Priest
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Movie Reviews of Priest
Movie Review: the GREATEST film EVER
Summary: 5 Stars
Father Greg is an orthodoks, rather strict young Catholic priest who is sent to a poor parish in Liverpool ( I think it was Liverpool...) when the old priest is sakked. Living with the older Father Matthew turns out to be quite the opposite of what he thought, Matthew caring little about the celebacy while openly having an affair with his houskeeper. Father Greg is shocked by the other priests lack of respect for the rules, but he isn't exactely a saint himself. One night he takes on his leather jacket and goes to the local gay pub, where he meets Graham. After a passionate one-night-stand, Greg flees from Grahams apartment, certain they will never meet again. But fate wants it different, and they form a tentative relashionship that suffers from Gregs constant guilt and self-destuctive thoughts. At about the same time a fourteen-year-old girl, Lisa, tells Greg her father is sexually abusing her. Greg is caught in a dilemma, for whether he keeps the ceil of celebacy and stay true to his religion, or tell someone about Lisa and ends her suffering, he will still be doing the wrong thing. Priest has the greatest acting-performances I have ever seen, and without these the film would probably fail, since so mouch of the plot is given to the emotions showing in the actors faces. Linius Roache is absolutely great as the troubled Father Greg, whose haunted face and sore sobbing give us the emotions that words fail to describe. Even better is Robert Carlyle as Greg's lover Graham, who loves Greg but is torn between staying faithful to him and keeping his own self-respect. Their scenes together must be one of the most heartbreaking in film history. What makes Priest so incredibly stunning is how nothing is black and white, and the way Greg is torn between faith and helping an innocent child, dealing with the flaws and the cruelty within the religion that he has devoted his life to. His despair is just incredible real and heartbreaking, and you'll truly understand how a choice that to most people is obvious, can be such a vast dilemma.
Priest is the best film ever made. Charming, witty, clever, sexy, sweet, heartbreaking and touching it stole my heart....
Movie Review: Honest, emotional film of internal conflict....
Summary: 5 Stars
I myself have no solid religious beliefs nor can I claim to know much about religion or the catholic faith. I can say that 'Priest', a film made more than 15 years ago is emotionally authentic and gripping from beginning to end.
The story of 'Priest' follows Greg Pilkington (Linus Roache), a priest with (at first) very conservative views whos newly assigned to his perish. He lives with another priest, Matthew Thomas (played by Tom Wilkinson) who has very liberal views and is sleeping with their housekeeper (and not really keeping it a secret). Their idealogical clashing would've made a good film on it's own but the filmmakers don't stop there. Father Greg is also struggling with his homosexual urges and falls for a local man Graham (a young Robert Carlyle). Added to this is an even more powerful plot involving a young girl who confesses to Greg she's being sexually abused by her own father (back when priests were NOT encouraged to report crimes confessed in church). While it seems these problems have obvious solutions and the film seems to broderline on exploitivness it's Greg's internal struggle with his beliefs in what's really a very exploitive and strict ENVIRONMENT (in the context of this film) that gives this movie it's weight. There's no easy answers for these characters and this film doesn't pretend everything will work out in the end. I also like that despite the film's very anti-catholic message there's alot more to take away from it.
The acting in this film is stellar right down to the smallest character. I've seen Linus Roache in bit parts in films (Batman Begins, Find Me Guilty) but the power he gives his character in 'Priest' shows how under-used he is as an actor. Tom Wilkinson has never been more likeable than as Mathew, Greg's somewhat mentor and pretty much his only real friend.
Priest is something of a rarity in film. It could've easily been exploitive, or even sob-story of the week TV fare but the filmmakers and actors put so much authentic emotion into this story, that while sometimes not easy to watch is very captivating. A must see.
Movie Review: Another visit to the PRIEST
Summary: 5 Stars
Re-visiting PRIEST, a film by Antonia Bird that is genteel, soulful, yet probing and made in 1995, makes us realize how much of a wake-up call it was to the internal troubles wasting the Catholic Church so blasted in the media on a daily basis in 2003. This extraordinary film looks at the issues from the inside of the Church, issues such as incest, adultery, celibacy, homosexuality, privacy of the confessional, misguided allegiance to the parish in favor of the doctrine of the priesthood vows, etc. Much of the sensitivity of the message of the film (that despite vows and dictums, priests are human beings whose occassional 'weaknesses' can make them even more effective as tenders of the flock) is due to superb performances by a cast of committed actors. Tom Wilkinson shines as a priest who (against the vow of celibacy)lives with his lover, the tender and beautiful Cathy Tyson, dedicating his role for the common man, a priest who cares more about social injustice than about ancient rules of catholic order. Linus Roache, as a creed-challenged young priest who copes with being gay as well as his inability to share confessional secrets about the incest of his parishoner Lisa (Christine Tremarco), and her trustingly uninformed mother (Lesly Sharp). Robert Carlyle is Roache's 'lover' and is introduced to us in this film before he subsequently became the established actor he is today. The affair between Roache and Carlyle is as sensual and touching as any gay affair on film. The growing relationship between Wilkinson and Roache is humorous and tender and triumphant. Antonia Bird directs with a taut eye on character and atmosphere and makes her story dark and light and quiet and probing. This is a fine film that just grows better with each watching. The only moment of laxity comes at the very end when the heartstrings are pulled below pitch with the wholly unnecessary music background of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' muddying up an otherwise honestly moving film.Movie Review: Powerful, Emotionally Harrowing
Summary: 5 Stars
The striking opening sequence of 'Priest' depicts an enraged elderly cleric, having learned he is being pushed into retirement, utilizing a large crucifix as a battering ram and raiding the offices of the bishop; the climax of the film is one of the most powerful, emotionally shattering scenes I have ever seen, imbued with forgiveness and redemption and humanity at its shining best, courageously in the face of humanity at its self-righteous worst. In between is a searing indictment of the outdated practices of the Catholic Church and its breeding of intolerance and hate. Father Greg Pilkington (portrayed with astonishing clarity and mesmerizing, gut-wrenching passion by Linus Roache) is a young, idealistic priest who is more than a little put-off by his unorthodox partner, Father Matthew Thomas (a wonderful performance by the great Tom Wilkinson), who sings karaoke at the neighborhood pub and sleeps with the housekeeper. But Father Greg's smug little world soon begins to spin out of control as he attempts to deal with his own homosexuality and with a heartbreaking secret learned by him in the confessional. Roache's breathtaking performance is palpable and eloquently harrowing as Father Greg becomes more and more tortured by guilt and grief. Also in the film, in a winning, endearing turn, is Robert Carlyle (one of Wilkinson's cohorts in 'The Full Monty') as Graham, the object (and the victim) of Father Greg's affection. 'Priest' is a remarkable and revelatory piece of work, intelligent and gripping and deeply felt. Highly, highly recommended.Movie Review: It's More Relevant Now Than Ever.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're a Bostonian like me, chances are you must be sick to death of the nonstop media coverage of the priest abuse scandals. But with all that's going on in the Catholic church, a movie like "Priest" is even more vital now than ever. In one of the most underrated performances ever, Linus Roache is Father Greg, who, upon being newly assigned to a British parish, gets caught in a web of drama involving child abuse, sexuality, the sacrament of Confession, and the priestly vow of celibacy. Without revealing spoilers, "Priest" confronts some pretty throny issues lesser films would dodge. It also has great performances from Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson ("In the Bedroom") and Robert Carlyle, who shows not a trace of the frightening intensity he brought to his role in "Trainspotting." The film borders on sentiment during a scene when they play "You'll Never Walk Alone," but otherwise, it's a pretty solid affair. While Miramax spends millions of dollars hyping to death more mainstream films like "Chocolat" and "Cider House Rules," "Priest" gets the shaft on DVD. There are virtually no features on this package. Even so, this film is worth a look, for it is one of the very best movies of the 1990s.