Review of The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) by Kellen V — 28 Jul 2010

One of Martin Scorsese's most intimate/personal films to date. Last Temptation of Christ stars William Dafoe as Jesus who is torn between being the son of God/Messiah and facing his human sided emotions/needs.

The film isn't actually based on the bible, it is actually taken from story by Nikos Kazantzakis. The film chronicles Jesus' journey as he tries to uncover how to bring the world together/save the soul.

We see him in Rome where he actually isn't happy with himself and helps the Romans build crucifixes, Judas(played by Harvey Keitel) who is sent to kill Jesus suspects he is the messiah and wants him to help wage war on the Romans.

Jesus also meets Mary Magdalene/various apostles throughout the story. One of the finest scenes is when William Dafoe is in the desert waiting for a sign from God, but rather than finding a sign he is tempted by the devil in different forms.

First he encounters a black cobra telling him God wants you to lay with a woman and start a family, Second he meets a lion telling him how greedy he is, and last is a flame which Dafoe says: "Lucifer!", causing the flame to be extinguished.

It's a truly beautiful/tense scene and wonderfully acted by Dafoe you can see his pain all over his face. The films cinematography is done quite well also, I loved the use of the color red in background, specifically when Jesus takes his heart to show his followers after his return from the desert.

The script is well written and in typical Paul Schrader fashion does a wonderful job of showing a lonely man who is tormented my numerous feelings. Scorsese's other films such as goodfellas, taxi driver, raging bull often overshadow Last Temptation of Christ but, When it is all said and done we'll be talking about how this underrated and overlooked gem is one of his best works to date.