Along with about 50 others, I did spend some quality time with Mel

Gibson yesterday before and after a screening of his The Passion.

We all signed confidentially agreements, but with Lloyd Grove apparently

invited to roam around the Motion Picture Association’s plush downtown

theater, the fact that the screening took place shouldn’t get me on the

wrong side of a lawsuit with my new friend Mel. He is, by the way,

sincere, friendly and, well. . . rather short (this eyewitness report

particularly pleased the tall men in my house, although they are huge

Gibson fans all). No, I didn’t get a picture or autograph, but others

who were unable to pull off my studied nonchalance at being with one of

Hollywood’s mega-stars enjoyed Gibson’s good-natured willingness to

please. He was genuinely interested in the reactions of the audience.

The movie is intense and riveting, and the time quickly passes as you

are completely drawn into the events in biblical Jerusalem. Although

Gibson hasn’t yet begun negotiating with distributors, it is intended

for general, nationwide distribution. One can’t imagine grabbing a

bucket of popcorn with a super-sized diet coke before settling down to

witness this graphic depiction of Christ’s passion and crucifixion. My

understanding of Christ’s ordeal will be forever shaped by this

remarkable movie. Some will unfairly use Gibson’s labor of love to

create a controversy, which is wholly unjustified in the case of this

masterful film, but hopefully Gibson realizes that this too shall pass.