The Last Temptation of Christ - Criterion Collection | Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel

The Last Temptation of Christ - Criterion Collection | Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel | More than a movie

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The Last Temptatio...

	The Last Temptation of Christ - Criterion Collection Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel Criterion, 2000 average customer review:based on 276 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Moving, unique, and thought provoking telling of the story of the Christ...

This is easily the most controversial film ever made about Jesus (even more so that Gibson's The Passion of the Christ), and also, unlike Gibson's film, rarely seen. It kicked off an enormous amount of controversy that has faded to some degree, but the film was almost impossible to see upon its release in 1988, and when it came to home video. I had to drive 20 miles to an obscure video store (which has closed down) to find it on video. I did, and I adore this film. It isn't perfect (some dialogue is actually quite bad, especially Jesus's voiceover dialogue, and some of the supporting players aren't very good), but overall, it's a visually impressive, passionate, and articulate telling of the Christ story. It's amusing that people picketed this film, as Martin Scorsese (who should have won an Oscar for this film) is Roman Catholic, Paul Schrader, the screenwriter, is a Calvinist, and the original author, Nikos Kazantzakis, was in the Greek Orthodox Church. These men are very, very familiar with the Christ story, and they handle the material with passion, intelligence, and grace. It's quite a moving film, especially in the lengthy final hallucination scene, which is amazing powerful. The title is very accurate for the final scene, the last temptation. Willem Dafoe is very good at Jesus, Barbara Hershey is excellent as Mary Magadelene, and Harvey Keitel is a great Judas. The film differs from the Gospels (which it mentions in the opening credits), but it's still a profound retelling of the greatest story ever told. It is also one of Martin Scorsese's best films, much better than his recent Oscar winner, The Departed. The story of the Christ is one that can be retold over and over again, so there's really no such thing as a "remake/reimagining" about it. I rank this with the great films about Christ, like George Stevens's The Greatest Story Ever Told, Cecil B. DeMille's King of Kings, Franco Zefferelli's Jesus of Narazeth, and Pasolini's The Gospel According to Matthew. All five of them are moving and passionate, yet different at the same time. They are all unique retellings of this story, and this film is one of the most unique.

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More than a movie

This review is response to the bad criticism.

First of all I will acknowledge that some criticism perhaps is true to some 'artistic' choices, when we speak of cinematic terms: Yes, Harvey Keitel modern accent perhaps was not the best choice; I believe also that some scenes are set like a theater piece, like a play, in the interaction between actors, that may give the impresion to some viewers of 'pedestrian' dialogue; W Daefoe Jesus character may be unsympathetic sometimes, with all his doubts and youthful wit, it does not represent at all the mighty and godly Jesus Christ of every other film about this subject. For all that, Yes, Scorsese is 'guilty'.

But then, any of above really matters? This movie is like a message and the master of it is that is not controversial at all, only the most jealeous religious fundamentalists cry of hate for this movie, but with time, even some Christians groups now admit that Last Temptation of Christ is a credible and somehow 'correct' account of the Jesus figure. The duality of Man and God, that is what Christ represents, The Son of God. Are'nt we all Sons of God? Are'nt all we made to His image? If Jesus is God and He is human also, why is it bad that He cries, that He suffers, that He is doubtful? Jesus of Nazareth, the son of a poor carpenter, did'nt he have the right to feel fear of the mission God set upon him?? This movie is like a message because it represents what Christianity is all about, and not only that, how it might have formed at the beginning, you just have to look a little deeper, you have to trascend this movie as just a movie; and as a movie, there are plenty of moments:

- When Jesus saves Magdalene from being stoned to death: that's Jesus!
- When the Baptist recognizes Jesus and baptized him, is a very powerful scene.
- Jesus convincing Judas that is Love, not war the answer: that's Jesus! (nothing like 'I am the son of God teaching you poor humans', just two persons and friends talking and having an argument, like anyone of us)
- Jesus resurrecting Lazarus, is eerie, filled with the scent of death, and then the greatest miracle..
- Peter Gabriel soundtrack is marvelous, his original music and how he fusion it with Eastern typical sounds: Peter Gabriel is a genius!
- The filming was done on location in Morocco, that gives it a very realistic setting: Martin Scorsese is a genius!

Through the whole film the divinity of Jesus is not questioned. Perhaps there is a scene that some faithful believers will not dig at all, and in my opinion is very important in the film: when in his temptation (an hallucination) Jesus is confronted by Paul, where in a rationalistic manner Paul tells him that Jesus message is more important than Jesus himself, and gives the skeptics a very good argument, in practical terms, of how Christianity became the one of the greatest religions.
The fictional account of Jesus making crosses might dislike some, but remember that the producers disclaim that the movie is NOT based in the gospels and that it is "fictional". Yet, you can find some of the most important events that the Gospels describe, the rage at the market: "God is an inmortal spirit that belongs to all of us!...you think you are special? God is not an israelite!"; but in the sermon scene, when Jesus preaches Love and the people ran yelling 'kill them!', you can see pretty the same what has happened with the greatest misunderstanding of the Jesus figure: the millions killed in his name. "I did'nt say Death, I said Love!": that's Jesus!

In the pure sense, Jesus Christ did not want to begin a religion, he did'nt want churches and power, he was one the greatest human beings of all mankind (if not the greatest). I am not a religious person, I don't go to Church, I do not read the Bible, but if I dug the message of this movie I could say that we are all the Son of God, with all our all doubts and fears, that I am revolutionary (in the good sense of the word) and also a man of love: a Christian.

So if you are a Christian and you haven't seen this movie because you think it might offend your beliefs, my suggestion is that you do not have to worry about it, just free your mind of any conceptualism and you will see the greatest story ever, shown in a movie with an alternative approach done by very talented people.

P.S. To the people who read the book, please do not compare it to the movie, I haven't read the book, I'm sure is very good (and like most cases, if not all, 'better' than the movie) but this movie stands on its own.

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RIVETING!

As an evangelical Christian I was put off by the criticism this movie received. I'm so glad I finally purchased and watched this film. I enjoyed it immensely. Very little is known about "the historical Jesus." Who was Jesus of Nazareth? What was He like? What is ultimately significant about the humanity of Jesus is not his specific sayings or deeds but rather his character of life. We look at the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and one of the first things that's obvious is that they don't agree in the sequencing of events, in how Jesus taught, when He said what, and what the particular miracles were. They don't even agree on who went to the tomb and found it empty. They don't agree on who Jesus appeared to. There is a blithe unconcern for getting the facts right. Where the four canonical Gospels agree is on the character of Jesus. This character is spelled out in the radical obedience of Jesus to God. That He has come to do the will of God, not His own will, is fundamental. And that is also what this film shows....the faith and obedience of Jesus. Jesus gives His life to others, not only in His death but in the whole pattern of His life. There is a disclaimer at the beginning of this film that says it is a fictional account. So it should be regarded as such....one man filling in the blanks. Personally, my own view of Jesus, is that He was never as weak and timid as portrayed in the beginning of this film...when He was making crosses for the Romans. I also thought the dream sequence Jesus had while dying on the cross was too long and drawn out. I thought the middle of the film was especially powerful. Agree with it or not, it is an extremely thought provoking film that drew me in. I highly recommend it.

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Good grief!

The idea of the film I have to say is a remarkable one. An examination of Christ as a man, a human being who struggles to come to terms with being granted prophet hood. A man who while rejecting this and all that comes with it is compelled to act in accordance with a mission he has been sent with.

Interesting idea and one that would be well worth watching problem is 1. The choice of actors for the film 2. The roles they are given.

With such a film you need a cast who are strong enough to carry it out in its correct historical context this film sadly does not have it. What comes off is not a historical reading of the life of Jesus examining an otherwise overlooked aspect of his life but rather "Jesus goes gangster"

Take the scene where Jesus visits Mary Magdalene in a brothel. After Jesus sits for a while amongst her clients (most of whom seem to be black (as well as the local slaves) more of Scorsese's odd obsession with black people but that's another issue) after they all depart they debate on how he has his calling to dwell in the desert, Mary feels abandoned and they argue. The argument (both language and context) would be more suited to a 40s Al Capone flick or better still the episode of the Simpson's where he thinks back to his days raising the kids in "Little Italy" The body language, the terminology used everything was just so out of place.

Take the scene where Jesus speaks with one of his disciples, the disciple says to him "I will follow you but if you stray this far from the path..... (As he holds his hand up in trademark Gangster fashion)I'll kill you" Or the scene where he first speaks to the people after saving Mary "He told me stand up and here I am" With arrogant head back, eyes half closed, arms stretched out looked more like 'King of New York' than 'Jesus the Messiah'

The disciples come together more like 'wise guys' joining a 'crew' than followers of a prophet. There is even a bit of slow motion Reservoir Dogs style strut to the camera with music played over!

Why on earth has Scorsese done this? Did he think it would bring Jesus closer to the moder audience? Did he think the protests would be too busy....well protesting to even bother watching the film and examining weather it was actually a good film or not to criticise its quality rather than its context? Who knows.

The idea behind the film though is excellent. Its almost ironic that someone who is religious would probably get a lot of benefit from the film. The meditation and temptation of Jesus both from within and beyond him. This part of the film is remarkable I only wish the so called 'critics' could have watched this part as it really shows what separated the prophets from the normal man, the need of God and religion and the simplicity of faith.

For the idea of the film I would give it 5 stars if only Scorsese had not destroyed it with this monster of a film!

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