Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Last Rites Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 14, 2020

1988’s “Last Rites” has the title and aura of a picture that takes the trials of priesthood seriously, suggesting a tight character study of a man of the cloth caught up in an unwinnable situation that tests his faith and his life. Instead of introspection, the effort announces its true intent in the opening scene, where a philandering man had his penis shot off by his vengeful wife. “Last Rites” emerges from the mind of writer/director Donald P. Bellisario, and it’s exactly the type of film that comes from the man who created “Airwolf,” “NCIS,” and “Magnum, P.I.” There’s no room for subtlety in Bellisario’s world, giving his big feature helming debut all the depth of a trashy novel, pitting a conflicted priest against his desires, allowing the desires to win. It’s probably not the best movie night choice for die-hard Catholics, but the awfulness of the endeavor manages to transcend religion, becoming a grand test of patience for all.

Father Michael (Tom Berenger) is a handsome priest maintaining the inner workings of a New York City parish, fending off attention from single women. He’s close to cop pal Nuzo (Chick Vennera), but his routine is broken when he learns that his cheating brother-in-law has been murdered by his wife, Zena (Anne Twomey), who’s also Michael’s sister. Feeling the loss of a loved one, Michael struggles with his family and their participation in organized crime, and there’s Angela (Daphne Zuniga), the mistress who witnessed the killing, managing to escape the crime scene. Sympathetic to her situation of survival, Michael offers Angela a place to stay, getting to know the Mexican woman and her troubled history. Unaware that Michael is caught up in the mess, Zena sets out to complete the hit by offing Angela, who’s starting to develop feelings for the priest, leading him into a difficult position of protection.

“Last Rights” does have the weirdly violent opener, but Bellisario isn’t interested in a measured understanding of Michael’s dilemma. This being the 1980s, the production is mostly after eroticism and bloodshed, with Michael not just a man of God, but the son of a mafia don, wearing his Italian heritage proudly while palling around with Nuzo. He’s a good-looking guy who just happens to take heavenly orders, giving Bellisario room to test Michael’s faith as he deals with grabby women and parishioners looking for absolution. The death of his brother-in-law triggers the plot of “Last Rites,” but it takes some time before Michael is truly tested, gifted a golden ticket to sin with the arrival of Angela.

The central relationship between Michael and Angela is absurd on many levels, with Bellisario trying to get some heat going between the two as they open up to each other and survive repeated attempts on their lives. The casting of Zuniga as a Mexican woman is part of the script, but it doesn’t make it any less ridiculous, while Berenger is just as unbelievable as a full-blooded Italian, making sure to work his home language into conversation as much as possible. The characters are tedious, and “Last Rites” can’t get anything going with the mafia hunt, pausing to inch Michael and Angela into a sexual relationship, with the priest suddenly giving in to desire, which permits Bellisario to make a “Red Shoe Diaries” episode with the occasional shoot-out and car chase.

Last Rites Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

An MGM catalog title, "Last Rites" comes to Blu-ray via Scorpion Releasing. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers an aged look, with essentials of the original cinematography softened, including detail with facial surfaces and costuming. Crispness is missing, but some textures are appreciable, and room dimension is acceptable, getting a feel for cavernous church areas, lofts, and mansions. Urban distances are intact as well. Colors come through only adequately, with hotter reds and brighter period hues, while religious uniforms favor a darker palette, with the exception of purple stoles. Skintones are flat at times. Filtering is present, along with some blockiness.

Last Rites Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers compelling scoring cues, with the bigness of orchestral sounds maintained throughout the listening experience. Instrumentation is sharp and volume swells during scenes of suspense never overwhelming the performances. Dialogue exchanges are as clear as possible, with a few inherent audio limitations found during exterior scenes in New York City. Sound effects, such as gunfire and fireworks, are satisfactorily defined.

Last Rites Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (10:13, HD) with writer/director Donald P. Bellisario returns the mid-1980s, where the television creator had an itch to do a feature. Bellisario describes his loose writing style, where he doesn't map out a story, electing to experience the plot as the audience would. Influences are briefly recalled, including a personal friend who was a priest, and the theme of "Last Rites" is examined. The interviewee delves into the differences between film and television direction, encountering a new set of challenges. New York City locations are detailed, and memories of Mexico are offered, including a run-in with Communist agitators during a crowd scene. Character choices from star Tom Berenger are highlighted, along with quirks and humor from the supporting cast. Interestingly, Bellisario brings up the idea of deleted scenes after a judicious editing session, but doesn't recall what they contained. And he shares his reaction to "Last Rites," making a trip to a theater during its opening weekend to listen to audience reactions.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:39, HD) is included.

Last Rites Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Bellisario tries to bend "Last Rites" into a noir-ish endeavor. It doesn't take, with undercooked elements all around. Sexual activity offers little heat with two actors who have no chemistry, and the growing saga of mafia blues is pure episodic television writing. Berenger gives himself to the part, and he's fine here when he's away from fuhgeddaboudit mode, but a decent performance can't support such a silly movie that doesn't even try to ask profound questions of faith, community service, and temptation.