Movie Review - The Two Popes

This is probably the perfect film to watch for the Christmas holiday. The film is basically about two men coming together not only to reaffirm their faith but also to reaffirm what one's duties are as a Christian. It's about how they see the church. It's about friendship and seeing beyond the superficial into who a person is more deeply. If Christmas is about the season of giving, this film works in that regard. It's about two men giving each other gifts. One man in fact gives the other probably the greatest gift someone in the Catholic Church could give another. That gift is that of the papacy where one man literally gives the role of Pope to another. Normally, this isn't the case. Normally, a man doesn't give up the papacy. Normally, the man has to die. Because the man didn't die, it creates the title of this film where we currently have two men alive with that pontiff role.

Written by Oscar-nominee Anthony McCarten (Darkest Hour and The Theory of Everything), the title of this film is simply in reference to the unique existence of these dual heads of state at the Vatican. Yet, in reality, this film is more about Pope Francis. The film is told more from his perspective and explores his history and more of his inner life. Director Fernando Meirelles (City of God and The Constant Gardener) is a Brazilian filmmaker and it makes sense that his focus would be on his fellow South American and Latin American subject. The film isn't balanced in that it doesn't explore the history and more inner life of the other Pope. A lot of the film is also about the process of picking the next Pope or specifically why a man would choose or be willing to take on that role. It had two perspectives on hand but leans more on one than the other.

Jonathan Pryce (The Man Who Killed Don Quixote and The Wife) stars as Jorge Bergoglio, a Cardinal from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He's a Catholic priest that rose up to become one of the most important priests in Argentina. When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, he was part of the College of Cardinals who was responsible for electing the next Pope. Some people thought that Jorge should be elected as the next Pope, but he didn't get enough votes. Jorge is perceived as more liberal and some thought if he were elected, he would reform the church, especially when it comes to economic or financial issues. It's arguable how liberal he is and he certainly isn't some left-wing progressive.

In 2012, Jorge decides that he wants to resign as archbishop, which is one of the highest ranks that a priest can have. He essentially wants to retire. He's in his mid-seventies and feels old, even though people tell him that he still has a youth about him. He does have a youth about him. He likes to dance. He eats pizza and drinks Fanta. Yet, he doesn't know what Wi-Fi is. He also loves soccer or European football as enthusiastically as a young man. However, he does want to retire, but not necessarily due to his age. It's due to his disillusionment with the church, especially in the wake of the scandal involving sex abuse against children.

Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs and Thor) co-stars as Joesph Ratzinger aka Pope Benedict XVI. He's the German who is elected after John Paul II dies. He's considered the conservative choice and the traditionalist who is more hard line. He's older than Jorge and his health isn't as great. When Jorge wants to resign, Joseph refuses to sign the paper. The rest of the film is basically a dialogue between Jorge and Joseph about who is resigning and who isn't, who should and who shouldn't, as well as what each man truly wants for himself and for the church.

The writing is the strongest when it is the two men going back and forth. Meirelles has the tête-à-tête between the men be close-ups of the men's faces that draw us further into them. It increases the intensity of the dialogue between the men. It's a verbal, tennis match, which is quite compelling. It does what a lot of people, even secular people, would enjoy, which is challenge the head of the Vatican about the sex abuse scandal and some of the contradictions of the church. It's not enough to convert any secular person. It might bring people who deserted the church back, but that's about it. The performances though between the two men are beyond superb.

Speaking of secular things, the comedy in this film comes from a lot of secular things. There's music such as ABBA and The Beatles. There's even the inclusion of an Austrian cop show called Kommissar Rex, which I never knew, but the premise sounds hilarious. Those things also work incredibly well.

What perhaps doesn't work for me are the scenes that take us away from the two older men. The film does flashback to when Jorge was a younger man, as we get a veritable history lesson about what's called Argentina's Dirty War. It was referred in the United States as Operation Condor, but it feels like a distraction in this narrative. Yes, it helps to explain why Jorge resists becoming who we now call Pope Francis, but it's not as effective as one would hope in explaining his hesitance.

Rated PG-13 for some disturbing violent images.
Running Time: 2 hrs. and 5 mins.

Available on Netflix.