Last Rites (film)
| Last Rites | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover of "Last Rites" | |
| Directed by | Donald P. Bellisario |
| Produced by |
Donald P. Bellisario Patrick McCormick |
| Written by | Donald P. Bellisario |
| Starring |
Tom Berenger Daphne Zuniga Chick Vennera Anne Twomey Dane Clark Paul Dooley |
| Music by | Bruce Broughton |
| Cinematography | David Watkin |
| Edited by | Pembroke J. Herring |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates | November 18, 1988 |
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $427,000 |
Last Rites is a 1988 thriller film written and directed by Donald P. Bellisario and starring Tom Berenger.[1]
Synopsis
Father Michael is a New York priest with close ties to the Mafia crime syndicate—his father is a don. The priest's brother-in-law Gino, a mafia boss, is murdered while having sex with Angela, a mistress. She narrowly escapes by hiding in a bathroom and locking the door, successfully thwarting the killer.
Pursued by hitmen, the mistress comes to the priest for confession. She's afraid to go to the police so Father Mike agrees to meet her at her choice of location in order to help her. A cab driver arrives and transports him to a loft apartment, telling him a sorrowful tale of how Angela has helped him and his wife with the grief over losing a young son. Father Mike is hesitant, listening to the girl's story. He confronts her about knowing who he is and what he was to Gino. She denies knowing the connection. They hear the access elevator start rising to the loft, and realize that there's danger. The two have a near-deadly encounter with the hitmen, during which the priest is wounded, but not severely. One of the hitmen recognizes Father Mike as the two get away. Father Mike hides Angela in his church for a time. She tells him that it was Gino's wife who shot him. Gino is buried, and Father Mike glares across the casket at his sister Zena, having seen her with the hitmen when he was shot. He visits his mother's grave,and speaks to his father, who says that he expects to lose at his racketeering trial, and be sent to prison. The Don tells Michael that his sister wants to run the business, but he has said no since she's a woman. As they leave the cemetery the hitman tells the Don and Zena that he recognized Michael. Zena comes to confession at Michael's booth, and he confronts her about her sincerity. She tells him that she knows of him helping the girl and that it's personal with her but was business with her husband Gino. The priest begins to fall in love with Angela. He meets his best friend Nuzo for lunch, a detective and godson of his father. He tells him what he's learned, and Nuzo tells him not to trust her. He tells Mike that Gino had turned and given evidence to a rival crime syndicate, which sealed the Don's fate for prison, in return for 5 million dollars. Nuzo tells him to sit tight while he makes an arrest outside. Nuzo is gunned down, dying in Mike's arms. Father Mike rents a car and he and Angela flee to Mexico, heading for her village. Father Mike asks her about money and if she knew what Gino was doing. She denies any knowledge and begins to weep. For the first time the priest violates his vows and they have sex. In the morning she is gone. Meanwhile the Don finds out they are in Mexico and sends Zena to kill the girl. Michael finds a truck and races to catch up to Angela, thwarting another hitman along the way. He arrives in the village in time for a festival. Unbeknownst to Michael, Angela is a fraud, who set Gino up and took the money. She is also married to the "Cabbie" she sent to pick him up that first night they met. But now, knowing he's La Familia, she wants him dead and instructs her husband to kill him. They talk about spending the money before she sends him off. He stops briefly at the festival and Michael spots him, immediately recognizing him. He follows him back to the hotel, where he witnesses him drive away in the rental car Angela took. Michael asks the hotel manager if his friend who just drove away has a guest there with him. The manager points to a large mural in the wall and tells Michael that 'of course, -his wife' the lady in the mural, is there with him. Michael is stunned and throws away his priest's wedding ring. He goes upstairs and finds a surprised Angela. She covers with another story about fear and he replies that he's just really worried about her. That he loves her. They have sex again. In the morning she awakens to see Michael sitting across the room in a chair, staring at her. She smiles at him. He stands up, walks to the door and leaves her, saying "via con Dios" as he goes. She is stunned to see Zena step through the door. Zena shoots her as Michael continues down the steps past the body of the "Cabbie". He gets into the family limo and waits for Zena. She sits next to him and says "thank you, brother". He takes her hand and kisses it as they drive away.
Cast and crew
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Tom Berenger | Father Michael Pace |
| Daphne Zuniga | Angela |
| Chick Vennera | Nuzo |
| Anne Twomey | Zena |
| Dane Clark | Don Carlo |
| Paul Dooley | Father Freddie |
| Vassili Lambrinos | Tío |
| Adrian Paul | Tony |
| Deborah Pratt | Robin Dwyer |
| Tony DiBenedetto | Lt. Jericho |
Reception
The film was both a commercial and critical failure and caused a significant amount of controversy because of the touchy subject matter. Roger Ebert (himself raised Catholic) gave the film a "zero star" rating saying,
This is it - located at last and with only six weeks to spare - the worst film of 1988. "Last Rites" qualifies because it passes both acid tests: It is not only bad filmmaking, but it is offensive as well - offensive to my intelligence.[2]
In America the film grossed $427,000 making it one of the biggest box office bombs of 1988.[3]