LAST RITES
US, 1988, 83 minutes, Colour.
Tom Berenger, Daphne Zuniga, Anne Twomey, Dane Clark, Paul Dolley, Chick Venera.
Directed by Donald P. Bellisario.
Last Rites is a Mafia thriller with echoes of The Godfather and Prizzi's Honour. It focuses on the pressures of family, even on a priest son.
Tom Berenger is an 80s style priest, conscious of his family background, 'Caught in a crisis, being taken over by the Mafia code. Daphne Zuniga is an attractive Mexican -and is revealed to be the villain at the end. Anne Twomey is very good as the Mafia princess, absolutely ruthless. Dane Clark is the Don.
The film is a murder thriller, an escape. Of interest is the appearance of New York parish priest Fr Louis Gigante, brother of an alleged Mafia head, who appears as the Bishop in the cemetery sequence.
A different of the American priesthood, crisis - and the film having its cake and eating it by having a sex dream sequence. However, it anticipates the pessimistic ending of the film.
1. Exciting thriller, crime story, romance? Religious themes?
2. The world of New York, the world of the priest, the police, the Mafia? Mexico? The use of symbols? The musical score, religious overtones?
3. The title and the church, the role of priests, sacraments and death? The use of religious symbols, sacraments? The church? Images of Mary?
4. The initial killing, the perspective on the killing? Zena and her cool control, shooting her husband? The relationship between Gino and Angela? Angela's fear and escape?
5. Introduction to Michael and Nuzo: Friends, the restaurant, their talk, playing games together? The prostitute and her approach, their identities? The situation, the news about Gino, Michael giving him the last rites, the police reaction and sneering?
6. The portrait of Michael as a priest, keeping his vows? His devotion to his work? The presbytery? His relationship with Freddie, the confessions? The collage of confessions? Angela, her story, the coincidence? The decision to meet her, the taxi and his driver and his explanation? Help, listening to the situation, the mafia attack the shots, running on the roof, jumping, his being hit, going back to the presbytery? Freddie and his help? His vigil with Angela, the sensual dream? Indication of his own life and crisis? The decision to help her, to find the family, going to Mexico? The car chase, his discovering the truth about her, the sexual encounter, his vows and his reaction? The truth, letting his sister kill her?
7. The Don, the mafia code, his hold over his family, wanting Michael to go to Rome and be a Monsignor? The funeral. the grief? Michael's relationship with Zena. the suggestions about a sexual relationship in the past? Michael defying his family. the end and his succumbing?
8. The father and the code, the family business, Zena and her control, the henchmen and their shooting, saving Michael's life in the street after Nuzo's death?
9. Audience response to Angela, the situation, the promises by Gino, her story? The coincidence? Involving religion? Sexual attraction, dream and reality? The escape to Mexico, her husband? The discovery of her scheme, the ruthlessness of her plan? The seduction of Michael, planning his death? Her own death?
10.Nuzo, the police, memories of the past. Italian New Yorkers? His partner, his being shot, the drama of Michael helping him with the last rites?
11. The picture of the mafia and the codes? The hold on family on individuals?
12. Religion, Catholic Church, priests and their codes? The church overcome by’ the mafia code?
