The Search for the Divine in All of Us
ASK Recommends: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
These occasional movie posts are shifting towards what I’m calling ASK Recommends. The aim is simple; without digging into something too academic, I’d like to recommend films, tv shows, art, and music accompanied by a short reflection on why I find this particular bit of media worthwhile. Hopefully, readers will find this just as engaging as some of my other posts.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Directed by Steven Spielberg, featuring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Denholm Elliott, Allison Doody, River Phoenix, Julian Glover, and John Rhys-Davies. Paramount Pictures, 1989.
The search for the Grail is the search for the divine in all of us. - Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott)
Undoubtedly the best of the Jones films, The Last Crusade is worth an evening of your time. The religious overtones may not mean much to some, and controversies over the “grail” of Christ may overshadow some of the story at this point, but this film is simultaneously fun, thoughtful, and filled with many one-liners that are pure gold.
Ford, Connery, and Elliott are perfect together with a combination of quips and profound remarks that keep the conversation moving and interesting. None of the other Jones movies maintain this throughout, which is why I think this particular film is so much better than the others (though the fourth film comes closest to this with Shia Lebouf’s character). Something about the charisma between Connery and Ford really works in this film creating a sense of that fabled “Hollywood magic” that seems to be more and more elusive these days.
One of the things that appeals to me most in this film is the imbedded truth, goodness, and beauty of the Christian faith. I don’t think this is intentional at all, certainly not on Spielberg’s nor Lucas’s part. But it illustrates wonderfully the difference between a person who seeks God for their own benefits (i.e. Simon the Magician) and people who seek God for who He is (i.e. Dr. Jones, Sr.). And what’s more, a film with such overtly Christian ideals in it ended up having mass appeal and longevity in Hollywood, one of the least friendly-to-religion centers in the world. But to tell a good story, sometimes you have to rely on objectively good things, even if you don’t believe them.
Consider just some of the following lines from the film, which I think show what great writing went into it:
This notion of seeking truth comes up again throughout the film.
Archeology is the search for fact, not truth. If it's truth you're interested in, Dr. Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall. So forget any ideas you've got about lost cities, exotic travel, and digging up the world. We do not follow maps to buried treasure, and X never, ever marks the spot. 70% of all archaeology is done in the library. Researching. Reading. We cannot afford to take mythology at face value. - Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)
And this idea that there is value in the past pervades the whole series, but this film in particular as it connects a son with his father.
I suddenly remembered my Charlemagne: "Let my armies be the rocks and the trees - and the birds in the sky." - Henry Jones, Sr. (Sean Connery)
The film also presses the idea that there is something sacred worth fighting for in this world.
The quest for the Grail is not archaeology - it's a race against evil! - Henry Jones, Sr. (Sean Connery)
But it’s not all serious, as this great bit of back-and-forth shows:
Every time I say, “you didn’t . . . ”, I cannot help but break into a bad Connery impression. This is one of those films that combines the profound with the lighthearted in a way that pays perpetual dividends.
Along this line of thinking, Dwight Longnecker’s essay at The Imaginative Conservative offers an interesting take on Indy’s progression from paganism to Christianity. I’ve always thought that it was no coincidence that Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark shares a Biblical connection, while Temple of Doom and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull try to take Jones away from his Christian roots and do not fare as well in terms of popularity nor in staying power. I’ve not seen the fifth entry, but I’d wager there is a kind of continuation with the second and fourth films more than the other two.
Overall, this film is a simple one. No huge plot twists. No nudity. No swearing. No gore. Basically, it’s an enjoyable film that almost everyone can watch and enjoy. And that gives it such a broad audience, which helps its appeal. It’s the kind of movie that you can walk away from without needing to engage in deep thought, but still feel as though you’ve been edified when it’s over. And yet, it can also stimulate discussion about the healing power of God and the importance of our motivations in seeking Him. The Last Crusade is one of the few movies that doesn’t disappoint.