The Two Popes

Telling the story of the historical moment when the transition between Pope Benedict and Pope Francis happened, this is an intriguing look at two men whose lives are wrapped up in spirituality and in politics, whether they like it or not. For much of its length, it's almost a play, with the two in constant dialogue as the Argentinian Cardinal Bergolio visits Pope Benedict planning to resign, only for their conversation to twist again and again, as they talk about everything from soccer and Kommissinar Rex to notions of sin, poverty and their guilts. Director Fernando Merilles opens it up by moving us around Benedict's various domiciles, taking us on a deep dive historically into Bergolio's background, and top-and-tailing with two papal elections, with writer Anthony McCarten providing a lot of fairly sharp dialogue to go with the visuals. It's quite satisfying to watch two actors of the calibre of Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins going head to head - both playing somewhat differently (Pryce brings an open emotionality and a sweetness (and a reasonable Argentinian accent), Hopkins closed and sly and inqusitive (and not particularly bothering to sound Austrian)). It's surprisingly funny and gets under your skin in a way you probably aren't expecting and, as a non-catholic, I enjoyed myself hugely.