The Mission (1986)

As I was putting together a movie list from my 501 Must See Movie book I came across this film and wanted to see it right away. I found it at the library the next week, but it still took me a while to get to. Nominated for 7 Oscars including best picture, and winner of 1 [Cinematography], starring Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, and Liam Neeson so quite a cast.

Based in the 1700's in remote area of South America ruled by the Portuguese. We start with a tribe of natives strapping a Jesuit missionary to a cross and throwing him over a waterfall [the movie poster]. The church sends in a missionary they felt would have more luck with, Father Gabriel [Jeremy Irons]. He gains the trust of the natives and they start building the church, meanwhile slave traders have hired men to hunt the natives down. Robert De Niro plays Mendoza, who is a slave trader/hunter who after some "family turmoil" begins to turn his life around.

This film starts as an action/adventure, then turns into a political drama for the second half as the church in Portugal gets tangled in the politics of who owns the land the native are own and if the missions can remain on the land. I would have liked more action and less politics, but it was good nonetheless, just not good enough for a worth watching grade.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091530/

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