The Two Popes

Written by Anthony McCarten

Directed by Fernando Meirelles

Rating: 🏆 most excellent

Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) could not be more different. One is focused on preserving the history and values of the Catholic church, and one wants to see the church make changes to help the poor and be more inclusive. Based on the true story of the first Pope to step down in hundreds of years and Pope Francis’s rise to power, Two Popes gives us an inside look into what these dissimilar men’s conversations may have sounded like.

Director Fernando Meirelles (who directed the critically acclaimed City of God) has a very unique style that worked in favor of contrasting the rich and extravagant life of the church in the Vatican City, and the life of working-class people in developing countries around the world. The inner conflict of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is palpable. How can he reconcile his love for God and the corruption that he sees within the Catholic church? As someone who has been doing a lot of soul searching and re-evaluation of their own faith for the past year because of these same reasons, it was really inspiring to see this played out by one of the most influential men in the world. I think the Catholic church still has a long way to go, but it was a nice reminder to see what this faith means to over a billion people. The traditions of the grand cathedrals and the comfort of performing the holy sacraments mean so much to so many. This film causes you to examine how to keep the positive aspects of religion and how to eliminate corruption and outdated policies so that the church can evolve into its intended purpose for the modern world.

This film is beautifully and uniquely shot. Along with outstanding cinematography, editing and music choices also help to tell the story. But what stands out the most are the terrific performances by Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins, both of whom have received Oscar nominations for this film. Most of the movie revolves around conversations between the two, with little outside interaction from other characters. Their performances feel authentic and moving, which is no small task when you are speaking a variety of languages and acting in attention-grabbing locations. Seriously, a conversation between two old, soft-spoken men underneath Michel Angelo’s ethereal paintings in the Sistine Chapel is supposed to hold your attention? Yet it does. I was so captivated by their performances from the beginning to the end of this film. The Two Popes is a beautifully moving film and it’s now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston