The Jesus Rolls

Screen Media Films | Release Date: February 28, 2020

4.0	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Ratings

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TVJerrySep 20, 2020

John Turturro wrote and directed this film, which is based on the 1974 French comedy Going Places. He also stars, recreating the role he originated for The Big Lebowski (with the Coen Brother’s permission but not their involvement). Jesus isJohn Turturro wrote and directed this film, which is based on the 1974 French comedy Going Places. He also stars, recreating the role he originated for The Big Lebowski (with the Coen Brother’s permission but not their involvement). Jesus is a petty criminal who gets out of jail and is met by his close friend (Bobby Cannavale). Their travel spree involves a free-spirited French woman (Audrey Taauou), stealing cars, group sex and a few of the director’s New York friends in supporting roles (John Hamm, Susan Sarandon, Christopher Walken, Pete Davidson). The plot follows a similar trajectory to the original, but Turturro’s input lacks much charm or style (apparently the Coen’s influence didn’t help much except). The trios ramble about, have brief encounters and blather a lot. The performances are all well-intentioned, but it’s more a curiosity to watch this ensemble have fun in their unusual roles.… Expand

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NightReviewsAug 10, 2020

Unofficial sequels are always a bit of a tedious and tumultuous endeavour, by any filmmaker, especially when the original is as beloved and hailed as the Coen Brothers cult classic The Big Lebowski. Yet, as weird and difficult it is a task ofUnofficial sequels are always a bit of a tedious and tumultuous endeavour, by any filmmaker, especially when the original is as beloved and hailed as the Coen Brothers cult classic The Big Lebowski. Yet, as weird and difficult it is a task of comparing one's own art to a predecessor, its even more difficult when an unofficial sequel also serves as an alternative language remake of another film.

The Jesus Rolls is John Turturro's fifth written and directed film, and like many of his previous films, Turturro is fascinated by the idea of very mature and thematic adult love. Yet, while romance is the main driving force of The Jesus Rolls, Turturro decided to set the film and gather his former, glorious and alluded character from the aforementioned Lebowski, Jesus Quintana. Now, I'm not sure if using one of his most infamous, cinematic characters as the central character for a remake for Bertrand Blier's Les Valseuses was an ingenious marketing ploy, or downright tragedy, but nevertheless, The Jesus Rolls is a downright intriguing and unforgettable cinematic experiment that will surely not be removed from your head; but we are still trying to figure out if that's a good thing, or bad one.

Luckily for Turturro, over the past forty years of his acting career, as well as almost thirty years as a filmmaker, the actor was able to work with some of the most talented names and faces in film history. Yet, so many of these talents and the influences are hardly scene in the storytelling of The Jesus Rolls. Sadly, it seemed as though Turturro, was more intent of contacts so many of his former co-stars, to provide some sort of cameo-type appearance in this film, that basically serves as an exceptional reading card when reading back the end credits. The truth of the matter is, most of the strengths of The Jesus Rolls lies less in the cast advertised in the trailers or marketing material, and more in the strength of Turturro's ability to explore a side of middle-aged perversion that is hardly shown in Western cinema today.

Basking in the largely European themed scenarios that flooded Italian and French multiplexes in the 70's, The Jesus Rolls is a story about Jesus Quintana's reassimilation back into society, after serving a hefty prison sentence, for a crime, we really are not privy to knowing. We learn quickly that his best friend and confidant, Petey (Bobby Cannavale) is there for Jesus and all of his misfitting and delinquent needs. Together, they steal cars, cause a ruckus and sweep a beautiful French woman, Marie (Audrey Tautou) away from her normal life as a hairdresser, as the three embark on a confusing and perilous journey of sexual discovery, growth and identity.

Engaging with strangers, relatives and acquaintances along the way, the three whimsical, aimless rejects of their environments learn about orgasms as well as their own sexual restrictions in a fever-dream like road trip that really doesn't go anywhere further than the fresh pavement and asphalt of the American highway. While the film takes place within the United States, this is far less a piece of Americana, and more, a sun-drenched fantasia of extreme comical and unbelievably narrative laziness. Turturro, who is credited with writing the film, films himself writing his character's into constant dead-ends and do not enters, which enable his protagonists to sometimes take unexpected U-turns to cinematic unknowns. While the material is unexpectedly lush and fantastical, it is hard not to notice or make the connection that The Jesus Rolls is some sort of a mid-life crisis film for Turturro; maybe a cinematic diorama his own failings in his own life and his past/present relationships? One thing does surely become evident though, we sluggishly become intrigued, somehow.

Either way, The Jesus Rolls does have its fair share of allure. Tautou, who plays the main love interesting of the middle-aged threesome, offers some of the best and louche scenes in the films. Her disreputable demeanour towards the men as well as her discovery of a sexual awakening with a younger man gives the film its strange essence and also allows audience members to recall some of their favourite memories of fever-dream like European dramas of the past. Together, along with Cannavale, the three really give the film its stamina, despite the feature itself being under 90 minutes, despite seeming more like 120 minutes at times.

By Turturro using Jesus Quintana, a small character from the Coen Brother's beloved Lebowski, Turturro is able to evolve and expand Quintana's mannerisms and character growth, which really shows a different side of the vastness of his filmmaking range, even if, by the time the credits roll, Quintana's accent does becomes a bit more of a distraction than a selling point. Giving a little more muddled depth to Quintana, audiences are able to see this character grow into a muffled and zesty resurrected figment of his glorious past.… Expand

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robomartionJun 18, 2022

I just watched the Big Lebowski for the first time and watched this the day after. This movie is less disjointed than the Big Lebowski, although still by no means a conventional movie. It has an eccentric style of humour and uniqueI just watched the Big Lebowski for the first time and watched this the day after. This movie is less disjointed than the Big Lebowski, although still by no means a conventional movie. It has an eccentric style of humour and unique perspectives on love and sex. It doesn't quite live up to what one would expect of a movie based on the "nobody Fs with the jesus" scene and there is barely any bowling, but is good and worth watching in its own right. There are many hilarious moments. A one of a kind movie.… Expand

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