IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091530/Let us continue down the Jeremy Irons path of amazing-ness. The Mission - again, a Matt and Melissa recommendation that I was REALLY looking forward to. I had actually heard a lot about this sountrack but knew basically nothing about the movie or what it was about. SO - here is some basic info....The Mission was released in 1986 and was directed by Roland Joffe, who also did The Killing Fields. It won the Oscar for Best Cinematography but was also nominated for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Music, Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction. It is no wonder it won Best Cinematograpy - it is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. And yes....the score is spectacular.
The Mission is centered around Father Gabriel (Jeremy Irons) and Rodrigo Mendoza (Robert DeNiro) - they are Spanish Jesuits who are trying to protect a South American tribe from becoming enslaved by Portugal. Father Gabriel is a Jesuit from the beginning of the movie but Mendoza began as a slave trader - after feeling deep remorse over the death of his brother by his own hand, he paid his penance and turned to Father Gabriel and the Jesuits for guidance. I loved Jeremy Irons in this role because he was so calm and focused - DeNiro was more aggressive and I was so impressed with him in this movie. It's nice to see him truly act - I don't feel like we see that much of it anymore...I mean, at times, yes, but others....sometimes we don't NEED him to ACT, we just need him to be Robert DeNiro. Ya know?
Anyhoo - so the Jesuits build a Mission and convert the tribespeople to Christianity - it seems as though they have never known better times, the people are happy and they trust the Jesuits. However, when the land they live on is sold (or traded?) to Portugal, they are forced to defend their land and their mission. Mendoza joins in the fight but Father Gabriel refuses to, as it is against his vows. He joins those tribespeople who would not fight in the mission and helps them to pray and have hope. The end of the movie is so tragic and heartbreaking - but it's real. It's how things happen in life when people get greedy and they overlook what is really best for the people involved - not everything has a happy ending. Nevertheless, I highly recommend The Mission so check it out :)
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