It’s hard to imagine a year that a Martin Scorsese film is released and there is as little anticipation as there was with Silence. To many casual Scorsese fans, a premise of a film based on religious persecution seemed to have drawn excitement away from the project for his fans. However, Scorsese once again proves that he is nothing short but a master at his craft. Silence, although an endurance of a ride to watch, is a beautiful film that only the likes of Martin Scorsese can make.
Silence has been a dream project of Martin Scorsese for decades. First discovering the project in 1989 while in Japan, the source is a novel by Shusaku Endo. Silence brings the beauty of a Scorsese film and continues the tradition of all Scorsese films with its in-depth soul-searching character study. A quality he has conveyed in his films over the past 40 years.
What is Silence exactly about?
Silence tells the story of two Christian missionaries (Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver) who face a test of faith when they travel to Japan in search of their missing mentor (Liam Neeson) during a time when Christianity was outlawed, forbidden and many followers were persecuted for their Christian faith. While the premise is quite simplistic, it does not take away from the enduring journey Scorsese takes us on throughout the film. As the film progresses and the faith of these two men are tested, one will wonder if or when they will break and despite its slow pacing, you never feel its 2-hour 43-minute length. Every second is needed and every shot is important.
Silence is not for everyone. A perfect example is at my screening of the film, rude behavior was demonstrated by a couple who were airing their grievances aloud for all to hear in the theater as the film played. I spent the first half of the film watching the movie itself and encountering a play by play of their comments, like “Scorsese has lost it. This movie is bullshit.” to watching them walk out of the theater with an hour to spare. Good riddance!
While Silence is not for the casual film goer, Scorsese fans and those interested in the narrative should not pass it up. The film is brilliant. From its cinematography capturing the beauty of Japan to the direction from Scorsese himself. His passion for this project is seen and evident in the film’s direction. This is one of his finest directorial efforts.
Accompanying Scorsese on this ride is Adam Driver and Andrew Garfield, who deserves notable praise for his monumental role in the film. In a year, where Garfield gave a career performance in Hacksaw Ridge, he tops that role with his acting in Silence. His raw emotion is uncanny and it’s hard to ignore his brilliance in this film.
As far as the lasting impact on Martin Scorsese’s career, Silence is an example that with passion a film can work when the man behind the project is as motivated and talented as Mr. Scorsese. While not at that top of my favorite Scorsese films – Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Raging Bull and most recently, The Wolf of Wall Street are at the very top – Silence can not be ignored for its breathtaking filmmaking. Martin Scorsese continues to go down as not only one of this generation’s finest directors, but one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
Reel Talk gives Silence 4 reels
