A Divisive Work Of Art That Viewers Will Either Embrace Wholeheartedly Or Reject Outright

Rating: Null/10 (23 January 2017)

I'd like to begin with a confession. The only Martin Scorsese films that I'm actually fond of are the ones starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the leading role. A lot of his earlier works, especially the ones with Robert De Niro, are due for a rewatch but I vividly remember not liking any of them. His turn of the century flicks, however, have fared better on my radar but his latest isn't one of them.
An ambitious & personal project that has been a long time coming, Silence finally makes its long overdue transition to the film canvas after being stuck in development hell for over 25 years and is a silent contemplation of faith & ideology that's skilfully layered with religious themes and crafted with perseverance, but the end result is still something that's overlong, tedious & frustrating to sit through.
Based on the novel of the same name, the story of Silence is set in 17th century Japan and follows two Jesuit priests who set out to locate their missing mentor after learning that he renounced his religion following prolonged torture. Setting foot in the nation where Christianity itself is outlawed, they find refuge in the local Christian population but face their ultimate test when they attempt to propagate Catholicism.
Co-written & directed by Martin Scorsese, Silence is a historical piece that's beautifully shot from start to finish but is going to be an excruciating experience if you are not intrigued by its premise. Scorsese's direction bears all his trademarks, each sequence is shot with an auteur's eye, and the attention to detail in every segment plus the multitudes of themes beneath the surface only assist in enhancing its imagery.
Production design team brings 17th century Japan to life in splendid detail and the exotic locations add a serene quality to it. Cinematography makes excellent use of camera, colour palette, lighting & angles to turn each frame into a gorgeous artwork and the static but fluid movements only help in making the whole journey all the more immersive while Music stays in the background & silently complements the narrative.
Coming to the performances, the cast consists of Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson & Tadanobu Asano, and all of them chip in with well-measured inputs. Garfield plays the Jesuit priest whose journey & struggle this tale is all about and although sloppy at first, his work does get better as the plot progresses. Driver does well with what he's given, Neeson dominates his moments with ease while Asano amazes the most.
With a runtime of 161 minutes, Silence is no easy sit and the glacial pace at which its events unfold makes it all the more challenging but for those who can patiently connect with it, the film may turn out to be a spiritually fulfilling experience. While there are moments of pure brilliance that surface every now n then, the vast amount of nothingness in between turns the whole journey into one hell of a bore. Illuminating for some & infuriating for others, Martin Scorsese's passion project is one of those divisive works of art that audience will either embrace wholeheartedly or reject outright.