Silence (Scorsese, 2015?)

[Sycophant]

Scorsese doesn't want to leave this project alone, and it probably looks more like a reality now than it has in the last two decades. Shooting is supposed to begin in about a year in Taiwan (a deal has been made for the location) and Andrew Garfield is set to star as the missionary Rodrigues and Watanabe Ken is on board as a translator character.

I figured, as a show of faith, that the project deserves its own thread now.

Endo Shusaku's Silence is one of my favorite novels, if not my favorite. I'm hoping Scorsese does it justice, and as this is one of his defining passion projects of the latter half of his career, I expect he will (some interviews he's given playing up some "thriller" elements have me worried, but that's probably not as direct as he makes it sound when he's hyping it; there certainly are intense moments in story. Also, it's being described as an "epic," which may largely b becaus). In interviews, Scorsese has said the movie will be mostly in Japanese, which is comforting.

Basically, for those who dont' know, the story is about a couple of Spanish Jesuit missionaries who enter Japan after the Tokugawa period "closed country" policy goes into effect and the shogunate is in full force with its repression of Christianity. They enter to aid the existing believers in the country, as well as find out what happened to their former mentor. Endo's novel is an extensively fictionalized historical fiction, featuring numerous characters based on real persons reconfigured to fit his story ideas and themes. A great deal of Endo's work grapples with the seeming incompatability of Christianity and Japaneseness, Endo himself being baptized Catholic at a young age. He's just about my favorite author, and I'd recommend him to anyone who has an interest in how faith works.

It's worth noting that Shinoda Masahiro directed and co-wrote (with Endo himself) an adaptation that was released in 1971. It's pretty good, but I think ultimately suffers from the kind of tone-deaf acting (in places; there are a couple of really affecting moments) of that version's Rodrigues, and, on the whole, didn't land with anything near the impact of the original novel for me.

[Dukefrukem]

Best Picture, best director, best actor, best screenplay

[Ezee E]

Yeah, Scorsese has been wanting to make this since his last passion project, Gangs of New York. He's actually gotten into a lawsuit over this because he apparently promised a producer that he'd make it years and years ago. It wouldn't surprise me if this turns out to be his last movie.

[transmogrifier]

That's a huge drop in gravitas from Day Lewis and Bardem (who I think were originally linked with the roles) to Garfield.

[MadMan]

Yeah, Scorsese has been wanting to make this since his last passion project, Gangs of New York. He's actually gotten into a lawsuit over this because he apparently promised a producer that he'd make it years and years ago. It wouldn't surprise me if this turns out to be his last movie.

I will be sad when Scorsese retires.

As for this film, the subject matter sounds pretty cool to me.

[Ezee E]

Liam Neeson is apparently taking on a lead role in this.

[number8]

[Morris Schæffer]

[Stay Puft]

Shinya Tsukamoto in a Scorsese joint? This is almost as awesome as Werner Herzog in a Miyazaki dub. Maybe more.

[transmogrifier]

That's a huge drop in gravitas from Day Lewis and Bardem (who I think were originally linked with the roles) to Garfield.

Yep. Garfield looks hugely out of place in the trailer. So much so I worry he may actually sink the film, given that it appears he is the main focus.

[Gittes]

We'll see, but given the way Father Rodrigues is characterized in the novel, and the nature of his tribulations, I think Scorsese was right to tap Garfield for this. I haven't watched the trailer, but I think his conviction and emotionality will be a suitable asset here.

Issei Ogata's performance is apparently tremendous.