‘The Two Popes’ Film Review: Fernando Meirelles Drama Takes a Delightful Look at the Coolest Pope Ever
Telluride Film Festival 2019: Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins help transform the story of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI into something heartwarming and inspirational
Fernando Meirelles is back after working in television for the past few years. His latest film, “The Two Popes,” which had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, turns out to be one of the best from the Brazilian director who also made “City of God” and “The Constant Gardener.”
“The Two Popes,” one of Netflix’s two Telluride films (the other being Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story”), is about two men on opposite sides of a spiritual debate that will eventually decide the fate of the Catholic Church.
“If I wanted to kill myself, I’d climb my own ego and jump off of it” is just one of the many droll lines throughout the script by Anthony McCarten (“Darkest Hour,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Theory of Everything”), which focuses on the moment the Catholic Church changed hands from Pope Benedict XVI to Pope Francis and forever vowed to leave the past behind and embrace a newer, cooler Pope.
That line, by the way, is one of many said by Jonathan Pryce as the beloved Pope Francis, a warm and friendly man who doesn’t believe in eating alone, and whose mission is to make the world aware of the problems of income inequality, the refugee crisis and climate change, in addition to widespread poverty and growing hatred around the world.
Before he becomes Pope Francis, he is Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who found himself called to service at a young age. Much later in life he meets with Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins), and the two men begin to form what will be a lasting friendship.
Their conflicts are many — their world view is nearly opposite, but they share a love of God and the Church. Much of “The Two Popes” is simply an ongoing dialogue between these two men, peppered with great one-liners throughout, like Pope Benedict saying, “It’s a German joke. It doesn’t have to be funny.”
Ultimately, though, “The Two Popes” is a film about right now. It can’t be about anything else, because when Pope Benedict resigned and Bergoglio became Pope Francis, everything within the Catholic Church changed. Part of this is the acknowledgement of how little the Church did to rid itself of bad priests who molested children but were never held accountable. Part is what Francis does when he ascends — how he goes places popes never go, visits with people mostly unseen and fights for the rights of the underclass.
As Pope Francis said, “I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” Though it takes some convincing, each of these two popes eventually come to a common understanding, and more than that, a deep affection for one another.
What makes “The Two Popes” so delightful, other than the very funny script, is watching two seasoned actors play off each other for two hours. Both Hopkins and Pryce illustrate what the craft of acting is really about. It isn’t just showing up with charisma and holding the attention of the audience. Any movie star can do that. But these two are world class career character actors. There isn’t anything they can’t do.
Pryce has somehow never been nominated for an Oscar for acting. He’s flown under the radar all of these years without having that one moment where the industry singles him out for his magnificent work. That very well might change with this performance. (Three of the last five Best Actors have won with McCarten scripts.)
Pryce knows the character he plays so well that there is never a moment where he slips out of it. He also knows everybody loves Pope Francis. Pryce shows us exactly why they do.
“The Two Popes” is greatly entertaining, despite it being a long conversation with breaks that take us into the flashbacks of Bergoglio’s early life. The combination of the adept and seasoned actors, the witty repartee of the script and Meirelles’ bent towards humor take what might have been didactic and preachy and transform it into something heartwarming and even inspirational.
This is a film that is more about two men watching football and drinking beer than it is about the higher calling to Christ. What better way to be introduced to the necessary teachings of the coolest Pope who ever lived?
Paging Oscar Voters: 19 Fact-Based Fall Movies and Biopics, From 'Judy' to 'Bombshell' (Photos)
There aren't a lot of things Hollywood loves more in a film than the retelling of true-to-life events or the onscreen portrayal of real people. For proof, look no further than what the Oscars each year: In the last 10 years, seven Best Actor winners played real people, including Rami Malek for "Bohemian Rhapsody."
"Hustlers" (Sept. 13)
STX Entertainment's glitzy film about the Robin Hood of strippers is inspired by a viral 2016 New York Magazine article. "Hustlers" follows a crew of savvy strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their wealthy and abusive Wall Street clientele by maxing out their credit cards after they’ve passed out. The film stars Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Cardi B, Lizzo, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart and Julia Stiles.
"Judy" (Sept. 27)
Renée Zellweger plays Judy Garland circa 1968, when "The Wizard of Oz" star arrived in London to perform in sell-out concerts. The film follows Garland as she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans. Finn Wittrock, Jessie Buckley and Michael Gambon also star.
"The Laundromat" (Sept. 27)
Steven Soderbergh's screwball comedy follows Meryl Streep as a citizen journalist who uncovers a massive conspiracy involving money laundering, bribery, extortion. The film, based on Jake Bernstein's book, "Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation of Illicit Money Networks and the Global Elite," also stars Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas.
"The Current War" (Oct. 25)
The historical drama -- which languished in limbo for nearly two years following The Weinstein Co.'s bankruptcy -- tells the story of the cutthroat competition between Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) over whose electrical system would power the new century. Nicholas Hoult also stars as Nikola Tesla.
"Lucy in the Sky" (Oct. 4)
"Fargo" and "Legion" creator Noah Hawley directed Natalie Portman in "Lucy in the Sky," loosely based on the story of astronaut Lisa Nowak and her struggle to adjust after returning from space. Nowak, who was romantically involved with fellow astronaut William Oefelein, flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in July 2006. The following year she was charged with the attempted kidnapping of U.S. Air Force Cpt. Colleen Shipman, who also had a relationship with Oefelein. Nowak ultimately pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to a year probation. "Lucy in the Sky" also stars Jon Hamm, Zazie Beetz and Dan Stevens.
"Dolemite Is my Name" (Oct. 25)
Eddie Murphy returns to the screen after a three-year hiatus to play a blaxploitation legend whose given name is Rudy Ray Moore. After struggling to break into showbiz, Moore creates the alter-ego Dolemite seeking to star in blaxploitation films. Moore would go on to star in three films as Dolemite, including "Dolemite" from 1975, followed by "The Human Tornado" and "The Return of Dolemite."
"The Irishman" (Nov. 1)
Martin Scorsese reunites Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in what is one of the fall's most-anticipated films: a decade-spanning saga of organized crime in post-WWII America that covers Jimmy Hoffa’s (Pacino) rise as the leader of the Teamsters, and Frank Sheeran’s (De Niro) participation in hits for the Bufalino crime family as well as the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano and Bobby Cannavale also star in the Netflix film.
"Harriet" (Nov. 1)
Cynthia Erivo, who had a breakout 2018 with films "Widows" and "Bad Times at the El Royale," gets a star turn as American abolitionist and activist Harriet Tubman. The film follows the freedom fighter from her escape from slavery through her subsequent missions to free dozens of slaves in the South during a time of extreme adversity ahead of the Civil War.
"The King" (Nov. 1)
Timothée Chalamet follows in the footsteps of Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh, to portray one of Shakespeare's great heroes: Henry V, the 15th-century monarch who navigates the palace politics, chaos and war after his father's premature death. Chalamet is backed by a great cast that includes Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Lily-Rose Depp, Robert Pattinson and Ben Mendelsohn.
"Honey Boy" (Nov. 8)
"Honey Boy," written by Shia LaBeouf, is a raw semiautobiographical retelling of the actor's childhood growing up with an abusive and alcoholic father, played by LaBeouf. The actor wrote the screenplay while in rehab and reconciling with his father and confronting his own mental health issues. Noah Jupe plays a proxy for young Shia, here named Otis, while Lucas Hedges plays him as an adult.
"Midway" (Nov. 8)
Roland Emmerich's new action epic retells the clash between the American fleet and the Japanese imperial navy at the Battle of Midway in World War II. The cast includes Ed Skrein, Mandy Moore, Nick Jonas and Patrick Wilson.
"Ford v Ferrari" (Nov. 15)
In a film that might as well be called "We Want an Oscar," Matt Damon stars as visionary car designer Carroll Shelby opposite Christian Bale as the fearless British-born driver Kevin Miles. Back in 1966, the two men were hired by Ford to build a revolutionary race car to take on Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France.
"A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" (Nov. 22)
Tom Hanks plays the indelible Fred Rogers. Nothing else need be said.
"The Two Popes" (Nov. 27)
Fernando Meirelles ("City of God") this movie inspired the true story of Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and his encounter with the future Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce), one of his harshest critics as a cardinal from Argentina.
"The Aeronauts" (Dec. 6)
"The Theory of Everything" co-stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones re-team for another true story, about pioneering hot-air balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Jones) and meteorologist James Glaisher (Redmayne) who set out on an epic balloon journey in the 1860s.
"Bombshell" (Dec. 20)
Jay Roach's film tells the story of the sexual harassment scandal from the point of view of the women who challenged the toxic male culture and unseated Fox News founder Roger Ailes. Charlize Theron stars, in a striking resemblance to Megyn Kelly, alongside Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson and Margot Robbie.
"Just Mercy" (Dec. 25)
Michael B. Jordan stars as real-life author, activist and civil rights defense lawyer Bryan Stevenson as he seeks to free a wrongly convicted death-row inmate, Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx). The film, which also stars Brie Larson, is directed by "Short Term 12" filmmaker Destin Cretton.
"1917" (Dec. 25)
Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes based his WWI drama in part on an account from his paternal grandfather about two British soldiers ordered to sneak behind enemy lines to warn a battalion about an ambush during the third Battle of Ypres.
"Clemency" (Dec. 27)
Chinonye Chukwu's drama, which premiered in Sundance, is based on the true story of a death-row prison warden (Alfre Woodard) whose job takes its toll as she prepares for the execution of an inmate (Aldis Hodge).
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Some of the glitziest, most-anticipated movies of the fall star Hollywood’s biggest stars portraying real people
There aren't a lot of things Hollywood loves more in a film than the retelling of true-to-life events or the onscreen portrayal of real people. For proof, look no further than what the Oscars each year: In the last 10 years, seven Best Actor winners played real people, including Rami Malek for "Bohemian Rhapsody."
