by Rob Nixon
The Third Miracle
Brief Synopsis
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Father Frank Shore is a charismatic priest who serves as a church-appointed "spiritual detective," probing the facts behind reported miracles. Nicknamed "The Miracle Killer" following a disturbing incident, Father Frank is on the brink of hopelessness, living on the streets as a lay person. A powerf
Cast & Crew
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Agnieszka Holland
Director
Norma Dell'agnese
Mark Huisman
Armin Mueller-stahl
Ned Vukovic
Steve Ferguson
Film Details
Also Known As
Third Miracle
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Drama
Religion
Release Date
1999
Distribution Company
Sony Pictures Classics
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 59m
Synopsis
Father Frank Shore is a charismatic priest who serves as a church-appointed "spiritual detective," probing the facts behind reported miracles. Nicknamed "The Miracle Killer" following a disturbing incident, Father Frank is on the brink of hopelessness, living on the streets as a lay person. A powerful Bishop tracks him down and hands him an unwanted mission: he must journey to St. Stanslaus in the heart of Chicago where mystical phenomena are said to be taking place surrounding a recently deceased immigrant woman. There Father Frank uncovers a series of extraordinary events, but the most extraordinary thing of all may be the "saint's" very earthly daughter, Roxanna--a fiesty, angry non-believer who cannot forgive her otherwise selfless mother for abandoning her at the age of 16. The closer he gets to proving his first real case of a miracle, the closer he gets to Roxanna--whose alluring reality brings his doubts and desires to the fore, imperiling the very foundation of his investigation.
Director
Agnieszka Holland
Director
Cast
Norma Dell'agnese
Mark Huisman
Armin Mueller-stahl
Ned Vukovic
Steve Ferguson
Duaine Deveraux
Charles Haid
Desmond Ellis
Kenny Robinson
Rogue Johnson
Rodger Barton
Don Carmody
Angela Fusco
Catherine Gourdier
Susan Henley
Ron Kennell
Kay Hawtrey
James Gallanders
Ian Ryan
Aron Tager
Anne Heche
Junior Williams
Ivan Lukac
Bob Jarvis
Pavol Simon
Barbara Sukowa
Christopher Bolton
Trevor Lowden
Ed Harris
Sofia Polanska
Jack Jessop
Patrik Minar
Lili Francks
Jean-louis Roux
Craig Eldridge
Arthur Eng
Michael Millar
Michael Rispoli
Rony Clanton
Ken James
Gerard Ronan
Jade Smith
Caterina Scorsone
Natalie Urquhart
Monique Mojica
Ralph Small
Mary Lu Zahalan
Alastair Moir
Crew
Ashok Amritraj
Executive Producer
James Douglas Brown
Hair Stylist
Don Carmody
Coproducer
Francis Ford Coppola
Executive Producer
Denise Cronenberg
Costume Designer
Robert Devico
Production Designer
Judi Farkas
Associate Producer
Fred Fuchs
Producer
Steven Haft
Producer
Jan A. P. Kaczmarek
Music
Michael Kavanagh
Special Effects Coordinator
Jon Mete
Sound
John Romano
Screenplay
Elie Samaha
Producer
Daryl Sancton
Associate Producer
Andrew Shea
Assistant Director
Peter Shewchuk
Sound
David Siegel
Associate Producer
David J Siegel
Editor
Andrew Stearn
Art Director
Andrew Stevens
Executive Producer
Todd Thaler
Casting
Richard Vetere
Source Material (From Novel)
Richard Vetere
Screenplay
Clare Walker
Casting
Lisa Wilson
Associate Producer
Jerzy Zielinski
Director Of Photography
Film Details
Also Known As
Third Miracle
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Drama
Religion
Release Date
1999
Distribution Company
Sony Pictures Classics
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 59m
Articles
The Third Miracle
Critic Stephen Holden, writing in The New York Times, noted this film's lack of the usual Hollywood kitsch (as he called it, "flashy telekinetic mayhem") in treating the story of a skeptical priest who comes to investigate reports of a miracle and ends up re-evaluating his lost faith. The serious-minded take on the subject is no surprise considering it was made by Agnieszka Holland, the Polish filmmaker known for her historical dramas of the Holocaust Europa Europa (1990) and In Darkness (2011) and her acclaimed version based on the Henry James' novel Washington Square (from 1997 and filmed previously as The Heiress in 1949). Based on a 1997 novel by Richard Vetere, The Third Miracle stars four-time Academy Award nominee Ed Harris and Anne Heche, supported by noted European actors Barbara Sukowa (as the would-be saint) and Armin Mueller-Stahl, known for their work with German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada stands in for the poor inner-city neighborhood where a statue of the Virgin Mary cries tears of blood believed to cure illness. While many reviews noted the unevenness of Holland's approach, even the most critical praised its spirit of sincere curiosity and lack of sensationalism. Kevin Thomas of Los Angeles Times said The Third Miracle "has the gritty, intimate feel of an Eastern European film - and packs the power of a genuine revelation." The eclectic soundtrack features music by Verdi, Haydn, Tom Waits and Australian rocker Simon Bonney.
by Rob Nixon
by Rob Nixon
The Third Miracle
Critic Stephen Holden, writing in The New York Times, noted this film's lack of the usual Hollywood kitsch (as he called it, "flashy telekinetic mayhem") in treating the story of a skeptical priest who comes to investigate reports of a miracle and ends up re-evaluating his lost faith. The serious-minded take on the subject is no surprise considering it was made by Agnieszka Holland, the Polish filmmaker known for her historical dramas of the Holocaust Europa Europa (1990) and In Darkness (2011) and her acclaimed version based on the Henry James' novel Washington Square (from 1997 and filmed previously as The Heiress in 1949). Based on a 1997 novel by Richard Vetere, The Third Miracle stars four-time Academy Award nominee Ed Harris and Anne Heche, supported by noted European actors Barbara Sukowa (as the would-be saint) and Armin Mueller-Stahl, known for their work with German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada stands in for the poor inner-city neighborhood where a statue of the Virgin Mary cries tears of blood believed to cure illness. While many reviews noted the unevenness of Holland's approach, even the most critical praised its spirit of sincere curiosity and lack of sensationalism. Kevin Thomas of Los Angeles Times said The Third Miracle "has the gritty, intimate feel of an Eastern European film - and packs the power of a genuine revelation." The eclectic soundtrack features music by Verdi, Haydn, Tom Waits and Australian rocker Simon Bonney.
by Rob Nixon
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1999
Released in United States February 2000
Released in United States October 1999
Released in United States on Video June 13, 2000
Released in United States September 1999
Released in United States Winter December 29, 1999
Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama) February 9-20, 2000.
Shown at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival October 20 - November 15, 1999.
Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Special Presentation) September 9-18, 1999.
This project was previously in development at New Line Cinema with Akiva Goldsman attached to rewrite the screenplay.
Began shooting October 31, 1998.
Completed shooting December 18, 1998.
Released in United States 1999 (Shown at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival October 20 - November 15, 1999.)
Released in United States February 2000 (Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama) February 9-20, 2000.)
Released in United States on Video June 13, 2000
Released in United States September 1999 (Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Special Presentation) September 9-18, 1999.)
Released in United States October 1999 (Shown at American Film Institute (AFI) Los Angeles International Film Festival (Special Presentation) October 21-29, 1999.)
Released in United States Winter December 29, 1999
