Movie Review – The Two Popes (2019)
My Rating – 3.5 out of 5
Anthony Hopkins is one of my most favourite actors and I do believe that if he were to portray the role of a dead body, he’ll do that also with a lot of elan!
This is another Netflix story, inspired by true events, where Cardinal Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) requests to retire from the Church from Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins). His reasons for an early retirement – he sees the widespread corruption in the catholic Church, the rudderless way its going forward and is vastly disillusioned.
Pope Benedict on the other hand, recognises Cardinal Bergoglio as his fiercest critic and should have ideally seen this as a great opportunity to get rid of his nemesis, but on the contrary, invites him to the Vatican for an informal Tete-a-Tete.
What happens next is a brilliant bromance set-up, from cold antagonistic critics to respectful but wary confidantes over the next few days. Secrets come tumbling out, and two old men are thoroughly enjoying this bout of exposes! The pace of the movie stumbles from time to time and it somewhat skirts around the more thorny issues plaguing the Catholic Church, but the two lead actors are as good as it gets. Anthony Hopkins is brilliant as usual, raspy, cynical (even diabolical, at times) but simply sizzling with energy and Jonathan Pryce matches him step for step. Their involved acting would consume the viewer too, for it would be a crime to not get embroiled in their saga, fight when they do, reason when they don’t. You’ll know what I mean, when you see it, and see it you must.
Two stalwarts have acted their hearts out, as always…