Hopkins, Pryce shine, as does the cinematography, in ‘The Two Popes’
“The world can be chaotic, and there is beauty in that,” observes now Pope Francis in one of many conversations he has with his predecessor in “The Two Popes,” an enlightening film that crafts a remarkable snapshot of a enthralling relationship.
That observation can be applied to the film itself, which stuns with a beautifully crafted story while not shying away from the chaotic moral disagreements two significant figures have with each other.
The fascinating character study explores the relationship between Francis (Jonathan Pryce) and then Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins), leading up to the latter’s historic resignation in 2013.
The story follows the initial papal election of Benedict and the subsequent challenges he faced until his resignation, upon which Francis, then Bergoglio, comes in.
Benedict calls Bergoglio to the Vatican to discuss their disagreements and the future of the Catholic Church. The result is a series of thoroughly engaging discussions between the two that expose vastly different worldviews and thoughts of what the future of their faith should be.
Powerhouse performances by Pryce and Hopkins take perhaps what could be the least cinematic scenes — two men talking — and mold them into something far greater.
That is largely due to the narrative revealing the moral failings of both men as they struggle to not only reconcile with each other but with their own past mistakes.
These failings are not simple sins.
They are often quite horrible, ranging from failing to take action against child abuse to being complicit with a dictatorship. It is heavy stuff, yet the film approaches them with an honesty that is necessary for the story to feel complete.
The film, smartly, doesn’t hold either man up on a pedestal. Rather, it delves deep into their flaws, which benefits the weighty subject matter. While unflinching, it also has moments of bonding between the two that lend a feeling of melancholy to the story.
A standout comes when Benedict overhears Bergoglio whistling the song Dancing Queen before voting begins, creating a unique juxtaposition between the gravity of their decisions with his often charming yet irreverent demeanor.
The visuals of the stunning environment often are arresting, and the composition of scenes of the men wandering around the garden draws you into a world that feels almost out of time. There also is a peculiar use of sound that serves to the benefit of the story during moments of heightened conflict and emotion.
Often, the sound either rises to a crescendo or fades into nothingness, leaving extreme closeups of the actors going through a range of emotions that are a feast to the eye.
All of these elements come together to create a film that is worth watching, then reflecting deeply on.
“The Two Popes”
4 stars
Cast: Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Hopkins, Juan Minujín
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Running time: 2:05
Rated: PG-13 for thematic content and some disturbing violent images.
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 6:30 AM with the headline "Hopkins, Pryce shine, as does the cinematography, in ‘The Two Popes’."
