Silence (2016)
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson
Runtime: 161 minutes
Synopsis: In the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.
Performances: 9/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Costumes/Makeup: 10/10
Editing: 8/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Verdict: "Silence" might be Martin Scorsese's most overlooked film. Made with a budget of over $40 million, it only made a little over half that amount during its theatrical run and received only one Oscar nomination (for Best Cinematography). And that's a crime against Cinema.
What Scorsese considers to be a passion project of his is also, in my opinion, his most gorgeous film to date. The way he captures feudal Japan is nothing short of breathtaking. Each frame is crafted with so much attention to detail, and it's difficult not to gaze at the beautiful natural scenery used to replicate that particular era. But what truly makes the picture one of the very best religion-based movies ever made is its very intimate approach to faith, presented as both a blessing and a struggle by Andrew Garfield's brilliantly portrayed character Father Rodrigues who goes to Japan with an acolyte in order to find their mentor and preach Christianity. The film's scale is large, its runtime challenging and reminiscent of a historical epic, but the story told clearly parallels struggles the legendary director faced in a life in which religion played an immense role. My only issue with it really is the dominant English language used by all characters despite them being either Japanese or Portuguese. There were also some minor editing hiccups here and there but they were hardly noticeable and easily forgivable.
"Silence" may have not performed well at the box office, but it's destined to become a classic with time. It's heavy, deep, and offers great insight on a matter that can best be approached through art, and I love it.
What Scorsese considers to be a passion project of his is also, in my opinion, his most gorgeous film to date. The way he captures feudal Japan is nothing short of breathtaking. Each frame is crafted with so much attention to detail, and it's difficult not to gaze at the beautiful natural scenery used to replicate that particular era. But what truly makes the picture one of the very best religion-based movies ever made is its very intimate approach to faith, presented as both a blessing and a struggle by Andrew Garfield's brilliantly portrayed character Father Rodrigues who goes to Japan with an acolyte in order to find their mentor and preach Christianity. The film's scale is large, its runtime challenging and reminiscent of a historical epic, but the story told clearly parallels struggles the legendary director faced in a life in which religion played an immense role. My only issue with it really is the dominant English language used by all characters despite them being either Japanese or Portuguese. There were also some minor editing hiccups here and there but they were hardly noticeable and easily forgivable.
"Silence" may have not performed well at the box office, but it's destined to become a classic with time. It's heavy, deep, and offers great insight on a matter that can best be approached through art, and I love it.
FINAL GRADE: 8/10
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