THE TWO POPES (2019)

Directed By: Fernando Meirelles Written By: Anthony McCarten  Cinematography: Cesar Charlone  Editor: Fernando Stutz 

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce, Luis Gnecco, Christina Banegas, Renato Scarpa, Sidney Cole 

Behind Vatican walls, the conservative Pope Benedict XVI and the liberal future Pope Francis must find common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church.

What one would think would be a more theatrical two-hander if discussions ends up being bigger and luckily more spacious. That still involves a meeting of the two grand actors, but the films. Space is filled in with their backstories, decisions, and actions before the meetings. Even a past romance is Hinted at and a strong sense of music. 

The film just feels comfortable. We get two sides of the same issues only with different insights and different ways of believing and dealing with the issues.

The common man manages the royal assessment when it comes to the views. The film takes on issues. If not the causal conversations, ones that you wish actually happened. Which helps explain policy and gives a behind-the-scenes look.

Going in you think it is going to be more satirical but it stays more dramatic and truthful to a degree.

In the end, this is an earned film. Whose heart is in the right place, but still feels like a prestigious film above all else. 

Shocked that it is directed by Fernando Meirelles who is usually more of a visual director. Though he does make a film that could have easily been dull. Seems more alive and vivid. It feels full of life that makes you appreciative of the small details of life 

This film comes across as informative. You watch to learn more about the Pope's practices and process, but more are here to see the performances by the two lead actors.

Though it offers a character study, a tale based on true events. That also has world events as a backdrop 

Grade: B