The Two Popes (2019)
3.7 of 5 from 74 ratings
2h 5min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
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 (Jonathan Pryce) requests permission to retire in 2012 from Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins). 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. Inspired by true events. - Actors:
- Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Hopkins, Juan Minujín, Sidney Cole, Thomas D Williams, Federico Torre, Pablo Trimarchi, Walter Andrade, Juan Miguel Arias, Lisandro Fiks, Fabricio Martin, Matthew T. Reynolds, María Ucedo, Sara Pallini
- Directors:
- Fernando Meirelles
- Others:
- Dan Lin, Tracey Seaward, Anthony McCarten, Jonathan Eirich
- Genres:
- Comedy, Drama
- Collections:
- Acting Up: British Actors at the Oscars, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2024, New waves of Latin American Cinema, Oscar's Two-Time Club
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Reviews (2) of The Two Popes
Very well-crafted - The Two Popes review by DJ
Highly entertaining. Two veteran actors at the top of their game. Almost certainly historical bunk, but don't let that put you off. The film manages to weave a serious consideration of the Argentinian "Dirty War" into what is essentially a light-hearted movie without being gratuitous or offensive - in fact I found parts of it genuinely moving. Well worthwhile
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Interesting Drama - The Two Popes review by GI
Even for a non believer and fierce critic of the Catholic Church this somewhat indulgent drama has much to admire in its entertaining bromance structure about the clash of ideas between Pope Benedict XVI and his successor Pope Francis I. Played with gusto by Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce they make the film worth watching in what is really a preposterous imagining of private meetings between these two rivals as the incumbent Pope is considering the sensational decision to retire the papacy. The film plays out as the two spar together in a series of meetings and it's the early ones that really are more interesting as their animosity for each other is revealed. Hopkins portrayal of the ultra conservative Ratzinger is especially cold and at times a little bit Lectorish. The trouble is as the two duel with each other key issues are glossed over not least the international scandal over child abuse and whilst Pryce's Cardinal Bergoglio is given a backstory told in flashbacks there is no balancing one for Hopkins' Ratzinger and his final confession is made deliberately and annoyingly inaudible. By the end when the two sort of become mates the film feels all a bit sloppy. But it's two actor masters who are really interesting in their roles and this makes it all worth checking out.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.