[Review was originally posted on 9.8.19 at the Toronto International Film Festival]
In 2013, progressive Cardinal Bergoglio and soon-to-be Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) paid a visit to conservative Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) so that he could tend his letter of resignation to him. Surrounded by controversy, Benedict shunned it off, saying it was bad timing for his cohort to exit at a time when he was being accused of turning a blind eye on inner corruption at the Vatican. What followed was a debate between two very different mindsets and their particular views on the best path forward for the Catholic Church in the 21st century.
Fernando Meirelles’ “The Two Popes” is a wise and intelligent examination of that meeting. It feels as timely as ever to release this movie due to the current set of debates regarding conservative vs progressive mindsets. Meirelles, who directed the modern gangster classic City of God, never lets Anthony McCarten’s wordy screenplay interfere with his stunning visual schema. However, I did wish for more conversation and less lazy reliance on a long flashback sequence, which recounts the story of Francis’ youth from hopeless romantic to the most progressively-minded high priest at the Vatican.
A Netflix produced movie, “The Two Popes” is a masterclass in acting delivered by two legendary stalwarts of the craft: Pryce and Hopkins. Hopkins, at 81 years of age, gives us a fully fleshed Benedict, a man overcome by regret and anger over his past mistakes and unwilling to come to terms with an ever-changing world. However, wait until you see Pryce. In an Oscar-worthy performance filled with humor, sadness and, ultimately redemption, the actor has never been this magnetic since starring in Terry Gilliam’s 1985 sci-fi classic “Brazil.”
Bergoglio didn’t even want the papacy but, then again, as someone tells him, “the best leaders in the world are the ones that don’t want the job.” In the end, as Francis and Benedict talk about The Beatles, soccer, women’s rights, homosexuality and infidelity, this wowser of a conversation keeps our attention drenched to the screen . By shooting the most subtle darts at each other, and ultimately coming to an understanding, Hopkins and Pryce make “The Two Popes” a movie filled with humanity and hope, a bumpy ride worth taking. [B-]
This is the adaptation of the nonfiction book by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz. It wrapped production in February and has been in post-production ever since. The film test-screened a few months ago.