Riveting, mezmerizing film of sweeping beauty and power

Rating: 10/10 (8 September 2000)

This was the first "adult" movie I ever saw. I was 13, and I was utterly captivated and moved by this beautiful masterpiece.
I won't tell you the story - you can read that elsewhere. But it contains possibly one of the best displays of raw acting ability I've ever seen - Robert DeNiro (who else?)
His ability to portray essentially two different characters, yet maintain a sense of cohesion throughout is magnificent. I remain moved and enthralled by his change of heart in this film, and his ability to constantly, in every movie he has ever made, but this one especially, make you believe and care about him.
Jeremy Irons has a wonderfully subdued yet brilliant part as the missionary who brings DeNiro into the flock. His quiet faith and unwavering pacifism and belief that God's will be done is almost enough to make an unbeliever like me have faith.
Ennio Morricione (i believe that's how you spell it) constructs yet another memorable and fitting score to this movie. I love all his movie music, from the immortal intro to "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly", to this haunting and moving score, he is one of the true geniuses of movie conducters.
This is truely one of the most over-looked, under-rated brilliant movies of all time.