Review of The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) by Adam W — 28 Feb 2009
It's remembered for the controversy it inspired at the time amongst simple-minded fundamentalists who didn't understand the movie's intentions (but how could they; they mostly hadn't seen it).
It should be remembered as one of Scorsese's best movies. Dafoe is perfect in bringing Jesus to a human level, and this allows the movie to speak to us without the usual reverance and tedium that accompany the story.
Atypically for Scorsese it's almost all filmed outdoors, but no one else could have made this movie. Jesus' responses to women are pure Scorsese; he doesn't know what his feelings for Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey) mean or what to do with them.
The music, by Peter Gabriel, adds to the sense of freedom from time and place; the music is from everywhere. It's about Jesus' choice in human terms, and his duality, and as someone who is devoutly unreligious I found it powerful.
This review of The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) was written by Adam W on 28 Feb 2009.
The Last Temptation of Christ has generally received very positive reviews.
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