September 16, 1998 -- "Jesus 2000" is a half hour film that updates the story of Jesus' last days on earth as they might have been covered by television news.

Written, produced, directed and edited by Eric L. Cooper, the film plays like someone channel-surfing on television. Bits and pieces of news about Jesus and his disciples are thrown together, seemingly at random. The effect is a bit jarring at times, but the message gets through.

The message is that television incrementalizes, compartmentalizes, deconstructs, trivializes and commercializes the message of Jesus. Talking heads analyze Jesus' message, completely missing the point. They speculate on whether or not Jesus is homosexual. They speculate about how much money Jesus dolls will make after he dies.

The media feeding frenzy around Jesus is so intense, yet so familiar that it is funny. The way one reporter carefully notes the designer of the clothing worn by Judas Iscariot as he drives up to the restaurant where the last supper is being held, and the way another reporter describes how Jesus has made open-toed sandals fashionable have a familiar resonance.

While this West Hollywood film is probably the equivalent of a UCLA film school project, it is fairly well put together and it does have its moments. The only drawbacks were some choppy editing and some uneven sound levels in the talk-show scenes with the black, jive-talking Mary, mother of Jesus. This film rates a C.

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