The Two Popes

The Two Popes is based on the play The Pope by Anthony McCarten

Movies Drama Netflix
125 min     7.499     2019     USA

Overview

The Two Popes is a Brazilian film directed by Fernando Meirelles, based on a script by Anthony McCarten, based on his 2017 play The Pope. Starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce. The participation of such stars could not fail to attract attention; the film received three Oscar nominations.

The film tells about Pope Benedict XVI, who decides to summon Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who plans to retire. The current head of the Catholic Church is going to discuss this issue with him in detail.

When Jorge arrives, he immediately goes to Benedict. However, the Pope refuses to accept the experienced cardinal's resignation, who has devoted many years to serve the church. Instead, Benedict tries to understand the reasons that pushed Jorge to such a difficult decision.

A dispute ensues between the priests about many modern church problems and views on the future of Catholicism. During the conversation, Benedict confesses to Jorge that he plans to renounce his title.

Leading complicated theological disputes, the heroes of the film The Two Popes tell each other eventful life stories, often disagreeing and arguing. Despite some contradictions, they are imbued with mutual sympathy and begin to realize views that differ from their own.

Almost all of The Two Popes is built on the dialogue and interaction of two great actors: Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins.
It is incredibly interesting to follow the change in their heroes' attitude to each other, from almost undisguised hostility and distrust to frankness and friendship.

However, the film crew's fantastic work and magnificent actors have its minus; you imperceptibly for yourself imbued with sympathy not only for the characters but also for the very institution of the Catholic Church.

It is almost the only negative of The Two Popes. In addition to the script, dialogue, and great acting, add stunning costumes, sets, and locations, such as shooting in the Sistine Chapel, to the pros' list.

Reviews

Manuel São Bento wrote:
Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce deliver two award-worthy performances, elevating a surprisingly humorous story about religion. Not a fan of the editing and the film goes on for a bit too long. Rating: B
CinemaSerf wrote:
This is quite a clever piece of work. Both performances demonstrate a complex, sometimes conflicted, humanity in a touching and thought-provoking way. Hopkins, as the scholarly Benedict XVI coming to realise that he no longer feels capable - for various reasons - to remain Pontiff and Pryce as Cardinal Bergoglio with whom he has little in common, and who has come to Rome to seek his permission to retire. The story focuses more on the trials and tribulations of Bergoglio as he rises to prominence in the Jesuit order and navigates the political turmoil of Argentina in the 70s and 80s where he develops a much less "conservative" approach to the issues facing the Catholic Church than his Pope. By the conclusion, however, both men appear reconciled to the honesty and integrity of the other. The extent to which the detail is true is anyone's guess - but by using humour, sport and even ABBA, this proves to be an intimate observational film that is certainly one of Netflix' better commissions.

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