Skip to content
Elementor Header #230880
  • News
  • Articles
    • Features
    • Buyers Guides
    • Spotlight
    • Previews
    • The Vault
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Game Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Hardware Reviews
  • Columns
    • Parental No-Scope
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Media
    • Podcasts
    • Video
  • More
    • Contests
    • Guides
    • Magazine
    • CNW News
    • Newswire

The Two Popes (2019) Review

An epoch-hopping tale of ideology

  • Chris Carter Chris Carter
  • January 16, 2020
  • 2 Minute Read
The Two Popes (2019) Review 3
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on reddit
Score: 7.5 / 10

The Vatican and the papacy are always relevant. Whether you’re studying its glorious and sordid history or focusing on current events, you’re always going to get plenty of eyeballs. So when Netflix decided to explore nearly everything the position stands for with two very capable actors, you could say those very same eyeballs bulged out of their sockets.

The two actors in question? Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI, who needs no introduction, and Jonathan Pryce as Pope Francis: who has been enjoying a career resurgence these past five years. That’s a hollow selling point all on its own, but the script from Anthony McCarten manages to keep things interesting, avoiding a preachy or overly historical tone, and allowing the humanity of these two individuals to really thrive.

At the end of the day, this is a film about two very powerful people having a mostly honest conversation with one another. There’s plenty of room for mental chess between the two titans (even if one is about to ascend to that honour eventually), but the film as a whole is not adversarial.  Equal parts character study and period piece; the film jumps around timelines to shed some light on Pope Francis’ backstory as he struggles to accept Benedict’s resignation.

The Two Popes (2019) Review

Final Thoughts:

Two Popes chiefly offers two mostly compelling performances that ground the film.
Chris Carter

Chris Carter

All Articles
The Two Popes (2019) Review 5

The Two Popes

Director(s): Fernando Meirelles
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce, Juan Minujín, Luis Gnecco
Running Time: 125 min

Must Read

Urbanista Stockholm Plus True Wireless Earbuds Review

Urbanista Stockholm Plus True Wireless Earbuds Review

DJI FPV Combo Drone Review

DJI FPV Combo Drone Review

Nomadland (2020) Review 3

Nomadland (2020) Review

MORE FROM Chris Carter

Nomadland (2020) Review 3

Nomadland (2020) Review

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) Review

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) Review

Tom & Jerry (2021) Review 1

Tom & Jerry (2021) Review

Auto Draft 457

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) Review

CGMagazine Logo

Advertise with us
Jobs @ CGMagazine
© 2020 CGMagazine Publishing Group

Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Linkedin
Instagram
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Policies
  • Jobs
  • Contests
  • CNW News
Menu
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Policies
  • Jobs
  • Contests
  • CNW News