A Review of The
Last Supper by Olszyk
Distribution Service: Theatrical
MPAA Rating, PG-13
OSV Rating, Not rated at the time of this review
Reel Rating, Three Reels
There have
been roughly thirty mainstream feature-length films made about the life of
Jesus in the English language alone, so a new movie about the greatest story
ever told needs something special to stand apart. There is something unique
about The Last Supper worth contemplating this Lent, but oddly not the thing
the title would imply. Instead, the film enters a relationship between two
sinners and their differing reactions to Jesus. It has its moments but falls
short of greatness.
Writer/Director
Mauro Borrelli begins The Last Supper just before the Entry into
Jerusalem as Jesus’ disciples work out the details of the Passover. Led by the
anxious Peter (James Wheatley), his chief concern is keeping the location
secret and having an escape plan in case the Sanhedrin gets restless. Of
course, when Jesus (Jamie Ward) enters the city, he does not go unnoticed. However,
he seems preoccupied with more pressing matters, knowing the end is coming
soon. There’s a great little moment when the Passover lamb, cooked and laid out
with spices, is greedily devoured with bare hands by the disciples while Christ
watches with nauseated horror. During the washing of the feet and the
institution of the Eucharist, he desperately tries to prepare his followers for
their mission, but they seem totally oblivious.
While the
evening continues, the narrative focuses on the impending betrayal of Judas
Iscariot (Robert Knepper). At first a devout disciple, Judas now feels angry
and disillusioned. Jesus has no interest in making political deals or wise
business decisions. Judas is intensely worried that if Jesus is arrested and
executed, he will be taken as well. He begins to heed the voice of Satan, who encourages
him to save himself and make some money in the process. After he regrets his
decision, Satan tells him that suicide is his only chance at redemption.
Peter too
denies Jesus and feels the weight of his sin. He even comes across the new
corpse of Judas hanging in the street. He also hears the hissing words of the
Devil just like his comrade, urging Peter to join him. Yet he also remembers
the voice of the Lord:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has
asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for
you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back,
strengthen your brothers.”
Both Peter and Judas betrayed their Lord and friend. Both
were perhaps the greatest sinners in history. Yet, one ended up in the center
of Dante’s Inferno, while the other became the first Pope and one of the
greatest saints of the 1st century. The difference is that Peter
listened to the voice of Jesus and did not despair. When Jesus rose, He confirmed
Peter’s repentance and commitment three times to undo his trice iniquity. We
can do the same. If Judas had repented, he might have been an even greater saint
than Peter.
There’s
nothing terribly wrong about The Last Supper, but aside from Judas and
Peter, there’s also nothing noteworthy. Ward’s portrayal of Jesus is intensely
bland. He looks significantly younger than all the other disciples and has a
pretty bad haircut. His performance is largely monotone except for rare moments
of mild emotion as he quotes the gospels with the tenacity of a high school
theater kid reading in class. The story is also unfocused. It’s called The
Last Supper, but there is minimal engagement with the Eucharist aside from
two throw away lines. If Borrelli had instead focused fully on Judas and Peter,
it would have been a much better film.
As Lent
continues, a good diet of Biblical films can be an excellent devotional tool. The
Last Supper is a nice addition to this list. It’s a bit earnest and could
use one more rewrite but a decent reminder that we should not let our sin keep
us from putting ourselves at His mercy.
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