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BROWSE REVIEWS Click on a letter to browse through the reviews on this site: |
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST Jesus Christ is a name that has been said by
billions upon billions of people throughout the centuries. He is a symbol of
love and peace, the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and opened
the gates of heaven. His name has been said in prayer, blasphemy, and in some
cases, unknowingly (how many of us have screamed his name out of frustration,
fear, joy, anger, and without even realizing it?). Jesus is an image of
holiness and mercy, and because of that he has been praised as being a man
who never doubted his position in life, or in the afterlife. In the bible, he
preaches to the people, even as a young boy. As a man, he attracted large
amounts of people to listen to him pass on the word of God, as he claimed to
be the Son of God. He was, and will forever be believed as someone who had
devout faith. But with Martin Scorsese’s highly controversial film, based on
the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis and adapted for the screen by Paul Schrader (TAXI
DRIVER, THE MOSQUITO COAST), this story shows that what if Jesus hadn’t
died on the crosses for our sins? What if he fulfilled the temptations of
every man and woman who ever walked the earth? Sex, a family, a home, a life,
children. What if Jesus wasn’t as flawless as the bible makes him out to be?
What if he could have been seduced by the devil in the form of God? In the
form of love and hope? What if in doing so, he turned his back unknowingly on
God, and experienced his own fears and doubts? I’m not going to write a plot synopsis for the
film, I don’t think that would encourage anyone to see the film. Either
you’ll see it because you’re interested in its What if? questions. Or
you’ll be repulsed by the notion that Jesus would be displayed as such a
being and pass on the film, bashing it as many of the church fanatics had
bashed it when it was first released. There are several memorable scenes, a
few of which include the meeting between Jesus and John the Baptist, who
Jesus seeks out to see if he truly is the real messiah. When Jesus travels
into the desert to await the voice of God (Beware, God is not alone out
there), and is seduced by Satan in the form of a snake, a lion and a
pillar of fire. The scene when Jesus returns from the desert and greets his
disciples. And there is of course the highly discussed crucifixion scene, in
which Satan, in the guise of a little girl, seduces Jesus to turn his back on
his promise to open the gates of heaven, and die for the sins of a man (and
what would have happened if he had done so). It’s sad, and a little bit frightening, that
the church fanatics would get into such an uproar over the film. The movie
isn’t insulting Jesus but is in favor of him. This story could help people
relate to him even more, as his conflict with his own inner demons and his
personal duel with himself makes him all the more human, and we can recognize
him as a human being. This movie would probably have more of an influence of
people who are doubtful of their faith then all of those God fearing nuts who
think that passing out a pamphlets will give relief to those who seek their
own answers in life. Many of them would have you fear God because you are
unsure of his existence. This movie shows it’s all right to have doubts and
concerns, and ask questions. And what better way to deliver that message then
through the image of Jesus. Now, I confess that I am an atheist, and do not
believe in God or heaven. I don’t have anything against those who do, and am
thankful that such a symbol has the power to bring out the best in people. I
admire those who do have divine, but I am not one of those people. Perhaps
the movie has a lesser effect on me because of that, but if is ever proven
that Jesus had existed and was the Son of God, then I would hope that he
would like the Jesus depicted in this film. A man who expressed anger and
confusion. A human being. Martin Scorsese’s direction is taut, and is
matched by the powerful and haunting score by Peter Gabriel. Scorsese and
Schrader have not made a film that patronizes the audience, or puts on a
Hollywood show for them (think BEN-HUR). They have created a genuine
and compelling film that has the power to speak to the audience, instead of
for the audience. Scorsese was nominated for his direction, and this is
unfortauntely the only thing the film was nominated for. William Dafoe’s
performance as Jesus is extraordinary, and Harvey Keitel (who plays Judas
Iscariot, a loyal follower of Jesus but ultimately betrays him to the
Romans), does an exquisite job. Barbara Hershey, and brief performances by
David Bowie (as Pontius Pilate), and Harry Dean Stanton (in a dual role as
Saul, the one who kills Lazarus. And Paul, who is seen before the end of the
film and explains that even if Jesus has risen or not, he is still a figure
that supposedly as the power to bring out the best in people). A film experience that should not be passed
over. Don’t listen to all the rubbish by the demented Christians who despise
the film without even seeing it (Universal was even approached to sell the
film so it could be destroyed, long before the film was even released). It is
an intriguing film and an original experience. My Grade: A |