Click here for the review of The Mission (1986)

Part of the "1980s" series.

Nice review. Although the fact that you mentioned The Killing Fields in this review makes it all the more strange that you didn't review it for the 1984 series.

That's kinda what I was thinking (although, seeing as how this series is supposed to be based on the films James watched at this time period, it's entirely possible that's why it didn't get reviewed). As someone whom watched the movie in school back in 11th grade and enjoyed it, it's one I'd like to read in the future.

I hate to defend Captivity cause that movie did suck ass but from what I read that movie was like re-cut and re-shot from behind Joffe's back to make it more torture-porny. I know that South America got the original cut before all the re-shoots.

Well I don't hate to defend Captivity one bit! I liked that film but that dosen't make me a deranged lunatic!

Well seeing a blurred out shot of a naked Elisha Cuthbert(or Elisha Cuthbert body double) while the rest of the shot is focused made me a deranged lunatic.

Oh yeah, same here!

I agree with JB's views on The Mission. This was a very ambitious film that I admired a lot. But Robert DeNiro was badly miscast here. His accent alone drove me crazy.

I would just like to mention Ennio Morricone's famous music score. Haunting chorus, beautiful guitar themes, one of Morricone's best.

Thank you peanutjelly. I sped-red through the review and could find no mention of the score. I don't recall if it won, but the score was nominated for an oscar in '86.

Morricone's 2nd best work, in my opinion. GB and U takes tops for me.

I'm sure the score didn't win, because Morricone only ever received a lifetime academy award (I think).

Very good review, noticing the parallels to the look of Fitzcarraldo was very perceptive.

I also agree that De Niro is miscast, but I think it was a difficult and challenging role to play for him in the first place, so he deserves some respect for moving out of his comfort zone. As much as I like De Niro as an actor, he hasn't really done that since about 1990 or so (perhaps with the exception of his comedic roles).

I'm pretty sure it got beat out by 48 Hours or something like that. God knows Morricone deserved the win there.

Actually, it was Herbie Hancock's score for 'Round Midnight which won that year, though I believe they also had to revise the rules after that to define "original score" versus one based on -- but not exactly using -- much previously-released material.

And I think where Morricone was really robbed was the following year for The Untouchables. The Last Emperor had a nice theme and "sad theme," but I think The Untouchables had the fuller, more complete, score.