Review of The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) by David K — 10 Aug 2009

Probably Scorsese's most personal film, "The Last Temptation of Christ" isn't just a biopic/retelling of Jesus. It is an interpretation of a mystery that has baffled believers since Christianity began. It is a very humanized look into the very origins of Christianity itself. The film is a challenge.

On one hand, the film needs to be a film. It does succeed it creating a Jesus Christ who has a story to be told. We are first introduced to him as a struggling adult who is desperately trying to find an answer. To what, even he doesn't know the answer to that. To me, this is very compelling storytelling. Set aside the fact that this is the "savior of humanity," and you get a tormented and troubled man trying to find peace.

On the other hand, the film needs to bet set in some sort of "religious reality." This story didn't come out of thin air and is based on some highly controversial material. (I'm speaking of the Gospels here.) Granted, the film itself is based on a book that is fiction, but that book is based on the Gospels. So, a balancing act must be made to provide some religious truth to the story all the while trying to show "another side" of Christ that most, if not everyone, hasn't seen.

For all of this, I think the film succeeds. We get a conflicted man, just as we are all conflicted, who is relatable in his love, anger, and anything in between. His message is virtuous and reminiscent of the Gospels. So why tell this story?

Well "The Last Temptation of Christ" refers to the last 40 minutes of the film when Jesus "envisions" his life as he miraculously comes down from the cross. He marries Magdeline, experiences loss, bears children, grows old and, according to him, lives a happy and fulfilling life. That is, until Judas visits him on his death bed. His final speech is the most compelling material of the entire film. In fact, it works so well that it elevates the film to a level that I didn't expect.

Most of the film, even though it's from Scorsese, doesn't really feel like a Scorsese film. It is told in a conventional manner that becomes almost boring by the midway point. It's really what turned me off about the film. I'm sure Scorsese toned down his "style" for the sake of the "substance," but I think the film suffers from it. After all, this is an interpretation of an interpretation, so I think he had every right to make it his own, but sometimes it doesn't feel that way.

In any case, "The Last Temptation of Christ" is a revelation, not for just religious skeptics, but for any storyteller afraid to deal with religion. It proves that it can be done, and it can be done well. The film never negates Jesus as the son of God, instead it shows us the side of Christ that the Gospels seem to gloss over, the human side. And for that, in my opinion, the film is just as valuable to understanding the mystery of Jesus as the Gospels.