FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Two Popes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce, Juan Minujín
Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins

What It Is: After the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005 a new Pope must be voted on. When Cardinal Ratzinger (Hopkins) of Germany is chosen. He selects the name, Benedict XVI. When a scandal rocks him around about 7 years in he is contemplating resignation. At the same time, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is thinking of retiring. These two titans of Catholicism in one room discussing life, faith, and god. All the while realizing that even though one is a dyed in the wool European Catholic and the other a South American Progressive they are both at the same time just two men. Two men who’ve made mistakes.

What We Think: I am a man who grew up around (but not in) the Catholic Church. My family on one end are Irish/German and on the other Central American. Catholicism is huge and prevalent in both. I myself am an agnostic. This did not stop me from being in awe of this film. The dialogue is stellar and the two lead performances are golden. For me, Juan Minujín though was the star of the show. This is a dialogue centered film with great dialogue. Brazilian director Meirelles continues to show he’s a master behind the lens in so many subtle ways with this one.

Our Grade: A-, What a brilliant and unexpectedly great piece of cinema this one is. Religious or not the themes of making mistakes and asking for forgiveness are universal. To know that no man is perfect even a “vessel of God” like those is the papacy. If you have a Netflix account give this a watch. It’s Netflix continuing the role they’ve been on with The Irishman and Marriage Story.