Jack Lemmon and Zeljko Ivanek star in "Mass Appeal," a 1984 film based on the Broadway play. It concerns a popular priest who is assigned a young, intense seminarian, Mark Dolson (Ivanek). Dolson makes Father Farley question his values, his beliefs, and ultimately his courage to rock the boat.
The conflict between these two men, exact opposites - one, Farley, who takes the easy way out every time - and Dolson, whose unabashed honesty causes constant difficult for himself - make for an absorbing drama. When Dolson's suitability for priesthood is at stake, Father Farley has to make a decision whether or not to ask his congregation for support, and in so doing, take a stand against a strictly by the book monsignor (Charles Durning).
The film throws a lot of Catholic beliefs into question, and I saw it at an interesting time in the Church's history, when priests are openly being accused of abuse of their (usually male) charges. This is also the subject of a play set in the '60s, the excellent Doubt. Abuse isn't the issue in "Mass Appeal," but homosexuality in its way is, as the Monsignor suspects that two seminarians might be gay. When Dolson defends them, his sexuality becomes suspect also. Dolson's take is that it doesn't matter if the seminarians are gay or not - they are willing to take the vows of priesthood and live by them, as is he (Dolson reveals his sexuality and past life experience during the film).
One would be hard put to find better actors than Lemmon and Ivanek for their roles. Both are totally brilliant, giving full, deep characterizations of profoundly different men. Lemmon always cut to the chase, be it in drama or comedy. Missing are the technical machinations so many actors go through - all we see is an honest, naturalistic performance. The gifted Broadway actor Ivanek was still in his twenties when "Mass Appeal" was made. He holds his own with no problem against Lemmon. The rest of the cast is good, though the Durning character is a little too heavy-handed.
An excellent film, wonderful script by Bill Davis that is both humorous and touching, with some beautiful music by Bill Conti. Underrated and recommended.
The conflict between these two men, exact opposites - one, Farley, who takes the easy way out every time - and Dolson, whose unabashed honesty causes constant difficult for himself - make for an absorbing drama. When Dolson's suitability for priesthood is at stake, Father Farley has to make a decision whether or not to ask his congregation for support, and in so doing, take a stand against a strictly by the book monsignor (Charles Durning).
The film throws a lot of Catholic beliefs into question, and I saw it at an interesting time in the Church's history, when priests are openly being accused of abuse of their (usually male) charges. This is also the subject of a play set in the '60s, the excellent Doubt. Abuse isn't the issue in "Mass Appeal," but homosexuality in its way is, as the Monsignor suspects that two seminarians might be gay. When Dolson defends them, his sexuality becomes suspect also. Dolson's take is that it doesn't matter if the seminarians are gay or not - they are willing to take the vows of priesthood and live by them, as is he (Dolson reveals his sexuality and past life experience during the film).
One would be hard put to find better actors than Lemmon and Ivanek for their roles. Both are totally brilliant, giving full, deep characterizations of profoundly different men. Lemmon always cut to the chase, be it in drama or comedy. Missing are the technical machinations so many actors go through - all we see is an honest, naturalistic performance. The gifted Broadway actor Ivanek was still in his twenties when "Mass Appeal" was made. He holds his own with no problem against Lemmon. The rest of the cast is good, though the Durning character is a little too heavy-handed.
An excellent film, wonderful script by Bill Davis that is both humorous and touching, with some beautiful music by Bill Conti. Underrated and recommended.