The New Line movie The Nativity Story just got a little meta – the same week the theatrical trailer hit, actress Keisha Castle-Hughes announced that she, like Mary, had been knocked up quite young. As in, she’s 16. I don’t even want to speculate what this means for the young actress’ seemingly up and coming career, but I do want to know how New Line is going to integrate this turn of events into their marketing.
As for that trailer – well, The Nativity Story was one of my most anticipated films of the year, because I think it’s ballsy to have Catherine Hardwicke – best known for Thirteen and Lords of Dogtown – bring her empathy for young people to the story of Jesus’ mom. And I was interested because I had been told that the film would be steeped in historical detail, and would address things like why the heck Joseph believed his virgin bride when she told him God knocked her up. The trailer indicates that this stuff is in there, but it also indicates horrible accents and a fantasy-movie element instead of a hard-edged look at people who believe in weird signs and portents. I don’t mind that the movie operates from the assumption that little baby Jesus was the lord – I just don’t like that high beam coming down from Heaven. Holy literalism, Godman.
You can check out the trailer at the official site for The Nativity Story.