The Last Tempation of Christ

    The next movie to be examined is arguably the most controversial movie ever made (Kinnard and Davis 207).  The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) was directed by Martin Scorsese and based on a book written by Nikos Kazantzakis.  Scorsese had always been interested in making a Jesus movie, but he wanted to do something new with the genre.  Rather than base his movie on the gospels, he decided to base it on the controversial Kazantzakis book by the same name.  Because of this decision, he had a hard time finding a studio to back his movie.  Several expressed interest,* but pulled out because of the controversy involved.   Finally, Universal Pictures said they would back the film, but with a relatively small budget of 6.5 million dollars (Baugh 51).
     In making the film, Scorsese was very aware of the genre of the "Jesus film."  He had devoted much time to studying earlier films and much of what he does is a reaction to these.  In his casting he departs from tradition.  He casts in the part of Jesus Willem Dafoe, a well-known actor.  Dafoe's earlier roles in Platoon (1986) and To Live and die in L.A. (1985) would not normally lead one to think of him as a possible actor for Jesus (Stern, Jefford and Debona 293).  But perhaps, given Scorsese's earlier films like Raging Bull (1980) and Taxi Driver (1976), Dafoe might fit pretty well within Scorsese's vision.  Also as a reaction, Scorsese makes a valiant attempt to de-westernize the Jesus story.  He chooses to film the movie in Morocco, and has a rather exotic score composed by Peter Gabriel, which gives the movie a real Middle Eastern feel.  Scorsese also tries to include as much authentic ancient Jewish tradition as he can into the film, from sacrifices at the Temple to wedding feasts.  Some critics fault him on allowing his actors to speak with rough "New York" accents, saying that it totally contradicts his attempts to de-westernize the story** (Baugh 64).  In paying homage to the tradition, he imitates several visual effects from earlier Jesus movies that impressed him (Baugh 21).
     More than any other Jesus movie to date The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) takes seriously the claim that Jesus was fully divine and fully human.  Jesus is truly the God-Man in this movie.  The latter part of this statement is where most of the controversy associated with this is from.  It takes seriously the claim that Jesus was human and was tempted in every way.  Many would argue that Jesus was too human, or perhaps even sub-human suffering from mental conditions such as "neurotic masochism," "manic-depressive psychosis," and "paranoid schizophrenia" all throughout the film (Baugh 71).  I think this analysis is a little overboard.  Part of the problem is that for the first time in a Jesus movie we are allowed into the mind of Jesus and are able to hear what he is thinking, including his uncertainties and doubts (Tatum 169).  Also, we see a real struggle of a man coming to terms with a divine nature and what that means.  Jesus is confused about his nature, thinking at first that it is Lucifer who is giving him this idea. 
     Throughout the film his understanding of who he is and what his messianic mission entails grows.  His ministry can be divided into three parts:  first love, then the axe, and finally the cross. Throughout the love stage, Jesus is a teacher of love and forgiveness.  After a meeting with John the Baptist and his temptation in the desert,*** he realizes he cannot love what is unjust and must condemn it.  During this stage, Jesus battles demons and cleanses the Temple.  Finally, Isaiah appears to him and Jesus realizes that his purpose is to die on the cross.  He questions it, struggles with it, and does eventually come to understand and accept it (although perhaps his understanding was not fully complete until he undergoes his final temptation).  The movie ends with Jesus dying on the cross.****
     Financially, this film was a failure.  Many would also argue that theologically this film was a failure (Tatum 173).  I would disagree.  Although the film does have its problems,***** it presents us with an interesting examination of what it means to be of both divine and human natures.  Unlike the earlier films, The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) really delves into the problem of the duel nature of Christ-what this means and how it plays out.  Many people watch this film and are highly offended by how human Jesus is; however, Jesus is as much the second person of the trinity in the movie as he is human.  This was Scorsese's goal in making the movie (Tatum 171), and I believe he succeeded.

*One person who expressed interest was the French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang.  He was forced to back out because of the controversy that arose when he used public funds to support Hail Mary (1985) (Baugh 51). 
**Perhaps they would prefer the more accepted British accented Jesus.  Being from New Jersey, I like the accent and do not consider it a distraction at all.
***The temptation scene is extremely interesting.  In Jesus' third temptation in the desert he is confronted with the tree of knowledge from which Adam and Eve ate to give us original sin.  Jesus picks an apple and takes a bite of it.  Realizing what he did, he spits it out.  This is clearly a foreshadowing of the last temptation in which Jesus comes down from the cross and metaphorically "takes a bite" out what a normal human life would be like, but ultimately "spits it out" as well and returns to the cross to die.
****Scorses gives us a resurrection scene where he floods our eyes with flashes of lights and colors as well as joyous triumphant music.  Baugh praises the creativity of this interpretation and suggests it "comes very close to effectively suggesting the resurrection" (Baugh 69).  It is interesting to note that this was not an intentional shot, and rather light leaked into a faulty camera to cause the effect.  "Serendipity or divine intervention, take your pick" (IMDB).
*****For example there are some scenes with gratuitous gore and also the Last Supper has the Muslim confession of faith playing in the background, which is extremely problematic, if not offensive, for both Christians and Muslims (Baugh 59).

© 2000 Shawn Willox