Review: "Silence" is a Powerful Yet Challenging Look at Faith

Scene from Silence

In a recent interview, director Martin Scorsese claimed that he doesn't see new movies because "The images don't mean anything." This statement has likely been said by many elder statesman of the arts, but few have the continuing reputation of the 74-year-old acclaimed filmmaker whose work continues to be provocative and inspiring. In his latest Silence, he takes a passion project that he's been working on for 28 years and turns to story of Portuguese Jesuit priests in 17th century Japan into one of his most personal, wrenching, and challenging films to date. It may isolate those expecting films like The Aviator or more recently with The Wolf of Wall Street; but for those willing to give Scorsese's most artful film to date a chance, it may end up being one of the most rewarding, frustrating masterworks he's ever created where almost every frame is rich with detail and meaning that makes Scorsese's disinterest in modern cinema not a moment of delusion, but a call for everyone to try harder.

The First Trailer for "Silence" is a Gorgeous Reminder of Scorsese's Brilliance

Andrew Garfield

It must be great to be Martin Scorsese. With an infinite amount of acclaim and consideration as America’s best living director, he has capabilities that almost nobody else does. In the case of his latest film Silence, he managed to announce its release date rather recently and make it one of the year’s most anticipated films. To make matters more humorous, he threatened not to release the trailer if Hillary Clinton lost the presidential election (spoiler alert: she did). Two weeks later, the silence around Silence has broken, and it’s time to revel in the first look at a master’s latest film.

Martin Scorsese Joins the Oscars 2016 Race as "Silence" Gets a Release Date

Scene from Silence

If you're an Oscar fan, you'll know how busy the Christmas season is. In the few weeks leading up to December 25, these heavyweight films will be opening: La La Land, Miss Sloane, Collateral Beauty, Fences, The Founder, Rogue One, and A Monster Calls. That doesn't include any potential shifts or changes that will likely come between now and then. However, the one major news that should be met with equal excitement and dread of having to cram yet another movie into the holiday season comes from director Martin Scorsese. With many speculating when his latest Silence was going to be released, it officially has a late December release. Speaking as it's worked out nicely for him before with The Aviator and The Wolf of Wall Street, one can only imagine that this is a good sign of things to come.

Failed Oscar Campaigns: Gangs of New York (2003)

Daniel Day-Lewis

As awards seasons pick up, so do the campaigns to make your film have the best chances at the Best Picture race. However, like a drunken stupor, sometimes these efforts come off as trying too hard and leave behind a trailer of ridiculous flamboyance. Join me on every other Saturday for a highlight of the failed campaigns that make this season as much about prestige as it does about train wrecks. Come for the Harvey Weinstein comments and stay for the history. It's going to be a fun time as I explore cinema's rich history of attempting to matter.