The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Such a frustrating disappointment

From my favorite movies..

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

*Classic lookback* THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRISTWe usually associate Martin Scorsese with his movies on organized crime. It's hard not to do that when he has made Goodfellas & Casino. But before that, in the late 80s, he was probably at his creative peak. In the decade which saw him making Raging Bull( Arguably his best movie), King of Comedy & After hours, the 1988 movie, The Last Temptation of Christ is my personal favorite of his entire filmography. It is Scorsese at his creative best and his boldest. Based on the very controversial novel of Nikos Kazantzakis of the same name which was itself banned in many countries, This movie was destined to be controversial. Which of course, it was. It frequently finds it's place in several 'most controversial films of all time' lists. The film was termed as blasphemous upon it's release and banned in many countries too. But if you care to watch it with an open mind, this movie is quite an enriching experience. It's not an easy movie for a devout Christian believer. The movie's basic underlying theme is the conflict between Christ's worldly temptations as a mortal, and his divine duty of sacrificing himself for the sins of mankind. The movie doesn't follow the Bible. It humanizes Christ ( Played quite brilliantly by Willem Dafoe) he gets angry, he gets frightened, he asks his 'father' why is he the chosen one. As the movie progresses, Christ gradually starts to find answers to these questions. This process of self discovery of his purposes, not only seems very relatable but also helps us sympathize with the character. The Son of God, till that point of time had always been represented with an otherworldly aura. This was the first attempt to make him vulnerable and thus, more human....and quite naturally, it didn't go down well with all. Coming to the most controversial portions, the last one hour of the movie is it's most controversial portion and the take it or leave it point of the movie. As a open minded viewer, no doubt it was something very unique to witness. It's almost as if it takes us by the collar and coerces us with a very different point of view. Controversy apart, it is a really well made movie. The cinematography, moody, dark, surreal at times works wonders. Peter Gabriel's musical score is one of the main highlights of the movie. And oh of course, i forgot to mention the representation of Satan! Very subtle yet chilling. Despite saying so many points about the movie being controversial, i would never call it blasphemous. The movie ultimately never makes one question about one's faith in Christianity. It arrives at the same destination all other Christ movies have, but to reach that destination it takes an unexpectedly risky path. A very underrated film, in my opinion, The Last Temptation of Christ surely deserves a higher place in Scorsese's much coveted filmography. If possible, do watch this with an open mind. You'll never forget it in your lifetime.

There is a lot to like in The Last Temptation of Christ directed by Martin Scorsese. It is one of his most ambitious films. I'm huge fan of his work. This movie is in line with his other religious epic 'Silence (2016)'.I appreciated what the movie was doing. I loved the way Jesus was portrayed ,struggling like everyone of us. We feel his dilemma , his uncertainty , his self doubt. Willem Dafoe gives one his best performances in this movie.But as Jesus was struggling with his temptations of lust, doubt and fear, I was myself struggling with my own temptation to turn this movie off. It does get pretty boring in the middle and my interest was waning.Still I stuck with it till the end and I'm glad I did. It was one of the most rewarding experience. Well worth sitting through 164 mins for. I knew Scorsese wouldn't let me down.

I do have to say how wrong this movie is. Some may agree with me, and many will not. However, I am not concerned with the argument many have with me, but concern is that the blasphemy in this film is deceiving many people, especially ones who already know Christ. Although I have problems with most of the film, mainly I'm annoyed with the second half of the film. The movie portrays Jesus not only running through trials and tribulation, but actually fell into temptation. The movie shows that Satan was able to trick Jesus by disguising himself as a little girl, and after seeing Jesus fall into temptation and marry Mary Magdalene and have sexual relations with her is purely disgusting. No where in the Bible does it say that Jesus had sexual relations with Mary Magdalene. No where in the Bible does Jesus defy God and follow Satan. The Good Word says, "Jesus cried out, 'Father why have you forsaken me'. It was only shortly after this Jesus gave up His Spirit and died." There is no jumping off the cross and joining the devil there. No! He died on the cross and after three days, He rose again. So where in that part of Scripture does Jesus marry Magdalene, and where does the Bible say he lived to be 80 years old?There is nothing in Scripture to support that. No my friends, when Jesus resurrected He carried on with the earth for 40 days before He was ascended into heaven. And the two angels stood near the disciples and said, "This same Jesus you saw going into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw Him go into heaven. I tell you the truth, if you think Jesus fell into temptation, then you are making Him and the Father to be a liar. Literally, anyone who thinks that Jesus had sex with Mary and married her and died at 80 is calling God a liar. For Jesus is the unblemished Lamb who was sacrificed for our sins, therefore, Jesus is sinless even on earth. If anyone does not believe this, they really need help, because I tell you now, the making of this movie was not prompted by the Holy Spirit, but by man's own fantasy through the prompting of demonic spirits.I'm not saying Jesus Christ is a fantasy, but this movie is. The way Jesus died in this film does not match the Word of God. Now, many people are wondering if I'm a child of God, and probably many are accusing me of being Satan's follower. Well, honestly if that accusation helps them sleep at night, then go right ahead, but I'm not going to believe them, for I believe in my Saviour, Jesus Christ, and I know deep down that He would not accept Satan's desires or be tricked by him in any way. The Devil is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44).Jesus had much to say to the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 23. He woed them seven times. Maybe you should take a look.

The 1980s seemed to be a hit or miss period for legendary director Martin Scorsese. His biopic "Raging Bull" scored Oscar gold while quirky comedy "After Hours" received mixed reviews and under-performed at the box office (now it is a cult classic from the director's catalog). However the legendary director found himself in hot water when he decided to tackle the controversial religious novel "The Last Temptation of Christ" by Nikos Kazantzakis. Many considered the film to be blasphemous to Christian beliefs and was labeled offensive by various religious groups and some critics. Over the last 30 years, the scope of the movie has been reassessed and opinions have changed to see the film in a more creative light.The film follows the trials and tribulations of Jesus Christ as he is portrayed as more human than the divine figure most faiths are familiar with. Jesus is faced with human temptations like self-doubt and lust (which was what incited much of the film's controversy) in his path to eventually become the Messiah. The narrative does include Biblical elements from the New Testament once Christ begins to follow his divine destiny, but it is not a strictly Biblical tale; more of an interpretation based on some theological theories that Jesus was only human (the debate continues especially with works like Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code").Playing the important title role of Christ is the always reliable Willem Dafoe in what should have been an Oscar nominated performance. While the role was originally offered to Scorsese's go-to muse of the time, Robert De Niro, the filmmakers ultimately picked the most unlikely yet in the end, ideal, casting choice. Willem Dafoe himself has stated over the years he is still shocked he pulled off such a role in playing the Messiah, but if one watches the film it is an acting masterclass. Dafoe brings a convincing vulnerability to Jesus, making the character seem believably human even when he starts to become more sure of his path to being the prodigal Son of God. The quality only increases as Dafoe deftly handles the internal struggle to either simply be an average man or become the divine Messiah; the revealing moment is perfectly represented when Jesus faces his desert isolation and is confronted by his inner temptations. When Jesus finally accepts his status as the Son of God, Dafoe himself almost has a God-like divinity as he embraces his destiny but maintains his crisis of faith until the film's fiery climax where Christ must make the ultimate choice for the fate of the world: continue living an illusion or renounce his errors and accept the gruesome fate he is meant to endure.Providing an equally bravado performance is underrated actress Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene (mostly referred by her surname in the movie). Her characterization is based on the divisive theory that Mary was a prostitute as depicted in the film (which has since been dis-proved by respected historians); a flawed woman who wishes for Jesus to abandon his divine path and be with her. The actress owns her scenes as she spouts venom at co-star Willem Dafoe, unleashing all her anger while masking a hidden sadness. Hershey, like her co-star, should have received an Oscar nomination for the depth she brings to Magdalene. She never becomes a stereotype nor does she allow herself to fade in the background, but maintains a presence even when not physically on-screen (Mary is portrayed as a black snake in a visual metaphor when Jesus experiences his temptations during visions). A special mention should be made for the cameo appearance of the late David Bowie as Pontious Pilate. The British musician holds his own on-screen with Willem Dafoe's Jesus (who remains mostly silent during the scene). Bowie is calm and commanding as he delivers his dialogue with authority while remaining stoic in body language and in his vocal delivery. The part of Pilate was out of character for the quirky singer, but in true Bowie fashion the singer stands out even when delivering his lines to the film's star. Even Bowie's final parting words echo and resonate, leaving an indelible mark on the narrative.The movie's only black spot in acting is the Razzie nominated performance of frequent Scorsese collaborator, Harvey Kietel as Judas Iscariot. Normally Kietel brings his A-game to his roles and knocks the part out of the park, but taking the pivotal role of Jesus's treacherous disciple seemed to be a misstep in the actor's prestigious resume. While numerous other actors maintain their natural accents, Kietel's native New York accent becomes overtly distracting especially as the actor over-exaggerates his lines. Not the most awful performance of Kietel's career, his acting pales in comparison to the compelling and far superior performance of Willem Dafoe as both actors share numerous scenes together. If you choose to disagree with me about my opinion, go right ahead as this is only my opinion (though shared by critics of the time and some audiences).Under Scorsese's directorial eye, the narrative never ceases to provide insight into its subject though the pacing does slow at times. The cinematography is breathtaking (filmed on location throughout Jordan in the Middle East) with its vast landscapes and eye-catching visuals for its symbolism. The screenplay is taut as it is adapted by Scorsese's regular screenwriter (later turned director) Paul Schrader. Schrader keeps the source material intact even as he intertwines iconic Biblical moments including the wedding where Jesus turned water into wine, the cleansing of the temple after Palm Sunday to the ultimate crucifixion of Christ at the film's conclusion. Go into the film with an open mind which can help you appreciate the mastery behind the religious undertones.