I find all the hoopla surrounding Mel Gibson's new film "The Passion of the Christ" to be oddly deja vu. It seems like anytime some unlucky sod decides to make a film about Christ, people are going to complain, picket and whine. In 1988 (was it that long ago?) director Martin Scorsese made an extraordinary film that was greeted with equally peculiar fervor - "The Last Temptation of Christ."
To this day, I remember the picket lines when purchasing a ticket on opening weekend. The picketers held handmade signs, wore Polo golf shirts and lugged around befuddled children on ever-increasing hips. What disturbed the most was just about all the picketers had NOT seen the film. Blockbuster soon joined the pathetic charge by refusing to stock the movie.
After viewing "The Last Temptation of Christ," I was genuinely stunned. In many ways that day and perhaps for the first time in my life, I realized the majority of the populace was made up of complete idiots. The film was an incredible achievement, with earnest performances, thoughtful dialogue (based on the Nikos Kazantzakis novel of the same name) and the always-imaginative direction of Scorsese. I applauded how human and identifiable Jesus Christ was portrayed.
When watching "The Last Temptation of Christ," one has the feeling if this story truly did happen (another debate for another time), then it would have happened much as it did in this film. It is violent, coarse and inspirational. The great controversy was its portrayal of Christ having an affair with prostitute Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey). But it's not really an affair more than it is Christ, at the moment of death, imagining life's choices. Just what if he had chosen a life of domestic simplicity and warm security with Mary, rather than take responsibility for his calling?
I doubt I'll spoil the film's ending by saying Christ eventually accepts his choice, bloody and scarred, agonizingly twisted upon the cross. He smiles at the moment of death, accepting his fate for all of mankind. Now I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt people will convert to Charles Manson's Family after watching this film.
Article comments
1 - sydney smith
It's especially disturbing that some of the most vocal critics are those who haven't seen the film. Frank Rich of the New York Times especially stands out in this field. It's astounding that someone who has made his living and his name as a critic could deliver such scathing criticism as he's delivered without ever seeing the film. I can't help but think he would never have treated the Last Temptation of Christ that way.
As far as Gibson's directing - I'm hoping The Passion will be far better than Braveheart. The problem with Braveheart was that Gibson was both star and director, and too obviously enthralled with himself.
2 - Chris Kent
No film or book should be reviewed without being seen or read. Simple as that. I thought "The Last Temptation of Christ" was a respectable, reverential treatment of Jesus. I could relate to Scorsese's interpretation of this man.
I found parts of "Braveheart" to be touching, but ultimately predictable, low brow and derivative. The battle scenes reminded me of (and in some cases ripped off) "Henry V."
Gibson does not have the directing skill to pull off such an overwhelmingly ambitious project as "The Passion." But I have not seen the film, so I could very well be wrong.
3 - Dave
I can tell you that the soundtrack for Gibson's film isn't going to be as good as the one for Scorcese's.
4 - Eric Olsen
Excellent thoughts Chris - I have never scene the Scorsese, but through your description I feel i have. Thanks!
5 - Chris Kent
No doubt Dave. Peter Gabriel did a fantastic job!
Thanks Eric!
6 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
And there i was gonna write a piece about Last Temptation. Beat me to it, Chris, and a fine job too. To be honest, whilst i like Last Temptation very much, i always felt it was a great script burdened with pedestrian direction. Watching it after seeing Bravheart's Passion, i feel that way even more so. I think it's an incredibly thought provoking work, but visually its TV-Movie level. Which is a damn shame. It seems Scorsese should make his films the second he gets the idea. He waited years for Last Temptation and it turned out dissapointing. Ditto Gangs Of New York. Also, it turns out that great ending, where the film runs out, was actually an accident that just happened to look great. Good old Marty. The film wasn't shown publicly here in Northern Ireland until 1992, and when i bought a VHS copy a few years back (had to order it), the owner of the shop made me take it in a dark plastic bag so as no one on the street would know i had it. Imagine! You'd think i'd just bought Anal Rampage 7 or some-such.
7 - Chris Kent
Duke,
Hilarious story about Last Temptation! My favorite video store at the time of release wouldn't carry the film either. It had such a stigma, and was really just a lot of sound and fury signifying nada....
I loved Last Temptation and am also among the minority who loved Gangs of NY. Both films are flawed, but have extraordinary moments as well. There has never really been a Scorsese film that I have entirely disliked.....
I look at someone like Coppola or Lucas, and I see a shell of a once great talent. I look at Scorsese and I see a man with hopefully two great films left in him.....
8 - Sandra Smallson
Err..The Last temptation of Christ caters to those who refuse to see Jesus as this superhuman, without sin character, instead of this Saint that all Christians see him as. I am sure even Mel Gibson expected this silly comparison with Last Temptation even while making his movie. I certainly did and I am surprised it has taken this long for someone to post it on Blog.
Nonsense! Poppycock! The whole point of Christianity and Christ is that we DO BELIEVE he is/was superhuman and without sin. So, yes. How dare Scorcese make a movie that implies the fella may have had an affair with Mary Magdalene?! However, he was entitled to make it as Mel Gibson is entitled to make his movie. What next? A comparison with Jesus Christ Superstar?..LOL. What's new?!
I love the soundtrack for the Passion. I thought each composition suited absolutely every part in which it was involved. Especially at the end when he rose and walked out of the tomb. I loved Braveheart. I like Lethal weapon, Tequila sunrise, What women want..hey, maybe I'm just a Mel Gibson fan and you are not.
Like I have said before, I find it hard to give any weight to critic opinions of this movie because they can not seem to seperate the movie from the director. You gotta choose. Are you criticising the directing of the movie? Or the story the movie is telling? Or the acting? What? Cos Chris, your problem seems to be the story the movie is telling.
Though I only know this because of our interactions rather than anything you've said about the movie. Since you spend unnecessary time talking about Gibson and marketing.
If you have a problem with the story, you have a problem with the Bible. That, my dear friend, is another topic altogether. Pick your battles and stick to point.
9 - Chris Kent
Sandra,
Good God woman, check the date of this post. This was written about a month before the release of The Passion.
Might I suggest decaf?....;)
10 - Sandra Smallson
Written a month before the release but you have written a post comparing both movies and that is the post I am responding to obviously. If it made no mention of the Passion, I wouldn't have responded now , would I? I drink Tea. Perhaps, you should stop drinking too much coffee. Caf OR decaf..
11 - Chris Kent
Sandra,
You're like that damn gopher in Caddyshack - and yes, I'm Bill Murray trying to figure out just where the hell you are.....
I wrote the post because I thought all of the hoopla surrounding The Passion was reminiscent of what happened with Last Temptation back in 1989.
I would change a few things about this post in retrospect. The Passion has become a far more important cultural phenomenon than I expected. Its impact on our culture is far more substantial than Last Temptation. I still think Last Temptation is a better film, but The Passion is better than I anticipated.
I have always trumpted the beauty of Last Temptation, which was the main reason I wrote this post, to bring to light a film many did not see due to advance publicity and video stores refusing to stock it.
I have never seen Jesus Christ Superstar and don't have much interest in checking that dog out. However, I have seen Vanishing Point, and since that film does have a bit of Christ-like symbolism and any post even remotely connected to The Passion seems to draw comments like flies to shit, perhaps I will write a post comparing the two films. Kowalski = Jesus Christ; Super Soul = John the Baptist; naked lady on a motorcycle = well hell, a naked lady on a motorcycle!
I happen to like my coffee Ms. Sandra from across the sea, and I shall continue to drink it, thank ye kindly! Being a Texan, I avoid tea, unless it is iced, of course......