel literally got struck by lightning during the filming of the movie to portray Our Savior… well, that’s dedication.
Also, another portrayal that I liked (and I think this is the first non-white Jesus I have ever seen on screen) is Cliff Curtis’s portrayal of Jesus in Risen (2016), directed by Kevin Reynolds. I think his portrayal, despite being spoken in the English language, shows a good balance between the two natures of Christ.
The guys mentioned they didn’t know what nationality name origin was Jim Caviezel’s name. His father was/is Swiss and Slovak-Romansh. “Caviezel”, is Romansh.
Jonathan Roumie, then Jim Caviezel – that’s all!
Love your work gentlemen
God bless †
1. Jonathan Roumie
2. Jim Caviezel
period
Please watch the Chosen episode with the Beatitudes and let us know your opinion.
Choosing who played the best Jesus in a movie is going to be difficult, because everyone has their own idea of what they want Him to look like. I like Jim Caviezel very much. He grew up just a few miles north of me, and I met him in Leavenworth, Washington in 2009 when we were both on motorcycle trips going opposite directions. That was the day that someone threw a bicycle at Jim and knocked him off his Harley Davidson.
Jim did a great job in ‘The Passion of the Christ’, but in my opinion Jonathan Roumie has him beat in The Chosen. Millions of people around the world want to see The Chosen, including myself, and Jonathan Roumie is the primary reason. He has the looks of the kind of man that could pass for a Jew, not to mention the way he walks and talks in the series. And writing has a lot to do with it as well.
I’m 77 years old and haven’t gone to a movie in many years, but the day that season 4 episode 1, 2, & 3 played at the theaters I was there. I had no idea that you can reserve your own seat now, and the seats retract. They will even bring your treats to you at whatever time you want them. So, in my opinion Jonathan Roumie has what it takes to be the best person to play Jesus, and I have already have my seat assigned to me for episodes 4, 5, & 6 on Friday. Although, I will get my own popcorn and lemonade.