Review of Silence (2017) by Joseph B — 18 Mar 2017

Despite its length and slow pace the movie had me riveted for the entire two and a half hours for it's truly is a cinematographic masterpiece. It explores in a fascinating manner the nature of religious blindness and the willingness to die for the sake of religious ideals and ideas, although I tend to think that Scorsese would correct me and say that the movie is really about spirituality and the strength of faith and devotion.

I don't know Scorsese's views of religion, but given his religious background, previous movies and some hints at the end of "Silence," I think that this movie is much more pro Christianity than about showing how ridiculous it is.

I couldn't help thinking of how delusional both Jesuit priests and their followers, each in their own way, were, and how much more damage is done in the name of religion nowadays. No matter how you interpret it--either you are a true believer or a heathen, you have a good chance to find an important message in the movie which is going to stay with you.

One of other reviewers said that you don't like or dislike the movie but you let it stay with your and affect you after you have finished watching it, and that's something I definitely agree with.

I should also add that Garfield has really rehabilitated himself in my eyes with that movie after his unconvincing, silly and "too good to be true" disastrous performance in Gibson's recent religious saga "The hacksaw ridge".

Even though he is still quite a religious fanatic in "Silence," at least his performance here is much more reserved and believable.