Review of Last Days in the Desert (2016) by Tommy T — 05 Aug 2016

While I admit McGregor initially seemed a miscast to me, after watching the film, I found he did marvelous job at playing the Messiah who is at times uncomfortably human. Christians may have a hard time swallowing this portrayal of Jesus (or Yeshua, as he's called in the film), but that is perhaps the point of it. The film is not trying to create an accurate reflection of the bible, nor does it ask that you take what it portrays as truth. It is simply offering a a view point; perhaps Jesus was more human and more like us than we wanted to admit.

Paralleling Yeshua, who in his seclusion sought to understand himself as the son of God and the role he has to play, is a family living out in the desert whom Yeshua tries to help. The son, who is becoming strained from his fathers expectations and plans for him, struggles with being a faithful son, despite wanting to follow his own path. The family, and the actors who portray them, are in my opinion a highlight of the film.

Along with Yeshua is the devil, portrayed as a craft doppelgänger of Yeshua. This is actually effective at nearly giving the illusion that the doubts and questions he tries to force onto Yeshua may be coming from himself. The Devil, similarly to Jesus, is also giving a hauntingly human portrayal, which comes off more powerfully than it does for Yeshua. While the human portrayal of Jesus may leave many viewers polarized or perplexed, the devils portrayal has a simpler message. He is a figure that is perhaps worthy of our pity rather than our contempt, which is the most religious statement this film has to make. Rather than aiming at Christian viewers, however, this film seems to be made more for fathers and sons.

While the actors great performances, the beautiful cinematography, and hauntingly desolate music that matches the setting make the film enjoyable to watch, it ultimately comes off as a bit aimless and will likely leave most viewers scrambling for the meaning. The crucifixion scene, while powerful as always, comes off as a bit tacked on and a bit in your face with the final shot of a modern father in son in the same desert being just confusing and unnecessary.