Crimes de sang

This film does show Berenger's truly broad range as an actor. It is one of those movies' that stick with you and kind of "haunt" you, in the very good way of being truly memorable, ultra-sexy and different! Bellasario's genius is well known now, but was truly evident in this early work of his.

50 Shades of Gray has nothing on the raw sexuality displayed so beautifully by Tom Berenger. My wonderful husband of 30 years has always known that even though Berenger is 16 years my senior, I would have an affair with him in a heart-beat. This film shows exactly why!

The ending of this movie leaves you breathless and yearning for more.

So we have this priest, son of the mafia, who gets involved with this chick. I wasn't very hopeful on this, but it was the best offer TV could do that day. Not only we have Tom Berenger in top form, the film features Daphne Zuniga (why I had never heard of her before?), and Adrian Paul, way younger and before he put on the Highlander clothes, and in a small role. The plot is excellent, the performances are great and what to say? GO WATCH IT!

Every New York film cannot be a lasting classic. This having been said, Last Rites has been wrongly berated from the outset for having a "corny" and/or predictable plot line. Whether you consider it a church film with mafia overtones or a mafia film with church overtones, Berenger's priest shows subtle vulnerability that escalates to overwhelming vulnerability and you have to be curious as to where it will end. Isn't this the essence of the entertainment -- to hold interest? The plot progression was thoughtful -- and even clever -- enough to catch me off guard enough to retain my curiosity level. Although a true veteran, I could not foresee the ending. Can't some films be for fun? This is one to enjoy: It's a "buddy" movie with a twist.

You would think that with the mob, the Catholic church, machine guns, hookers, hit men (and women), full-frontal nudity, screaming inside a church, the lead actress crying that "I'm a whore!", a stuttering priest and a uniformly attractive cast that there'd be a reason to get excited about this thing. Alas, you'll only be disappointed unless, like me, you want to see it because you've heard only bad.

Although it's shot in a made-for-TV style, there a couple of interesting camera shots (set in Mexico) and even a moment or two where there's promise of the story kicking in. Unfortunately, after the first ten minutes or so it's too late to recover.

Poorly written, poorly acted, poorly conceived. If it had been just a little worse, it could actually be good. Otherwise, you can find a better way to spend a couple hours of your life.

This flick is full of surprises, from beginning to end. Colorful location shots. Extremely sensual. Good plot. Better-than-average dialog. Excellent acting, directing, photography, editing. A real story, not just a movie created to show what some computer whiz kid can do with special effects.

LAST RITES is a hard movie to find in the rental stores, but well worth the effort. Apparently some group (!) has tried to keep it off the shelves because of the content. Don't let someone censor your viewing--rent or buy this movie and judge for yourself.