Scorsese's Silence
 

Somehow I couldn't find a thread for this important upcoming film.

Master of filmmaking Martin Scorsese is luckily still alive and well + he's still adding new films to his fantastic filmography every few years!

After a long time of uncertainty, he finally was able to get one of his passion projects off the ground. He's now almost done filming it. I'm talking of course about:

Silence (2016)


In the seventeenth century, two Jesuit priests face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and to spread the gospel of Christianity.

with, among others:

Liam Neeson
Andrew Garfield
Adam Driver
Ciarán Hinds
Rich Graff

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The reason I make this thread is because some of the first (promotional) pictures have been published:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...7085bfae781ee1

~~Click here for other images~~

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Are you all as excited as I am?

Re: Scorsese's Silence
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iwBM_YB1sE

VERY happy Marty is still making movies!

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Really looking forward to this one.

Re: Scorsese's Silence
 

Dis gon be good. Scorcese is best when making crime films but I'm really glad he's trying something new. The revealed pic and basic plot looks interesting, mostly because of "violence and prosecution". :D

Interesting cast too.

Re: Scorsese's Silence
 

He's also one of those rare filmmakers that truly understands the human psyche (in my opinion). I think it will be especially interesting to see how that talent will be represented in this film.

Not particularly excited for this one to be honest. This is obviously a personal project for Scorsese and of course I'll watch anything he does, but I can't say I'm attracted to its subject matter.

Well, he's made plenty of non-crime films before so it's not like this is a first.

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Yeah I was gonna say it sounds like a mixture of The Last Temptation of Christ and Kundun, although I haven't seen either of those films.

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Scorsese making another movie dealing with faith and it is set in the land of my birth? SO in! And Scorsese is my favorite director so hell yeah I am excited!

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Certainly sounds more interesting than most of his post-Gangs output combined.

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Scorsese is one of those directors where I will watch whatever they put on screen, he's got a lot of talent.

Out of his more recent works, I'd say Departed is his best movie in the 2000s.

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I am just glad that a historically themed movie is made in Hollywood. I wonder if there will be a Lincoln situation with this almost ending up on HBO instead of theaters.

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I can barely contain the excitement.

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I can't wait to see this :D I'm sure it will be great like all of Marty's movies

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Good (short) read:

http://thefilmstage.com/news/martin-...-of-the-novel/

And a picture of a storyboard!

I'm becoming more and more intrigued by this film.

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Looking forward to it, not just cos it's Scorsese but also that period of the meeting of two cultures is really interesting.

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First look of Liam Neeson:

http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/u...ce-620x389.png

And some remarks from the actor about Scorsese's work ethics:

http://thefilmstage.com/news/first-l...nnes-premiere/

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That painted guy in the background is my favourite character so far :p

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Can he make a bad movie if he tried?

I must have seen something of this as a clip the other day as I remember Adam Driver – he has a great presence on screen doesn't he? This trailer makes me cast my mind back to seeing Shogun, which I loved, and does the music remind anyone of The Witch?

Incidentally I wonder if this is the first time since Excalibur that Ciarán Hinds and Liam Neeson have been in the same film. I know they're mates but I don't know whether they've ever had any scenes together in films.

Martin Scorsese Gets Standing Ovation at First LA ‘Silence’ Screening

Martin Scorsese got a hero's welcome on Sunday at the first L.A. screening for his new film "Silence," starring Andrew Garfield as a Jesuit priest in 17th-century Japan.

The crowd of nearly 700 have the director and co-writer a standing ovation at the Westwood Village theater, bolstering the growing impression that the historical drama will be a major awards contender.

The capacity audience included studio guests, press and Academy members, who seemed to welcome the maestro's latest as an unusually contemplative work that continues his long cinematic grappling with his Roman Catholic faith.

"My own concern with religion and with faith particularly somehow changed over the years, through many different films too," the director told moderator and fellow filmmaker James Gray during a lively Q&A following the screening. "This film enabled me to not only think about [my faith] but work it."

In fact, Scorsese has worked off and on for 28 years to bring Shusaku Endo's 1966 novel to the screen. And while reviews are embargoed until closer to the film's December 23 release date, it's safe to say that his efforts look to play a significant factor in the awards race this season.

In addition to Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, for which Scorsese shares credit with Jay Cocks, at least two performances stand out: Garfield's as a Jesuit whose faith is tested under the increasingly violent persecution of Christian clergy and followers by the emperor's Inquisitor -- and veteran Japanese actor Issey Ogata as the inquisitor.

"Marty would always say, 'That's great, excellent, now one more," Ogata told the crowd through an interpreter. (The actor, first spotted by the director for his work in Alexandr Sokurov's 2005 film "The Sun," was named runner-up for Best Supporting Actor on Sunday by the L.A. Film Critics Association.)

Scorsese said that Ogata had already brought much of the character's movements to the audition: "Using the fans, swatting the flies, the dust in his mouth, the moment he decides to deflate -- we all looked at each other and said, 'OK.'"

"It was like a sitting in a room with a snake charmer, and you were the snake and also th person about to be eaten," Garfield said of Ogata.

In addition, you can expect Paramount Pictures to make an awards push for Rodrigo Prieto's lush cinematography, Dante Ferretti's production and costume design and Thelma Schoonmaker's editing.

"Marty has always been extremely daring. He'll try anything," Schoonmaker told the crowd.

"Some of these effects are out of necessity," Scorsese admitted, noting a dialgoue-free scene in "Raging Bull" where they didn't have enough coverage and a pool scene in "Wolf of Wall Street" where they sped up the middle of a right-to-left pan because "the shot was taking just a little too long."

Scorsese also shared details of his recent visit to the Vatican, where he screened "Silence" in a chapel ("the screen wasn't very big but the entire film played under this very big crucifix") and had a personal meeting with Pope Francis.

"Meeting with the pope was an early morning -- it was 9 o'clock. I'm a new Yorker," he said. "We were given very strict protocol but he was most disarming. I told him that Andrew had gone through the 30 days of spiritual exercises of the Jesuits. And the next thing for Andrew was to be ordained. But that instead he got me. And he laughed. It was quite moving."

Pope Francis had read Endo's novel, Scorsese said, adding that the pontiff told him, "I hope the story of the film bears much fruit."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news...iX5?li=BBnbfcL

So is Garfield replacing DiCaprio as the guy who can't fake accents? Granted I like Garfield, so I'm just bustin' his chops. :D

Re: Scorsese's Silence
 

The only thing i've liked Garfield in is Boy A. I hated him in the social network and as Spider-Man. He's the only reason i'm nervous about Silence.

Social Network is what made me like him.

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I love The Social Network but i really don't like his performance.

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Obviously I have to see this movie now. :) Nice to see Liam Neeson being able to actually act again too. The action movies are great for the pocketbook, but the only one I remember is Taken. Oh yeah, and A-Team.

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Tongo, you're not making the wait any easier.

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My feelings at the moment are, wow, only three weeks left till Silence, and, come on, there are still three weeks left till Silence.

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I'm a huge scorsese fan but this doesnt interest me

I really liked him a lot in the first chapter of the Red Riding trilogy, which I liked as much as Boy A, playing a young reporter who stumbles into a conspiracy while investigating a murder. Since then I think his two best performances are from the past couple years in 99 Homes and Hacksaw Ridge.

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I do think i'm being a bit unfair because i haven't seen him in much, not seen any of those you mentioned. Planning on watching Hacksaw Ridge soon and the Red Riding trilogy sounds good.

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I saw it today and I was blown away. Not that I loved it but the quality of the film, the art of storytelling and the raw emotion and subtlety of the film really left me amazed. I'm not into religion but a good story can make any subject matter interesting. Recommended!

Re: Scorsese's Silence
 

Grabbed the press screening and watching it on the 24th... Really don't know what to expect but I look forward to it.

Re: Scorsese's Silence
 

I saw it last week. Excellent. Will probably catch it again this weekend.

6 Reasons Why Scorsese’s Silence Is Worth the 30-Year Wait

http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/ot....w710.h473.jpg

Nearly three decades ago, Martin Scorsese purchased the rights to Japanese author Shūsaku Endō’s novel Silence, which follows two Jesuit priests from Portugal on a quest in 17th-century Japan. After reading the book on a train to Kyoto, Scorsese fell in love with the story of man’s connection to faith in the face of great persecution and was inspired to make a film exploring this spiritual conflict. Over the past 30 years, Scorsese has fought unceasingly for this namesake passion project, working through arduous script-rewrites and relentless legal battles even as he stockpiled Oscar nods for other hits, including a win for The Departed.

Like some of Scorsese’s past projects, namely Kundun and The Last Temptation of Christ, Silence explores Christianity in dark and complex ways, centering on the physical and spiritual journey of Sebastião Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Francisco Garupe (Adam Driver) as they attempt to rescue their mentor, Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson). Ferreira’s been captured by the Japanese government after introducing Christianity to Japanese villagers post-Shimabara Rebellion, an uprising in southwestern Japan that began in 1637 and was fueled in part by the countrywide prohibition of Christianity. (After the rebellion, this prohibition was strictly enforced.)

The film will open nationwide January 13, after having premiered in New York and L.A. on December 23. And there’s already Oscar buzz around the project — for Scorsese’s directing, Garfield’s performance, its screenplay, and editing. Here, we break down six reasons why Silence has taken nearly three decades to bring to life, and why it’s more than worth the wait.

http://www.vulture.com/2016/12/reaso...ence-film.html

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I havent seen a movie in a theater in years, but I will see this one.

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Saw it,loved it, WATCH IT!

I thought this was a great film - but I'm wondering why these missionaries just didn't leave? They knew about the Dutch - why didn't they get on a boat and go?

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I liked him in SW too. I think David Fincher described him best; "[He's] too good at wearing his heart on his sleeve..."

I can see how that kind of attitude would put someone off. You definitely get that from him here.

Anyways, I saw this on the weekend and thought it was fantastic. I'd go as far as to say it's Scorsese's best this century. Maybe even since Goodfellas. Issey Ogata is soooooooo fun to watch.

Because they thought spreading the Word of God--and finding their friend and the truth about him--was more important than staying alive.

I might be too busy to talk as much about this film as I'd like, but I will say that I think they omitted the single most important line in the entire book from it.

Which line?

Yeah that was kinda a big thing to leave out. I still think the film is amazing though.

I don't get Christianity

That said, Silence was written by a Christian, but it shouldn't necessarily be taken as Gospel, to make a figurative phrase literal.

The need for Christ's atonement, that's what I never got. Seemed like a grim thing to base a religion off of. I'll probably always struggle with this movie because of that, despite how impressive the movie is

Of course but one of my favorite Christian filmmakers decided it was valid enough to make a 20 year passion project out of, so that's what's makes me want to understand its meaning more

Well, if this helps, it's only "Christ's atonement" in the sense that He's doing it on our behalf. Like paying another person's debt.

Apologies if this is what you meant, anyway; I can't tell from the phrasing.

Aye, it's grim. But then, people are pretty crappy, so I don't think a happy-happy joy-joy worldview philosophy would ring as true. But either way, this is a telling fact, isn't it? If you think of Christianity as something that's true, rather than a lie concocted to appeal to people, then the fact that it's grim isn't really perplexing at all. If, on the other hand, you think it's made-up, then the people making it up made some awfully counterintuitive choices.

I dig. I assume it's an expression of the things he wrestles with, much like Last Temptation. He's made religious films, to be sure, but not straightforward ones. So I guess it's possible what he's responding to was less the validity of its message, and more just the fact that it was meditating on some of the same difficult questions he does.

Oh yeah I understand that but I won't get over the why of it. The idea of violations of arbitrary rules deemed sins by a supreme being who insists they have to be atoned for with arbitrary punishments because... I don't really want to get into this discussion though haha

Or the maker-uppers found guilt to be persuading. Again don't want to dive too deep in this pool

How do you interpret the ending? Like, the very last shot. How did that make you feel

It won't surprise you to learn there's a whole mess of stuff I'd like to say in response (particularly the use of "arbitrary"), but yeah, no worries, I won't drag you into a theological debate. I wasn't sure until now how many of these things were actual questions, as opposed to implied criticisms.

Yeah I guess that's the tipping point then

"It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you" - Batman

Re: Scorsese's Silence
 

I saw this film at the theater with three very good friends of mine a couple of days ago and it was interesting how much discussion it provoked afterwards. The one friend who is considerably more sympathetic towards Christianity than the other two kind of had the same feeling of "subversiveness" as Yoda seems to have, while one of the other two, for instance, thought the film wasn't critical enough of Christianity and its missionary intentions. We discussed many aspects of the film and their importance during a great three hour long conversation. We pretty much analyzed all the important scenes and the potential meanings behind them.

I loved the film myself. I found there to be a beautiful, complex and very intense balance. As someone who hasn't read the book and who can only call himself a Christian from a cultural standpoint, I thought Scorsese's focuses felt truthful and interesting.

My eyes became watery when that final black screen appeared and when the whole theater kept silent, listening in awe to a few whispers of nature... Scorsese's cinema had triumphed once more!

Related to all this, here's an analysis of the film that makes a pretty good case that the film's message ultimately undermines Christianity. Agree or not, it's very thoughtful and well-written.

Re: Scorsese's Silence
 

Ugh!
I want to read this thread so much!! But that movie didn't last long here so I've not been able to watch it yet.

=*(

lol?

This is well written and I agree this is mostly what I took away from the movie but

Great piece.

I think Silence's case is less obvious than the other utilitarian examples he's offering, though. There's that compulsive aspect to it. The presence of the evil authority makes it a more layered and broader case than the others.

In the film, the (whether or not imaginary) voice of Christ also doesn't expect of any human to bear the weight that he had to. He offers to let it rest on his shoulders. The author of the essay should've adressed that aspect of it as well. It was one of the most resonating moments of the film for me.

The final scene came across to me as Christianity's focus on what's truly inside. What's really in this human's heart. It's a judgement that is not really about sins. It kind of mirrors Christ's way of looking at people in the New Testament. Sins can make you evil, but they do not necessarily. There's room for human imperfection. Perfection can only be found in Christ himself.
That's why I don't buy the fact that the film ultimately undermines Christianity. If anything, it might demonstrate some of its most important components.

"Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God" Matthew 5:8

Isn't there a distinction, though, between not having to endure the same hardships as Christ and spending decades rooting out & condemning fellow Christians to death

The priests aren't the ones rooting out and condemning their fellow Christians to death. Not according to my view, at least.

That's a fair view but there's a difference between compliance and complicity. There are even several scenes towards the end where in my opinion Scorsese goes out of his way to highlight that difference

True, but the compulsive aspect of it remains. If they get caught doing something pro-Christian, other Christians will suffer or even die. That's vital to me. Their sins aren't necessarily signs of an evil heart.

Oh, I don't think the article is saying he's trying to spread bad theology. Just that he is, even if he thinks it's fine.

I think the author's point is that the film seems to excuse the apostasy, or even imply that it isn't apostasy at all. Depicting it is fine, and depicting people finding salvation in spite of it is fine: rationalizing the act itself, however, is another matter.

Absolutely, but the reason it doesn't necessarily make you evil, and the reason there's room for human imperfection, is the possibility of repentance. The question for the author isn't "can this be forgiven?" Of course it can. The question is whether the film thinks there's nothing to be forgiven for.

I think that's true, though not mutually exclusive with the criticisms. After all, the most insidious heresies are always mixed with truth.

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You guys have covered a lot of ground really well. I do want to say in regards to the essay the fact that Rodrigues never appears to forgive himself speaks to the film not excusing his apostasy. That's my personal opinion. I think the ending is sad and beautiful at the same time. Something an artist like Scorsese is very good at conveying.

Glad I finally saw this and got to read the thread. Great movie that I certainly would like to write about but probably won't have the brain power to do so.

You're one of the smartest MoFos around. Don't let your sincere humbleness chain you.

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I've chosen to remain silent about Silence for the same reason. It's like my brain can register message and critique but if you asked me to put it all into words then you may as well ask me to do so in Japanese too.