The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Thoughtful examination of the duality of Jesus's nature. Its ambition is impressive as it puzzles out what it would mean to be both fully human and fully divine, but it goes beyond that to also implicitly ask the audience what, exactly, is the meaning of divinity? Scorsese's modern approach to the material is initially off-putting (Harvey Keitel, in particular, takes some getting used to), but once you settle into the film's rhythm it's quite something. More affecting and intelligent than Mel Gibson's blunt instrument, anyway...

Grade: B+