The Last Temptation of Christ *** (1988, Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey) – Classic Movie Review 7034

Director Martin Scorsese’s 1988 movie about the life of Jesus Christ is one of the most controversial films of the Eighties, and it is a daring, difficult and important work. It was greeted, expectedly, mainly by howls of protest by religious groups and considerable indifference by paying patrons. There was one Oscar nomination, for Best Director, and two Golden Globe nominations, for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Barbara Hershey) and Best Original Score – Motion Picture (Peter Gabriel) but no wins.

Director Scorsese confidently re-examines Christ’s passion, with a skilful script by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) and haunting performances by Willem Dafoe (as Jesus of Nazareth), Barbara Hershey (as Mary Magdalene) and Harvey Keitel (as Judas).

Based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis,  the film challengingly sees Christ as a figure struggling all humans do with doubts and feelings, some sexual, but mostly this is a traditional, properly Roman Catholic account of the story, impressively re-creating life in biblical times. The last temptation is of course the final one on the cross.

Michael Ballhaus’s cinematography and Peter Gabriel’s score are first rate. David Bowie is cast as Pontius Pilate. Despite all the controversy, on a $7 million budget, it took only $8 million at the US box office.

It would make an ideal double bill with Scorsese’s Silence. Admire them you may, but they are hard to sit through, certainly not twice.

Also in the cast are Harry Dean Stanton, Irvin Kershner, Nehemiah Persoff, Verna Bloom, Roberts Blossom, André Gregory, Paul Greco, Steve Shill, Barry Miller, Gary Basaraba, Michael Been, Victor Argo, Paul Herman, John Lurie, Leo Burmester, Peggy Gormley, Randy Danson, Tomas Arana, Alan Rosenberg, Del Russel and Donald Hodson.

The Last Temptation of Christ is directed by Martin Scorsese, runs 164 minutes, is made by Cineplex Odeon and Universal, is released by Universal, is written by Paul Schrader, based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, is shot in Technicolor by Michael Ballhaus, is produced by Harry J Ufland and Barbara De Fina, is scored by Peter Gabriel, is designed by John Beard, with visual effects by Industrial Light & Magic.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7034

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