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Actor Jim Caviezel has been in the business since the early ‘90s. While he gained notoriety as an able supporting actor, he hit it big withThe Thin Red Lineand went on to perform in his most famous role to dateThe Passion of the Christ. The actor’s struggles while filming Mel Gibson’s Biblical epic is nothing short of a pop culture legend.
Caviezel has worked with a host of acclaimed filmmakers over the years. While he had early roles in Lawrence Kasdan’sWyatt Earpand Gus Van Sant’sMy Own Private Idaho, he gained prominence when he worked with the likes of Terrence Mallick, Ang Lee, and Tony Scott. Here are ten of his best roles in film and TV.
1Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan’s post-9/11 surveillance drama is one of the best-rated shows in TV history. It follows the story of ex-CIA agent John Reese and reclusive billionaire Harold Finch, who team up to fight premeditated crimes with a device that predicts them.Jim Caviezelplayed Reese, an ex-CIA operative and US Army veteran who becomes a vigilante.
Caviezel’s performance was appreciated by most critics, with the show itself being appreciated for its political commentary. Nolan would go on to explore similar issues of surveillance and post-9/11 reactions to privacy in the USA in his brother Christopher Nolan’s filmThe Dark Knight.
Person of Interestis available to buy on Apple TV.
2The Passion of the Christ
Mel Gibson’s take on the last day of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion was a huge blockbuster upon release. Filmed in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin,The Passion of the Christwas thehighest-grossing R-rated filmdomestically till this year, when it was surpassed byDeadpool & Wolverine. It also remains the highest-grossing independent film of all time.
“It’s sin, pure and simple”: The Passion of the Christ Star Jim Caviezel is So Strict about 1 Rule He Even Asked Latina Goddess Jennifer Lopez to Wear Clothes for a Love Scene
Jim Cavieziel played Jesus Christ in the film and reportedly went through a tiring and dangerous filming process. He recounted toFox Newsthat he was struck by lightning when he was filming the final shot. It reportedly led to two heart surgeries for the actor, including an open-heart surgery. He also reportedly got hit in the head by a 150-pound cross while shooting.
The actor is reportedly set to reprise his role in a planned sequel by Gibson calledThe Passion of the Christ: Resurrection.
The Passion of the Christis available to rent on Apple TV.
3The Thin Red Line
Jim Caviezel got the opportunity of a lifetime when he got one of the leading roles in director Terrence Mallick’s return to cinema in twenty years. The war filmThe Thin Red Linehas been regarded as one of the greatest contemporary war films and was nominated for seven Oscars. It also won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Caviezel was one among a host of A-listers in the cast. Actors like Adrien Brody, Sean Penn, John Travolta, Jared Leto, George Clooney, John Cusack, and more were present in various capacities (viaEW). The filmmaker reportedly even cut the scenes of Bill Pullman and Mickey Rourke from the film due to time constraints.
The Thin Red Lineis available to rent on Apple TV.
4The Count of Monte Cristo
After his stint with artistic films likeThe Thin Red Line, Jim Caviezel starred in a host of mainstream films, one of which was the period dramaThe Count of Monte Cristo.Playing the lead character Edmond Dantès, Caviezel’s performance was widely acclaimed and the film was a commercial success, earning over $75 million against a $35 million budget (viaBox Office Mojo).
The Count of Monte Cristois available to rent on Apple TV.
5Ride with the Devil
ThePassion of the Christstar played his second army officer role in Ang Lee’s revisionist WesternRide with the Devil. Despite being a box office bomb, earning only $635K against a$38 million budget, the film received rave reviews for its portrayal of the American Civil War and the political themes it explored. The film also starred prominent actors such as Tobey Maguire, Jeffrey Wright, Jewel, and more.
Caviezel played the role of pro-Confederacy fighter ‘Black’ Johnny Ambrose in the film. His role stood apart from the rest of the group the film follows i.e. the Irregulars who seem to perpetuate attacks for the high of killing unlike Ambrose, who stood for the cause.
Ride with the Devilis available to rent on Apple TV.
6Sound of Freedom
Probably his most controversial yet most popular film to date,Sound of Freedombecame a surprise hit, earning over $250 million against a $14.5 million budget (viaThe Numbers). Following the mission of Tim Ballard, the real-life CEO of the OUR organization that reportedly saved many children from s*x trafficking, the film was criticized for its sensationalized portrayal.
Sound of Freedom Star Jim Caviezel Almost Lost His Life Due To A Horrible Accident On The Last Day Of Mel Gibson’s $622M Movie Set
However, the film gained recognition for its depiction of QAnon theories that spoke about a group of leaders who were running a s*x trafficking ring involving minors, which was theorized to be squashed by former President Donald Trump. Caviezel himself has been vocal about his belief in the conspiracy theory. He also mentioned that it was the most important film he had made sinceThe Passion of the Christ(viaThe Guardian).
Sound of Freedomis available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
7The Ballad of Lefty Brown
While his performance in the revisionist WesternRide with the Devilwas on the nobler side,The Ballad of Lefty Brownsaw Jim Caviezel be a power-hungry politician who will stop at nothing to remove the obstacles that arrive in his wake. The actor co-stars with Bill Pullman, Kathy Baker, and Joe Anderson in the A24-distributed film that follows the story of a frontiersman trying to exact revenge on the killers of his friend. Though the film only earned $7.8K at the box office, the film received great reviews (viaBox Office Mojo).
The Ballad of Lefty Brownis available to stream on Max.
8Angel Eyes
While he has made a mark as an action hero in his filmography, Jim Caviezel went into a romantic zone withAngel Eyes. The film also starred Jennifer Lopez and Terrence Howard in lead roles and followed the story of a police officer (played by JLo), who is mysteriously saved by the same man named Catch (Caviezel) every time she is in trouble. The lead role was reportedly set to be played by Aaron Eckhart but he left the production a month before filming, with Cavaziel replacing him (viaVariety).
Angel Eyesis available to stream on FuboTV.
WhileThe Thin Red Lineput Jim Caviezel in front of some of th A-listers in the industry, Tony Scott’s sci-fi actioner put him against the GOAT Denzel Washington. Caviezel played
terrorist Carroll Oerstadt inDéjà Vuand gave a terrific performance as he went up against Washington’s ATF Agent Douglas Carlin. Despite mixed reviews, the film earned over $180 million worldwide and was one of the most successful films of the year (viaBO Mojo).
Déjà Vuis available to stream on Hulu.
10Frequency
Though not his strongest performance, Jim Caviezel does a decent job in Gregory Hoblit’s sci-fi action thrillerFrequency.Exploring a time-travel concept that sees him traveling back thirty years to save his firefighter father from death, the film also starred Dennis Quaid in the lead role. It earned over $68 million at the box office and received positive reviews from critics and audiences (viaBox Office Mojo).
Frequencyis available to rent on Apple TV.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2415
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
