Review of The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) by Rowell Q — 18 Jan 2008

[size=2][font=Verdana]Martin's Scorsese's most controversial, and maybe the best, film of his career is this adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis's novel, The Last Temptation of Christ. It is an imaginative account of the life of Jesus Christ. It depicts his struggles with his humanity as he fulfills what he is destined to be. [/font].

[font=Verdana]Here, Jesus is very different from the Jesus that we know. At times he is weak and doubtful. Unlike him, Judas is the stronger character. He acts as Christ's confidant and conscience.[/font].

[font=Verdana]Willem Dafoe is effective as the vulnerable Jesus Christ. Harvey Keitel also portrayed Judas with depth and strength. The supporting casts also gave notable performances including Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene, Andre Gregory as John the Baptist and David Bowie as Pontius Pilate.[/font].

[font=Verdana]Visually, the film is astonishing. It is as if you are watching a moving painting. The film also gives haunting images that are thought-provoking such as the resurrection of Lazarus or the crucifixion of Christ. [/font].

[font=Verdana]But above all, the film is about redemption. The message is as powerful as the film itself. It is the type of film that will linger and will make you ponder on your own existence. It takes a courageous and a great filmmaker to bring this novel to life and I salute Martin Scorsese for that. He truly is a genius.[/font][/size].