Movie Review: The Two Popes

       So, what goes on behind the scenes in Vatican City, the Catholic enclave recognized as its own country, one of the last expressions of Mussolini's government when he made a deal with Pope Pius XII on the eve of WWII-the vatican was given independence at the price of SILENCE.
      In the past decade,   many changes have been made regarding the papacy.  For the first time in 700 years, a sitting Pope resigned.  His replacement was the first elected Pope from the Americas-a Jesuit from Argentina, Francis the First.  The film depicts the 2 priests initially negotiating their different philosophies: one traditional, conservative; and the other, more modern and realistic in today's world.
      Pope Benedict 16 is played by Anthony Hopkins, a classic actor with a respectable career already in the can.  His role is to play a Pope who will make an historic decision that will be felt worldwide among all Catholics in all countries.   His anguish is visible as he struggles in conveersation with the Argentine Jesuit,  played by Jonathan Pryce, who comes on his own to resign from the College of Cardinals where he holds rank as one of the senior members and a possible successor should Benedict die in office, as is expected of all popes.  Their conversations play a key role as they banter back and forth over the state of catholicism worldwide.  Cardinal Bergoglio speaks of his role as an advocate of the poor and the evidence of gross inequality that exists in modern countries all over the world.  How can conditions exist side-by-side that provide stark evidence of this?  This is not something made by a god but made by man, argues the Jesuit.  He confirms his beliefs that the Church must address this issue rather than focusing on "old" issues of divorce, homosexuality; pedophilia among clergy; abortion rights, and other topics most everybody is familiar with today.
       There are ample scenarios played out that display the landscape of Italy, some of Buenos Aries neighborhoods, and graphic depictions of historical events among the terror in Argentina during the military coup in 1976 end the subsequent "disappearing" of youthful protesters who were murdered by the military leaders.
     The 2 hour film is a good one and received more than a few Academy Award nominations.