The Two Popes

Grade: C+

Gene Siskel used to ask himself “Is this movie better than a hypothetical documentary of the same actors having lunch?” The Two Popes feels like a documentary of two great actors rehearsing what would make a superb two-person play, and occasionally getting interrupted by Netflixy-documentary-style cutaways to history lessons about the Catholic church. I’ve made this metaphor often recently, but if the shoe fits…it devolves into the kind of thing you’d have to watch at school.

The movie doesn’t seem to be sure what it wants to be, and tries to have its cake and eat it too. It disjointedly jumps around among tedious history lessons, captivating scenes of genuine chemistry and heart between Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, and references to Fitbits, good Wifi, the Beatles, and whistling ABBA’s Dancing Queen that too obviously seem to scream “See how hip and cool we’re making these old men?!?” The tete-a-tetes between Oscar nominees Pryce and Hopkins are a joy to watch. These two old pros have a rhythm with each other. It would feel weird to give just one of them an Oscar, because neither performance would be what it is without the other. It’s funny – I said the same thing about a film from last year, The Wife, which featured Mr. Pryce and Glenn Close.

The highest compliment I can pay The Two Popes is it’s the best movie about a holy father bromance I’ve ever seen.

Grade: C+