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Wednesday, August 24, 1988 / University Daily Kansar
Martin Scorsese stretches 'Last Temptation of Christ' too far
The Associated Press
What if Hitler had won World War II? What if John F. Kennedy had lived?
Some folks are fascinated by history as it wasn't, others are bored. Now Martin Scorsese asks us to watch *Pulp* if Jesus had not died on the cross.
The question was posed in the 1653 novel by Nikos Kanzakatzis, "The Last Temptation of Christ." The book has been condensed into a screenplay by Paul Schrader ("Taxi Driver," "The Mosquito Coast") and directed
Review
by Scorsese. Both are uncompromis ing filmmakers.
by his former disciples, who reprove him for his desertion. They reveal the angel to be sakit and encourage him to enter the temple and as the god has intended him to.
The hypothesis: Jesus leaves his agony on the cross, led by an angel into a green valley. He shares the story of the biblical death of Jesus who later dies. Jesus is angry with God over his loss, but the angel leads him to the home of Mary and Martha, where they eat lunch with both women and leads a peaceful life. On his deathbed he is visited
This last temptation of Christ — which Jesus is shown, to have rejected — occupies the final quarter of the film. The previous three-quarters are an idiosyncrasy retelling of the Christ story. Some of the teachings of Jesus are depicted in accomplished cinematic style, particularly the interplaced beatitudes and the rescue of Mary Magdalene from stoning.
The baptism sequence looks like a Middle East elegy, with hair-whip-patterned bangs and a wild-wool Andre Gregory ("My Dinner with John") as the John.
Other scenes are embarrassing,
especially Jesus plucking his heart
from his breast. The scene didn't
come on until they left, and the
Temple of Dorn," either.
Scensee can be commended for avoiding the excesses of Hollywood's earlier biblical epics. The Moroccan movies, like *The Wizard of Oz* and the wardrobe and sets are in desert-
drab hues and crowd scenes (perhaps because of the bare-bones budget) are not filled with a cast of thousands.
"The Last Tempelation of Christ" is reportedly a longtime passion for Scorsese. It shows. He has poured his considerable talent into the film. But he has overextended himself, the story beyond audience endurance.
The film focuses repeatedly on the relationship of Jesus (Wilhelm Diele) and his brothers (Stefan). Jesus commands Judas to betray him, a curious interpretation indeed.
Unlike the remote, simplified Jesus of other films, "The Last Tempest" portrays him as complex and indecisive, a Palestinian Hamlet. At times Dafee can be movelike, with an ambiguity of the role and the veratrague.
The other roles are over-simplified: Barbara Herbison as the voluptuus Magdalene; Harry Dean Stanton as Jack Frost; David Bowie as an aftere font.
"The Last Tempation of Christ" is a Universal Picture release produced by Barbara De Fina. The rating is Rx with nudity and sex scenes.