Themes: Members of the Clergy, One Against the Mob, Forbidden Love
Main Cast: Tom Berenger, Daphne Zuniga, Chick Vennera, Anne Twomey, Dane Clark
Release Year: 1988
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
In Last Rites a serious thriller on a sensational topic, a priest falls in love with a woman he is protecting. Father Michael (Tom Berenger), a priest with family ties to the mob, helps a woman on the run. Angela (Daphne Zuniga) is the mistress of a murdered Mafia Don, now being hunted by hitmen hired by the Don's infuriated wife. As Father Michael realizes he is falling in love, both his faith and his vows are severely tested. Directed with restraint and respect for the subject matter by Donald Bellisario, the film still caused controversy and was criticized because of love scenes between the priest and the woman. Despite this criticism and despite the fact that the film is somewhat slow and predictable, Last Rites has fine performances by its cast and is an entertaining thriller. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
Paul Dooley - Father Freddie; Vassili Lambrinos - Tio; Lisa Berenger - Baptismal Mother; Anthony Bishop - Madoni; Tony di Benedetto - Lt. Jericho; Mary Diveny - Gossip Confessor; Ernesto Gonzalez - Mexican Desk Clerk; Jack Hallett - Officer Reardan; Damien Leake - Detective Brown; Tony Lip - Cabbie; Tony Montanaro - Man at Cemetery; Carlo Pacchi; Adrian Paul - Tony; Frank Simpson - Heart Attack Victim; Phil Neilson - Drug Dealer; Deborah Pratt - Robin Dwyer; Frank Patton - O'Bannon; Joy Todd
Credit
Victor Kempster - Art Director, Fernando Ramirez - Art Director, Joy Todd - Casting, Donald P. Bellisario - Co-producer, Patrick McCormick - Co-producer, Joseph G. Aulisi - Costume Designer, Joe Napolitano - First Assistant Director, Jesus Marin - First Assistant Director, Donald P. Bellisario - Director, David Jones - Second Unit Director, Joe Napolitano - Second Unit Director, Pembroke J. Herring - Editor, Bruce Broughton - Composer (Music Score), Allen Weisinger - Makeup, Peter Larkin - Production Designer, David Watkin - Cinematographer, Lenny Vullo - Production Manager, Steven Jordan - Set Designer, Connie Brink - Special Effects, Les Lazarowitz - Sound/Sound Designer, Donald P. Bellisario - Screenwriter, Michael Burton - Screenwriter, George More O'Ferrall - Screenwriter
The film was both a commercial and critical failure and caused a significant amount of controversy because of the touchy subject matter. Roger Ebert 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]
