Film Review: "The Two Popes" (2019).

"Inspired by true events." This is The Two Popes. This biographical drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles, adapted by Anthony McCarten, and based on his 2017 play The Pope. An intimate story of one of the most dramatic transitions of power in the last 2,000 years. Frustrated with the direction of the church, Cardinal Bergoglio requests permission to retire in 2012 from Pope Benedict. Instead, facing scandal and self-doubt, the introspective Pope Benedict summons his harshest critic and future successor to Rome to reveal a secret that would shake the foundations of the Catholic Church. Behind Vatican walls, a struggle commences between both tradition and progress, guilt and forgiveness, as these two very different men confront their pasts in order to find common ground and forge a future for a billion followers around the world.

In early September 2017, Netflix confirmed that they would produce an adaptation of McCarten's play with Meirelles as director. By April 2018, Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins were cast to play Cardinal Bergoglio and Pope Benedict XVI, respectively. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and took place in Rome, Lazio, Italy, and Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina.

The film stars Hopkins as Benedict XVI and Pryce as Bergoglio. With their ideologies front and centre, the appealing, the impeccably professionals Hopkins and Pryce rise to the acting occasion by twinkling and growling as their characters warily circle each other before settling into the therapeutic swing of things and unknowingly preparing for the big event. The two men are formidable with conviction, charisma and utter self-righteousness. They once again reminds us of what great actor they are.

Hopkins and Pryce gave masterful performances in The Two Popes, a predictable but stylishly produced and rousing drama. It is an intelligent, winning drama fit for a pope – and the rest of us. What we have here is a strong drama and a powerful personal one. McCarten clearly did his homework, and the script is rich with dialogue uttered by the religious prototypes. Though he takes artistic license with certain facts, most such liberties are acceptable. Meirelles' richly enjoyable and handsomely produced film is a massively confident crowd-pleaser. It's an uplifting audience pleaser that also showcases film-making arts and crafts at an exalted level. The film is richly rooted, with splendid trappings, including pea-soup fogs. For all the pomp and protocol, it's an intimate story about two strong men who must find a common ground, in regal stature, above their religious robes. It explores the backroom of power, its anxieties and chiaroscuros, as an artifice of representation. A powerful back story does not necessarily improve a film, but the film has a pretty irresistible one. The spectator never doubts the fear of this pope, the genius, good heart and the courage of the cardinal who will become pope. It might even end with a dramatic night at the Oscars in February. Overall, it is a strong and respectable drama that is anything but revolutionary, but admirably tells its story with dignity and grace.

Simon says The Two Popes receives:

Also, see my review for 360.