This Martin Scorsese helmed picture which kind of bizarrely yet I think effectly cast Willem Dafoe as Jesus of Nazareth,, was the subject of much controversy, boycotts and protests on its release in 1988. Catholics, Christian fundamentalist and others were none to pleased with this movie, which if its self-doubting, vacillating Christ didn't irk them, it's Jesus sex scene certainly did. This movie is not based on any one Gospel but rather on a controversial 1953 novel by the Greek writer and philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis, who is perhaps best know writing Zorba the Greek.
The story feels like a visualization of some forgotten, perhaps Gnostic gospel, we recognize the broad outline, but the particulars are quite different then in the orthodox rendering. Scorsese who once thought of being a priest and appears to have a complicated 'wrestling with God ' type relationship to his own Catholism was likely attracked to that same theme in this story. Jesus here is not at first convinced that he is the promised Messiah, its a long, not exactly straight road to that relationzion for him, and even when he has it he can be tempted to move away from it.
It's a rough ancient middle eastern world presented in this film, and the complicated political, moral and theological environment of Roman occupied Palastane circa 30 AD is I think convincingly and intriguling conveyed. This is a movie that challenges many assumptions, it challenges its viewers and in many ways is long, rough, and rambling, with the insight it provides something you really have to engage with the movie to receive, its not forced fed. I can't say I enjoyed watching most of this movie, I'm sure the book is better, but I appreciated its boldness. ***1/2
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