"The Two Popes" Introduce Themselves with a Delightful Trailer

The Two Popes

A few years ago, Spotlight won Best Picture for depicting a scandal within the Catholic Church. While many have been critical of the group in recent decades, there have been few events as puzzling as when Pope Benedict retired. In history, popes often died with that title still intact, thus making Pope Francis' rise all the more peculiar. For years, many have wondered what inspired this decision, and for the director, Fernando Meirelles that involved exploring the story in a new drama called The Two Popes. With Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce in the titular roles, one has to wonder if this will be upset that the Oscars need to stay interesting. If the first trailer is anything to go off of, the answer looks like a pretty confident yes. 

While I am a lapsed Catholic at best, I still remember what it felt like to hear that Pope Benedict was stepping down. Sure, he was mired under controversy for potential ties to Hitler Youth and just being an all-around grouch, but if I learned anything from Pope John Paul II, it was that those who rose to that level of religious power owned it for the remainder of their life, or until health proved them incapable of duties. Benedict stepping down was shocking, even bizarre because of how uncommon it was. Sure, Pope Francis has gotten a far better reputation with some even appreciating his slightly more progressive views. However, the mystery of why Benedict left has been a baffling one at that.

That is why the idea of The Two Popes is more than another silly take on papal culture like the similarly named TV series The Young Pope. There's a lot that could be unpacked in exploring the personal strife of Benedict in his choice to step down, especially since it serves as its own conflict of faith, shifting power to someone else, and presenting a personal insight that could be downright engaging for secular audiences. For now, it's exciting to think that this film could be an Oscar contender, if just because of how rare religious figures are explored in Oscar-caliber film. Sure, the church has been criticized before in films like Philomena, Spotlight, and Lady Bird, but this may be one of the rare examples of a more sympathetic view of the Catholic guilt complex.

For those who aren't aware, Catholic guilt stems from the idea of "nobody is born without sin" and thus there's a need to atone, to do good in the world. When that isn't achieved, there's guilt, a guilt that drives one to do better. Maybe it will be what fuels Benedict's character in the film, though the trailer chooses to focus on the funnier side of their relationship, and it come end up making for one of the better duos in film this year as well as potential acting nominees.

Check out the trailer below:

Looks rather promising. Here's the plot according to IMDb:

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

In a way, it's the issue of our times. Liberals and conservatives must find a way to get along in order to form a more perfect union in the United States. While Meirelles is a Brazillian filmmaker, it does seem likely that this subtext inspired him to take on the story at this time. It leaves one to wonder what the two popes, played by Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, will actually achieve when talking out their differing views. Considering that there are other films this Fall about understanding (see also: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), it does seem like there's a push for more compassionate cinema. Netflix knows this and this feels like nice counterprogramming towards their darker film The Irishman, which ironically hits Netflix the day that The Two Popes hits theaters. Even then, it only continues the streaming service's most interesting year for film yet.

Is The Two Popes destined for an Oscar night? The trailer looks like it might be a done deal. Hopkins hasn't been this delightful in years, and the chemistry he shares with Pryce is just as charming. Given that this is a real event that hasn't been exploited yet by cinema, there's fertile ground to mine for any idea that could lead to an interesting story. For Catholics, it feels like one of the essential films of the Fall. The question will be if it's able to cut around religion and get to the heart of these characters in a way that makes them feel real. If nothing else, hearing popes talk about oregano will make for a fun alternative to denser event cinema.