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Adam_S · 02-07-2008, 07:29 PM

I'm Finished.*

The Mission - 8 of 10
Scores list

Ennio Morricone's lush score and Chris Menges' amazing photography make this film fairly unforgettable. Robert Bolt's screenplay is not as incisive as his A Man for All Seasons but it is still excellent. DeNiro is very good, but has a modern intonation in his words that is hard to get past. On the other hand Jeremy Irons and the rest of the cast are outstanding. The direction is very well handled, and the film handles things fairly realistically. Bravo all around, a film I think I would like and appreciate more a second go round.

The Mission is the story of a Jesuit founded mission in the jungles of what I presume is Columbia set 300 years ago. the territory is nominally under the rule of spain, who has recently ceded or sold the territory to Portugal. The jesuits had offered the natives sanctuary, with the blessing of spain and the church, from the portuguese and spanish slavers who hunted them down and drove them from their lands. The film centers around the Jesuit's attempts to 'prove' to the judge sent to the area that spain must stay in control of the lands to save these people's lives. Unfortunately what happens depends on the politics of 5000 miles away rather than what is relevant to south america, and the judge's decision had already been made before he arrived. The struggle then for the jesuits is do they resist or turn the other cheek, lead the natives in war or lead them in prayer? DeNiro plays a man who kills his brother over a woman and in penance (and to protect himself with sanctuary) joins the Jesuits years before all this comes to a head, he is a pivotal player in what befalls the people. Jeremy Irons plays the Jesuit leader who reforms him.

I would rate this a 9, but I started listening to the commentary (for about 45 minutes) and just got so turned off by Joffe's self congratulatory attitude as well as his attitudes towards the religious themes underscoring the picture that I downgraded it a bit. Not really fair, but when the director says the film includes every possible theme in the history of film and literature (except it's nothing to do with religion) the hubris is a bit hard to swallow. Still it's a magnificent and amazing production. Much better than the Killing Fields, though in many ways very similar to that film (same director).

Ennio Morricone's score truly is one of the greatest ever written, the AFI did very very well to include it in their list.

*I've still got the HTF created list of films for the stars, but I've now seen all the films on all the official AFI lists and minilists.

02-07-2008, 07:29 PM	#304 of 463
Adam_S *Adam_S* Member Location: Marina del Rey, CA Join Date: Feb 2001 Local Time: 08:37 PM Local Date: 10-11-2008 Posts: 5,029	Re: AFI 100 Years Series Discussion & Challenges, vol. 2 I'm Finished.* The Mission - 8 of 10 Scores list Ennio Morricone's lush score and Chris Menges' amazing photography make this film fairly unforgettable. Robert Bolt's screenplay is not as incisive as his A Man for All Seasons but it is still excellent. DeNiro is very good, but has a modern intonation in his words that is hard to get past. On the other hand Jeremy Irons and the rest of the cast are outstanding. The direction is very well handled, and the film handles things fairly realistically. Bravo all around, a film I think I would like and appreciate more a second go round. The Mission is the story of a Jesuit founded mission in the jungles of what I presume is Columbia set 300 years ago. the territory is nominally under the rule of spain, who has recently ceded or sold the territory to Portugal. The jesuits had offered the natives sanctuary, with the blessing of spain and the church, from the portuguese and spanish slavers who hunted them down and drove them from their lands. The film centers around the Jesuit's attempts to 'prove' to the judge sent to the area that spain must stay in control of the lands to save these people's lives. Unfortunately what happens depends on the politics of 5000 miles away rather than what is relevant to south america, and the judge's decision had already been made before he arrived. The struggle then for the jesuits is do they resist or turn the other cheek, lead the natives in war or lead them in prayer? DeNiro plays a man who kills his brother over a woman and in penance (and to protect himself with sanctuary) joins the Jesuits years before all this comes to a head, he is a pivotal player in what befalls the people. Jeremy Irons plays the Jesuit leader who reforms him. I would rate this a 9, but I started listening to the commentary (for about 45 minutes) and just got so turned off by Joffe's self congratulatory attitude as well as his attitudes towards the religious themes underscoring the picture that I downgraded it a bit. Not really fair, but when the director says the film includes every possible theme in the history of film and literature (except it's nothing to do with religion) the hubris is a bit hard to swallow. Still it's a magnificent and amazing production. Much better than the Killing Fields, though in many ways very similar to that film (same director). Ennio Morricone's score truly is one of the greatest ever written, the AFI did very very well to include it in their list. I've still got the HTF created list of films for the stars, but I've now seen all the films on all the official AFI lists and minilists. top 20 films 2008 film list My DVDs; S&S List 62...212 AFI lists: - DONE!*