The movie "is so lighthearted that even its designated villains (a circle of pious Jesus freaks who have vowed celibacy and picket for Olive's expulsion) exhibit the daffy comic exuberance of the teenagers in 'Glee,' " Stephen Holden wrote in The Times in September.
A satire directed by Will Gluck from a screenplay by Bert V. Royal, "Easy A" is so lighthearted that even its designated villains (a circle of pious Jesus freaks who have vowed celibacy and picket for Olive's expulsion) exhibit the daffy comic exuberance of the teenagers in "Glee".
In this cosmic circle of decay, Jesus offers a new understanding of existence, where death no longer holds sway over everything.
It claims the unique legitimacy of a line of succession going back to the apostolic circle of Jesus Christ.
With rigorous research, Ms. George paints the landscape and rituals of Judea and makes "educated guesses" about her mysterious subject: that Mary was an observant Jew, that she married a sardine fisherman and had a baby, that she could read, that she had visions, that she befriended other women mentioned in the Gospels as part of Jesus' circle and stifled her jealousy.
Late on the Thursday night, while away from the safety of the crowds, in a series of manoeuvres, including a betrayal by Judas, one of Jesus' inner circle, Jesus was arrested.
BEN STRAUS Bowie, Md. To the Editor: Jon Meacham ascribes a supernatural belief in the "kingdom of God" (heaven) to Jesus' circle of rabbinic students or "disciples".
The latter thesis created difficulties at Jerusalem, where the Christian community was led by James, the brother of Jesus, and the circle of the intimate disciples of Jesus.
A casual reading of the Gospels indicates that the message of Jesus centers on expanding the circle of welcome, rather than in searching for excuses to shrink it.
The chorus members and orchestra musicians wear everyday clothing and sit facing one another in a circle so that they can enact the scenes from the story of Jesus' Crucifixion.
