Giuletta Revel Movies
One of several dramatized tributes to the late pontiff to be telecast in 2005, the two-part CBS biopic Pope John Paul II is a remake of a popular Italian miniseries, and was filmed on location in Italy and Poland. The film begins with the attempted assassination of the pope on May 13, 1981, whereupon the story of the man once known as Karol Wojtyla is unfolded in flashback. The familiar highlights of Pope John Paul II's life and work are vividly realized: his early theatrical aspirations, his staunch resistance of both the Nazis and the Communist party in his native Poland, his meteoritic rise through the church ranks (at 38, he was his country's youngest bishop), and his ultimate ascendance to the Vatican throne in 1978. Also, this is one of the few English-language films to officer a meticulous recreation of the papal election process. Throughout much of the film, the pope's career is firmly linked with that of his countryman, Polish labor leader Lech Walesa; it can be inferred that without the input of both men, Poland would never have freed itself from Communist domination, nor would the Soviet empire have ultimately fallen. Cary Elwes plays John Paul from ages 18 through 50, whereupon Elwes morphs (quite literally, thanks to a brief -- and controversial -- special-effect sequence) into Jon Voight, who takes over as the older pope. Pope John Paul II was first telecast in two parts on December 4 and 7, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Voight, Cary Elwes, (more)
- 2004
A convict and the girl who occasionally comes to play Scrabble with him form a curious connection in this drama from director Stefano Pasetto. As they sit on opposite sides of the game board, the pair gradually finds their conversation drifting into the past. The outside world is only an illusion, and neither have much interest in following the social norms that define that world. While she is a student of medicine who dabbled in many careers before qualifying, he has always found solace in photography. They met on the metro, where he would stare at her back daydreaming and she would bask in the warmth of his gaze. Eventually, fate brought them together. Later, a fleeting moment of happiness is followed by an unexpected split and both begin to understand the true meaning of destiny. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Fabrizio Rongione, Barbora Bobulova, (more)
