"
The Last Temptation of Christ"
**** (out of ****)
In celebration of Easter, I wanted to take a look at Martin Scorsese's controversial, misunderstood masterpiece, "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988).
Of all the religious movies that have been made why did I chose this one? Why couldn't I chose a more "acceptable" film? One that provides a more biblically accurate depiction of Christ. The short answer is because I didn't want to.
This may surprise many Americans to learn this but when Martin Scorsese released "The Last Temptation of Christ" some people complained. I know what you're thinking, you find it hard to believe Americans would over-react to something and start complaining. We are after all such a quiet and reserved people not given to faux "moral outrage". But you must remember this was 1988. As a society we have learned to advanced intellectually since than and are better able to drown out extremists voices on the religious and political spectrum. Of course I am lying and being sarcastic!
"The Last Temptation of Christ" was officially declared by the Catholic Church as being "morally offensive". The religious right - many of whom hadn't seen the film - condemned the film for it's depiction of Jesus Christ as a man. Not only a man but a flawed man. The church contended the film was an act of blasphemy. In a recent interview with USA Today, Willem Dafoe - who portrays Jesus - expressed his initial heartache when the film opened and commented how he felt the protesting hurt the distribution of the film.
None of this is terribly interesting to me but I mention it to give readers a sense of historical context. I am sure if this film was released today it would be met with the same fervor reaction from religious groups. I am not a theologian. I don't care how accurate a depiction the film is of Jesus' life. I would rather discuss the film as a work of art. A piece of fiction. I sincerely believe it is not a sin to watch this film. No film, book, poem, song or statue will lead us to the fiery gates of hell because we chose to engage it. I have two parents that ingrained morals and values within me. I was taught the difference between right and wrong. I even attended Catholic school during my elementary years. "The Last Temptation of Christ" will not lead you astray. If it does, your moral faith wasn't strong to begin with. That's why I feel comfortable writing about this movie during this holy time and why I don't consider it an act of blasphemy.
So many of Martin Scorsese's films revolve around themes of guilt, redemption and loyalty. Take a look at "GoodFellas" (1990), "Taxi Driver" (1976), "Raging Bull" (1980), "Mean Streets" (1973), "Gangs of New York" (2002) and even "The Departed" (2006). What greater canvass to address these themes than by examining the life of Jesus Christ. I would assume that is what drew Scorsese to this material based on Nikos Kazantzakis' novel of the same title.
The film states immediately that the events it depicts are not based on any of the Gospels. This is a fictional work with the objective of dramatically examining the duality of Jesus - both man and the son of God. While believers may often acknowledge this duality, do they fully comprehend the implications of it? What exactly must it feel like to be mortal and divine? What kind of struggles would that present? More specifically, what did Jesus undergo? The Bible doesn't give us a day by day account of Jesus' activities for the 33 years he walked among us. "Last Temptation" wants to tell Jesus' story in ways the average viewer can understand and relate to. The dramatic key to the film is the emphasis on Jesus being a man and thus struggling with the various temptations all mankind faces.
At one point in the film Jesus (Dafoe) confesses to a stranger his struggles. He confides there are times he gets angry and other times he feels lust but he never acts on these impulses. He doesn't act on those impulses out of fear of upsetting God. Here is a story of Jesus himself experiencing Catholic guilt. Jesus is being subjected to all the struggles his followers must endure. This humanizing of Jesus I believe makes this a relatable depiction. Now in modern everyday terms we can understand acts of faith.
Scorsese and his film create other contrasts from the Bible as in its presentation of the friendship between Jesus and Judas (Harvey Keitel). Here it is Judas who is Jesus' most devoted follower. Judas, originally hired to kill Jesus for his participation in the crucifixion of Jewish rebels against the Romans, is convinced Jesus is the Messiah. Judas and the other Apostles follow Jesus as he spreads a message of love.
Scorsese's Jesus however is portrayed as one full of doubt and uncertainty. Now that he has these followers, what will he do with them? Where will he lead them to? What is his purpose? What message must he spread? Initially Jesus believes God wants him to spread a message of love but then later believes, through John the Baptist (Andre Gregory), that his message should be one of promoting force and having the rebels fight back against Roman oppression. Notice in these sequences Jesus now wears a bandana, as if he is in charge of a street gang. Jesus reveals to Judas, God only tells him what he needs to know. Piece by piece. Eventually he comes to the realization that he was put on this earth to die on the cross.
This aspect of the film reminded me of Nicholas Ray's
"King of Kings" (1961) which also created a fictional storyline involving Judas being torn between the messages of Jesus (love) and Barabbas (violence) concerning how best to deal with injustice. Because it was made in the 1960s I felt the movie was making a commentary on the Civil Rights movement and the differing messages of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. With the "Last Temptation" being released in Reagan's America, I wonder if there was a political commentary being made here. A movement having lots of followers but no direction. Like a political party or Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority.
For as much as "Last Temptation" changes about biblical teachings, in other ways it presents the viewers with many familiar stories and miracles they would expect from a biblical film. It may not be immediately clear to us but we do get a version of the Sermon on the Mount and hear Jesus reference some of the Beatitudes. We get a version of the miracle as Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. We see Jesus resurrect Lazarus. And, fittingly for this film, we also get a sequence based on Matthew 4:1-11, when Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and was tempted by Satan in the desert. As well as a shorten version of the Passion and the Agony in the Garden, where believers will tell you Jesus did express fear and prayed to God that he may be spared - "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by".
There is also a moment in "Last Temptation" that made me smile. There is a sequence where the Apostles are waiting for Jesus to return and begin to debate among themselves if they should continue waiting. Judas becomes visibly annoyed by this conversation and yells they will stay and wait. Afterwards, Peter (Victor Argo) agree with Judas. Judas then mocks Peter and tells him, he's like a rock. You can't change his mind. Of course this is a reference to Jesus referring to Peter as a rock he will build his church on.
This fierce devotion to Jesus explains why Judas was chosen to be the one to betray Jesus resulting in his crucifixion. The other Apostles, it is believed, wouldn't be strong enough to commit such an act.
The most challenging aspect of the film however is the suggestion that Jesus wanted to get married and have children. In "Last Temptation" he marries Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey) but starts a family with Lazarus' sisters. Of course not wanting to reveal too much to readers, I would like to bring your attention to the film's title.
It is the words the "Last Temptation" that are significant to the film and a key ingredient to interpreting the events of the film. By the film's conclusion "The Last Temptation of Christ" reinforces what all followers believe. The film's path leads us to the same destination as Christian doctrine does. That is what made the "moral outrage" the film was greeted with so disappointing. This is truly a beautiful work of art commenting on the sinner and saint in all of us.
Luckily some in Hollywood were brave enough to stand up to the protests and Martin Scorsese received the film's only Academy Award nomination for best director. But how unfortunate Willem Dafoe wasn't nominated for best actor. What an emotionally complex performance he delivers. Barbara Hershey meanwhile was nominated for a Golden Globe in the best supporting actress category. The late film critic, Gene Siskel, of Siskel & Ebert fame,
declared the film the best movie of 1988 and called it a "recruiting film for Christianity". Bare in mind Gene Siskel was Jewish.
Since I am writing this review during "the year of me" - year's worth of reflections about films important to me - I'd like to share a brief story of my first interaction with this film. The movie had just been released on VHS and my father rented it. After my mother found out what he had done, she became very upset and couldn't believe he would bring the movie into our home. In her eyes this was a terrible sin my father had committed. There's a glimpse into what my childhood was like.
"The Last Temptation of Christ" is a powerfully tender and intellectually provoking exploration of Christ's duality, the nature of divinity, themes of redemption and commentary on man's inner conflict regarding faith.
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