Silence is Marty Scorsese’s 28 year spiritual project. Thankfully he took study breaks during this venture to make good movies. But, hey, the scenery is really stunning.

It’s not terribly boring as we become invested in character and story. It’s not too long because we love being at the movies. However, this film, referencing Shusaku Endo’s 1966 novel of the same same, funnels us to its extremely flawed conclusive half featuring annoying repetition and a gimmicky finish. It could nearly be considered dark humor but comedy rarely exists in religious tales, unless considering Monty Python’s parody. However, the resolute abandonment of the film’s title introduces mockery and this is clearly not the intention.

It is fair to say our two missionaries, Fathers Garupe (Driver) and Rodrigues (Garfield), do well with their physical and emotional roles. It was Rodrigues’ unbreakable faith that gave us the little faith we had in the film. It is also important to note the wry mannerisms and expressions of The Inquisitor (Ogata).

And scene. Scorsese and his impassioned endeavor conclude in mediocrity, more or less. Although it is a spectacle, Silence is not golden and converts only 2.1 napkins out of 5 in its favor.