Sonic Cinema

Grade : A+ Year : 1988 Director : Martin Scorsese Running Time : 2hr 42min Genre : Drama, Religious

**I also shared my thoughts on “The Last Temptation of Christ” for Filmotomy’s blog about the 50 Best Films of 1988.

It’s not always clear to us why God allows some things to happen, either to us or to the world on a whole. But there’s a fundamental truth to the old saying of “everything happens for a reason.” That God doesn’t make his reasons clear to us is to challenge us to come up with the answers for ourselves. From that point on, it is our faith in that God to guide us in the direction he wants us to go, and our hope that he’ll correct us if we choose the wrong path along the way, either by his hand or that of one of his disciples on Earth.

This is one of the fundamental themes at the heart of Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ.” Based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, both novel and film are the story of a very human Christ (Willem Dafoe)- with the same weaknesses, frailties, and self-doubts as we all are prone to- learning to let God lead him in his ordained direction as the Messiah. The stops along the way we know- the drawing of the line in the sand and the mercy towards Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey); the 40 days in the desert; the raising of Larzarus from the dead; the meeting with John the Baptist; the Sermon on the Mount; the Last Supper; the betrayal of Judas (Harvey Keitel); the conversation with Pontius Pilate (David Bowie); and, of course, the crucifixtion.

Of course, those events are listed largely out of order here, but it just serves as a way of illustrating how reverential Kazantzakis’ retelling (adapted by longtime Scorsese screenwriters Paul Schrader and an uncredited Jay Cocks) was to the original story as we know it. All he’s done is tell it in a way that explores Christ’s life from a different angle, underplaying his clear divinity by taking his evolution from mere carpenter, born of a virgin mother mind you, to divine leader not as a given, but by making it a long and difficult change, where we aren’t always provided with the right answers, where we question the larger context in which things happen for us (Christ’s headaches at the beginning of this film, for instance), and will stumble along the way. But remember, “everything happens for a reason.” And eventually, Jesus takes his rightful place on the cross with humility and grace, allowing for the redemption of all mankind with his supreme sacrifice.

Now, I’ve often wondered in the years since seeing the film why this is such a blasphemous idea for people to wrap their heads around. Who’s to say Christ didn’t suffer self-doubt in his path? Who’s to say he wasn’t lured by the same temptations we are everyday? Who’s to say he didn’t have some of the same weaknesses we work to overcome in our own lives? Of course, the Bible tells it otherwise, and Kazantzakis’ book is generally taken as a fiction, but if God did make his own son human, wouldn’t he make him human in every way, and not just in the sense of being flesh and blood, living among us? And more importantly, wouldn’t he be an even more inspiring individual for possessing our same weaknesses, and being able to overcome them all the same to sacrifice himself for our sins? To make him just human in the physical sense would be to simply render him a superhuman…something more than human. And while that kind of character makes for a good superhero movie, the alternative (as presented by Kazantzakis) makes for a more compelling human drama, and a more triumphant role model to try and emulate in our own lives.

Of course, it’s not so much this concept that the film’s critics- many of whom had not seen the film (and probably still haven’t)- find so controversial about the film- it’s the film’s last half. (Be forewarned- **Spoilers** follow, so if you want to watch the film fresh if you haven’t seen it yet, leave now and come back when you’ve seen it.)

We have followed Jesus to the cross on Golgotha, hanging next to the two thieves we know from the Gospels. After he yells, “Father! Why hast thou foresaken me?,” a little girl comes out from the crowd, and reveals herself to Jesus as his guardian angel. He’s suffered enough, she says to him. He has proven himself before God- now he can get down from the cross and carry on his life as a man. He marries Mary Magdalene, they have sex (a tastefully shot scene by Scorsese and his master cinematographer Michael Ballhaus), and though she dies not long after, he goes to live with Martha and Mary (the sisters of Lazarus), fathers children, and lives out the rest of his days. An interaction with Saul (Harry Dean Stanton) one day, who’s preaching of Jesus of Nazareth, is key to this entire section of the film.

We later find Jesus on his death bed, with chaos and fires going on outside. The disciples- now older- come to visit him. With them is Judas, who’s lived for years with bitterness and hatred towards Jesus for not dying on the cross like he was meant to. When Jesus points towards the angel, Judas reveals its’ true nature. The angel is, in fact, Satan, who has tempted Christ away from his purpose. Jesus then gets out of his bed, and recommits himself to his Father and his plan. We then cut back to Jesus on the cross, where he is then free to say, “It is accomplished.”

Now, just from that very basic summary, it should be clear to many free-thinking individuals that everything between the two iconic lines we hear from Christ on the cross is, in fact, a dream and the “last temptation” of the title. Kazantzakis and Scorsese aren’t saying that he literally comes down from the cross, but speculating that maybe while there, Satan had one final temptation to offer him, a final trick played on this man in an attempt to subvert and undo his Father’s will. It’s not hard to see what, in this passage of the film, got fundamentalists so riled up about the film (to the point that they offered to buy it to destroy it). But who’s to say we aren’t allowed to speculate with Scorsese and Kazantzakis, who use this section to crystallize their theme of man overcoming sin to find redemption in a way that doesn’t degradate Christ but raise him higher in our minds by truly making him one of us.

In discussing the film, I’ve found- as I have with many other reviews- that a typical review isn’t possible. That’s the surest sign of its’ value as art (though it hasn’t allowed for proper discussion of the excellent score by Peter Gabriel, whose ethnic sounds no doubt inspired John Debney’s later work on “The Passion of the Christ,” the performances, or the editing by Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker, who keeps the film’s 163 minutes moving briskly).

I’m not what most people would consider a religious person. I haven’t been to church in many years, and when I did, I didn’t get much out of it personally. Some people I know do, and they are all the better for it. However, I’ve found over the years I have worked towards a fundamental spirituality that’s rooted in Christianity, but not necessarily tied to all of its’ beliefs. On that note, films such as “The Last Temptation of Christ,” “The Passion of the Christ,” Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Andrei Rublev,” Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru” (the latter two of which aren’t religious, per se, but immensely spiritual in how they look at man’s journey for fulfillment in life), and many others, have been instrumental in that process, the first two not because I hold Christ’s story and sacrifice as absolute truth, but because I do find myself inspired by it when a filmmaker presents it in a way that pays reverence to the man, not the institution that preaches his message. Films like Scorsese’s, Gibson’s, Tarkovsky’s, and even Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” have been my church over the years, providing me more genuine thought about what part religion can play in my life than my years of churchgoing ever did. Of course, it is possible that I’m at a point of my life where organized religion would mean something to me, but like every organization, it’s ability to be corrupted by ideas more political than spiritual, by bottom lines more padded in financial gain than spiritual gain, make it flawed, and that is an idea that frightens me. I’d rather just continue that bumpy road towards figuring out the answers for myself. At the very least, I know I have a guide who’ll point me in the right direction…even if it sometimes takes me some time to find the right path.

**The following is an exchange I had with a friend of mine, who commented on the review when I posted it on MySpace recently. Because of its’ fantastic depth and passion, I felt it fitting to post here as well. Enjoy!**

“Nice review… havent seen this movie yet personally… on another note… those movies that you listed are laughable to base your beliefs off of… because they are just that “movies” and they portray just what the writers and director want you to see in the main subject, and in this case religion. you of all people should know that man… well im sure you do…
the only place you need to look for non corrupted truth is in the Word of God. you dont need to listen to anything else… attending church is great, and especially if you can find a church home where you feel most at home and welcome… but whats in your heart is what really matters… God knows your heart… just like he knows how many hairs are on your head… so he would especially know the extent of your relationship with him as your savior. and as someone who is truly blessed in life… as you are… (myself included) im sure you can see just as i do how precious our God given life is…
so sure, some people dont get much out of going to church… you get what you put in. (exactly) Gods love is given out FREELY. yes free… what else in life is really that free? the key is really opening your heart to him… giving your life to the God that created the heavens and the earth.. .and letting him lead your life. and believe me… he has a MUCH better road map that we do… because its at all about the “road to fulfillment” in “this” life… but it is in fact about eternity… and thats a long time… just sit or a second and think about the word eternity… its a little mind blowing… just makes you glad that you have a relationship with Christ.
anywho man… im always impressed with your writing and thought capabilities… very well worded and overall good coverage… just what i expected from the movie man you are… lol… as always..take it easy…
see you @ Regal
Thomas Fox”

“Thomas-

Brian”