The Last Temptation of Christ

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Director: Martin Scorsese

Stars: Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, David Bowie, Harry Dean Stanton

Year: 1988 Running Time: 163 mins Rating:

Though shrouded in controversy, Martin Scorsese's dramatization of the last days of Christ provokes more thought than outrage. Willem Dafoe is the doubt-ridden Jesus, driven by his humanity yet deeply troubled by his divine destiny. Christian sensibilities were offended by a hallucinatory sequence in which Jesus fantasises about Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey), but Scorsese and Taxi Driver writer Paul Schrader make this a respectful adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis's speculative novel. Harvey Keitel is Judas while David Bowie makes an interesting Pontius Pilate.

Review

This contentious but sincere film caused a storm of protest when it was released in the late Eighties, uncut by the British censor. In this version of the story of Jesus Christ, he is a man racked with doubts and confusion about his calling but goes on to complete his holy mission. It is only when he is upon the cross that he sees a vision of how his life might have been... Heading an interesting cast, Willem Dafoe gives a powerful performance as Jesus, Harvey Keitel plays Judas and David Bowie is Pontius Pilate.