galbi murad

The Two Popes is a semi-fictionalized account of conversations between former Pope Benedict XVI (Sir Anthony Hopkins) and the current pontiff, Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce). The two men, though ideologically opposed, discuss their concerns about the church’s future, as well as their own. It is, by all counts, a touching, heartfelt story brought to life by two masters of their craft. Whatever your personal views on the church, the papacy, or organized religion in general, this is without a doubt a beautiful movie worth every accolade. The scoring, the cinematography, directing, dialogue, and above all, acting, is fabulous. Jonathan Pryce embodies the gentle strength of then-archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, and his delivery in Spanish (in particular), in Italian and Latin, with perfect dialect, is just breathtaking. Sir Anthony Hopkins is magnificent as ever, his performance subtle and understated, he conveys the sobriety of the former pope while surprising us with a sense of irony. All in all a lovely film well worth watching. With a topic as politically charged nowadays as the church, it is difficult to separate the art from the subject. To that point, I still say this movie serves a meaningful purpose. Some say the current pope is too liberal, too political, some say the former pope was too conservative. And we are all painfully aware of the various scandals, hypocrisies, and shortcomings that have left a black mark on the church -- ones that may never fade. But while one may not agree with all or even a part of the faith's teachings, this story reminds that there is also much good to be seen, and indeed many fine people who have dedicated their lives to doing good in the faith's and God's name. This is a movie that will hopefully open up a meaningful dialogue, and should certainly keep you thinking, discussing, and debating for some time to come.