"Whatever path you want, I'll take."
The most controversial film ever made. Even by this point in
his career Martin Scorsese had already been involved in a fair amount of
controversy regarding the content of his movies. ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Mean
Streets’ contracted some controversy but that was nothing compared to the absolute
hatred received by the director, writer, cast and virtually everyone involved
with Scorsese’s 1988 religious drama, ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’. It just
goes to show that at the end of the day, nobody fucks with Jesus.
Depicting the life of Jesus Christ (Willem Dafoe) and his
struggles with various forms of temptation including fear, doubt, depression,
reluctance and lust in the build up to his final days and crucifixion.
Banned by countries, condemned by the Vatican and boycotted
by just about every Christian group in the world. These are all reactions that
only scratch the surface as to just how outraged the world was when Scorsese
released his long awaited passion project, in fact Scorsese himself became the
target of death threats, accusations of blasphemy and allegations of being a
Satan worshipper. TV evangelists tried to buy copies of the film and burn it
before it could even reach theatres, if the theatre companies hadn’t already
refused to show it that is. In fairness though the theatres had good reason to
be worried, anyone who went to see the film ran the risk of being assaulted outside
the cinema, in one case with sulphuric acid. It gets much worse. One man drove a
fully loaded truck into a cinema playing the movie. On October 22nd
another theatre was set ablaze, injuring thirteen people and another cinema
bombarded with an attack of Molotov cocktails.
The craziest thing of all is that these are probabaly the
same groups of people who, years later, would turn out in droves to support the
anti-Semitic bloodbath ‘The Passion of the Christ’. But I digress because a
movie like this is already complicated enough to review without going into the
mass controversy surrounding it (to this day it’s still banned in the Philippines
and Singapore). A review can become less of a critique on the actual film and
more of an interpretation of the scripture. Putting aside all the religious debacle
(if only the world did that more often), what does the film itself have to say?
Well I can immediately say that the ironic thing about those
trying to suppress the film is that ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ is a
contemplative and thoughtful meditation on its own subject matter. Like many of Scorsese’s films it carries
themes of guilt and redemption but also takes the message of Jesus seriously,
never ridiculing it or mocking it, treating it with the utmost respect and
giving it gravitas which seems appropriate as these are the beliefs and
aspirations of the main character. As an audience we feel his struggle and
conflict, building a sense of empathy and forming a strong connection with his
internal emotions.
This portrayal of Jesus is very different to the pandering,
glossy portrayal other films then and today. Here he is doubtful, weary and
struggling with his own position in the world. In many the film itself
reimagines Christ in a much more humane interpretation and if anything that
only helps further its central message. The film is not trying to find flaws in
Christianity for the sake of it, it wants its audience to see their own
strengths and weaknesses within Jesus himself and that only further cements the
central conceit of the film. The narrative is supported by the characters and
reflected by their own emotions that work in tandem with the plot to create an
immersive and breath taking experience.
This experience is aided by the stunning direction. Despite
being a far cry from his usual habitat of inner city life Scorsese frames and
shoots the vast expanses of the desert impeccably, making them look rough and merciless
when he needs to but also peaceful and tranquil at others, depending on the
emotional state of his title character. The direction never ceases to feel in
synch with the plot and emotions, constantly being able to reflect and enhance
each aspect. This is something Scorsese has managed to perfect during his
career and it’s not missing in ‘The Last Temptation of Chris’ either. It may
help that he is once again paired with his screenwriting partner Paul Schrader
whose script rings with soaring ambition as well as beautiful intimacy.
As the title character, Willem Dafoe does a magnificent job
in bringing forward each quality of the main character that underpins the
entire film. Every detail of his performance conveys a sense of conflicted duties
and dual roles, someone torn between his beliefs and desires. He is courageous,
doubtful and even angry at the world around him but the performance remains constituent
to the established character and masterfully enacts each quality both he and
other proclaim about him.
Harvey Keitel was infamously nominated for a Razzie award
for Worst Supporting Actor due to his role in the film and honestly, I’m not
sure why. On the surface his role admittedly seems needlessly cryptic and it is
frequently difficult to pin his central motivation down. But given that he is
playing Judas Iscariot that almost seems like a given.
The liberties this film takes with the story of Jesus are
not intended to blaspheme or offend, they are present to establish a connection
between the audience and its central protagonist a trope you will find in any
successful narrative. But specifically to ‘The last Temptation of Christ’, a
film about the connection between man and god, directed by a devout Catholic,
it makes even more sense.
Immensely powerful and thought provoking, epic in scope yet intimate
in character.
Result: 9/10
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