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