Discussing
‘Public Enemies’ and anti-hero worship

Josh, I'm not so sure about your statement that the bible avoids these kinds of stories, though maybe it doesn't martyr these characters in the same way. I'm thinking of the story of Ehud, and if you identify with the Moabites like you do bank patrons, you might think of him as a kind of romantic outlaw as well. In fact, why hasn't anybody made an Ehud movie? It's got a fat king, sneaky assasination, ridiculous details... Anyway, your point is well taken, but I think it may be overstated.

Hi Bethany - I was thinking I might get some suggestions of Biblical figures who didn't come to my mind, but I don't know if Ehud fits. He's not really a criminal, or even a scoundrel, since he's essentially been ordained by God to carry out his purpose (granted, that purpose being assassination, it does provide quite a moral quandary for Christians). As for an Ehud movie, I think you're on to something. Depp as Ehud, perhaps, with Russell Crowe in the king of Moab role?

In a sense, the heroes of the Bible would all have been anti-heroes in their society. Jesus, David, the prophets: all rejected the conventional morality and ideas of their times, just as Hollywood anti-heroes like Dillinger did theirs. The difference was that the Biblical anti-heroes rejected conventional morality for a higher set of standards and one closer to God's law; Hollywood anti-heroes reject not just conventional morality, but morality itself.

Having said all of that, why not Jephthah (Judges 10-11) as an anti-hero? Or better yet, Samson? Now there's a story that has everything--deception, betrayal, mutilation, adultery--even foxes tied together by the tail and let loose with torches in their tails, i.e. special effects. Something for everybody!