Great flick. It helps to know a bit of the history of St. Francis of Assisi and see the parallels between Mark and the life of that saint. Mark's depiction of his own sexuality and his abandonment of materialism and pleasure are very similar to the moment that Francis faced when he abandoned his life as a "party animal" and the world of his father in the town square of Assisi. This modern adaptation of that story is very well done. I have seen both the play and movie and have found both to be inspirational. I highly recommend this movie in that it speaks to challenging the Catholic Church from within the constraints of the priesthood. While Mark, sadly, was turned aside by the Church, Father Farley, played by Jack Lemmon, is changed forever through his association with Mark. Great performances by Jack Lemmon, Zeljko Ivanek as Mark Dolson and Charles Durning as Monsignor Thomas Burke.
Review of Mass Appeal
