The Seed is Love....Don't You Get It?

The Last Temptation of Christ Starring: Willem Defoe, Barbara Hershey, Harvey Keitel, Harry Dean Stanton Small Notables: David Bowie, John Lurie Director: Martin Scorsese Rating: *** 1/2 Adventurous: !!! Where you can find it: Anywhere except Blockbuster (which banned it way back in the 1980's) Similar Films: Harry Beanbag's Funhouse O' Christ, Nosferatu

In 1988, amid heavy picketing and boycotting from fundamentalist Christian groups, Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Mean Streets) released his powerful film, The Last Temptation of Christ. Centering itself on the internal conflict of Jesus' human side, and featuring a cast of New York's finest indie-actors, Christ has quietly resonated among religious philosophers and film fans alike. Though it is not as good as many independent films that have been released in the film festival explosion of the last 10 years, when it is good, it's great. Willem Defoe (Shadow of a Vampire, Spider-Man), the pride of Appleton, Wisconsin, stars as the waifish wonder, Jesus, and Harvey Keitel (Taxi Driver, Mean Streets) takes on the role of an overtly-Brooklyn Judas. As the film begins, Defoe is openly questioning his existence, his desire to be the Messiah, and the correct path to freedom for Israel. He has taken up the charge of carpenter, which is the same as the biblical Jesus. From that small connection, the paths of the two diverge. In Last Temptation, Christ has plied his trade to create crosses for crucifixion. His struggle begins from the first scene, when Judas asks him why he assists the Romans in their gruesome executions. Though Christ doesn't doesn't have an answer, his actions speak to his lack of faith. It is from this point that Jesus must ascend to his rightful place among such revered figures as Mickey Mouse, and Steven Spielberg. Along the way, this version of Jesus makes enough head fakes to unnerve Christians everywhere. And that is long after the controversy surrounding this work began. The Last Temptation of Christ almost led to [Nicos] Kazantzakis' excommunication from the Greek Orthodox Church. The novel was placed on the Roman Catholic Index of Forbidden Books, and Protestant fundamentalist groups in the United States tried to have it banned from libraries (thereby helping to make it a bestseller). -Carol Iannone, The Last Temptation Reconsidered It took Martin Scorsese over 10 years to get the movie made. In the process of finding a financier, he saw his budget slashed as was dropped from Paramount Pictures, eventually finding a home at Universal Studios. Interesting fact of note: When he began conceptualizing the film in the mid 1970's, Scorsese thought Leonardo DiCaprio would be perfect in the lead role. Unfortunately for the director, DiCaprio was only just in the process of being immaculately conceived. Scorsese would have to wait another decade before settling for Willam (who by the way, really enjoys cheese-on-cheese snack crackers). When Kazantzakis wrote the book in 1955, Lolita had not yet been published, nor had many other socially confrontational novels. That Last Temptation deals so heavily in the concept that Jesus was human is very difficult for many Christians to stomach. There are numerous papers available on the web which analyze the religious aspects of the movie better than this humble reporter--I recommend the above-cited paper by Carol Iannone located here. But it seems only fair to judge this one for yourself, and judge I shall... What do I think that makes The Last Temptation of Christ worthy? More worthy than, say, The Passion of the Christ, or The Ten Commandments, or even The 700 Club w/ Pat Roberson? Nothing, really...unless you're planning on analyzing religion using more energy than you would to watch a Raisin Bran commercial. Instead of being fed through a Schiavo tube, Christ is built over almost three hours of dialogue (both internal and external). And in the process, the viewer is asked to think about What He/She Would Do in Jesus' shoes. In those loafers philosophers seem comfortable, and fundamentalists irate. The point that really pisses off the Christians is a scene near the end where Jesus is seen procreating with Mary Magdalene. The argument is this: 1) Jesus would not do this, and 2) people shouldn't even say that he could have imagined it. According to their philosophy Jesus is divine, and people have no freedom of speech...so I assume this means his dying doesn't absolve ALL sins.

Caucasian Jesus and Barbara Hershey

The most worthy aspects of the film technique are the music, composed by Peter "Sledgehammer" Gabriel, and the beautiful cinematography. The shots of the Fertile Crescent and the patchwork quilt of its inhabitants make you thirsty for a trip to the Red Sea. But no area of the movie compares to the gorgeous soundtrack. I have to admit that "Passion: Music for the Last Temptation of Christ" is one of my favorite albums of all time. Though the beauty of the music is not fully realized here--it seems like different takes, and even some added instruments, were used in the movie--the African percussion combined with Gabriel's, well, passionate voice create a mood worthy of a crucifixtion.

Two things to watch for: 1) The interpretation of Judas as devoted follower, rather than traitor. Keitel plays the kind of friend you'd want to have your back in a brawl, again baring his Brooklyn incisors. 2) David Bowie as Pontius Pilate. A wonderful turn for the singer/actor. Seeing Pilate as just another punitive leader in the long chain of history gives the character a very human side. No longer a man of evil malace, as the bible might tell, Pilate is able to sum up the fears of the Roman government in only a few short lines.