We Have a Pope (Habemus Papem)
By John Mulderig, Catholic News Service
NEW YORK - What Catholic viewers make of the gently satiric seriocomedy "We Have a Pope" ("Habemus Papam") (Sundance Selects) will largely depend on their reaction to the sight of teams of cardinals from the world's various continents competing against each other in a volleyball tournament.
In addition to typifying the pitch of humor in this Italian import, the series of scenes devoted to that elaborate visual gag also are indicative of the film's overall strengths and flaws: Harmlessly humorous -- if undeniably silly -- to start off with, they carry on far too long, signaling the artistic exhaustion which eventually causes the proceedings as a whole to sputter and stall.
Things begin more promisingly, with scenes of an imaginary conclave during which voice-over narration allows us to hear each cardinal's fervent prayer that he not be the man selected. Eventually, a winning candidate does emerge, however, in the person of good-hearted but timid Cardinal Melville (Michel Piccoli).
Initially, the new pontiff accepts his election, albeit reluctantly. But then, overcome by the prospective burden of the office, and a sense of his own inadequacy, he balks before giving his first public blessing from the famous balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square. Or, to put it more graphically, he freaks out, gives vent to a violent scream, and runs away.
As the world waits -- the bewildered disappointment of the faithful is portrayed quite poignantly -- an eminent but nonbelieving psychiatrist (Nanni Moretti) is smuggled into the Vatican to treat this least typical of patients. He fails spectacularly.
Further complicating matters, the object of his attentions subsequently escapes the sacred confines and seeks some form of guidance by wandering the streets of Rome and mingling with the Eternal City's ordinary citizens.
The resulting delay in the resolution of their papal problem leaves the recent electors with time on their hands, and allows the therapist the opportunity to organize the aforementioned sporting event -- about which he becomes flagrantly obsessive.
Moretti, who also directed and co-wrote (with Francesco Piccolo and Federica Pontremoli), avoids any mean-spirited attack on the church, an approach for which he's been taken to task by some secular critics. They seem to have wanted him to go for the sex-abuse jugular, and have interpreted his lack of rancor as a symptom of pusillanimity.
Early on, Moretti garners some amusement from the contrast between the shrink's secular assumptions and the faith-based attitudes prevailing at the Holy See as well from a range of human foibles against which high-ranking churchmen must be presumed to be no more proof than anyone else. But by the time his protagonist goes on the lam, Moretti has clearly run out of inspiration.
Both costumes and settings seem to reflect an awareness of real-life ecclesiastical garb and architecture and contribute to a convincing atmosphere. Other touches of realism include footage of the 2005 conclave that saw the election of Pope Benedict XVI as well as a storyline reminiscent of the early life of Blessed John Paul II: Like the young Karol Wojtyla, the fictional pope here, we learn, once thought of becoming an actor.
There are a few vague references in the dialogue to major reforms of which the church is said to stand in need. Since these are never specified, however, each audience member is free to interpret what they might entail according to his or her own theological predilections.
No volleyball for prelates over 80, perhaps?
In Italian. Subtitles.
The film contains much ecclesiastically themed humor that some may find distasteful, at least one use of the F-word and a fleeting reference to sexuality. The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.
American Reunion
By John Mulderig, Catholic News Service
NEW YORK - It's interesting to speculate whether Steve Stifler -- the character Seann William Scott has played throughout the much-too-long life of the "American Pie" franchise -- constitutes the single most degraded specimen of humanity ever to occupy a movie screen. If so, at least the gutter-crawling comedy series has achieved one superlative.
The latest dip in the slime comes titled "American Reunion" (Universal) and finds Stifler, Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs) and the other members of their apparently perennial band of boors gathering for their high school reunion and continuing to obsess about sex.
Jim and his wife Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), it seems, have lost that loving feeling and so (as early scenes make excessively apparent) have begun resorting to self-stimulation. Their efforts to rekindle the flame -- aided, eventually, by the awkward marital advice Jim manages to extract from his kindly, now-widowed father (Eugene Levy) -- represent such drama as can be discerned amid the lowlife high jinks.
The latter, of course, are the real business at hand, and they range from Jim's potentially adulterous misadventures with an 18-year-old he used to baby-sit to Stifler's ever-so-witty use of an obnoxious adversary's beer cooler as a toilet.
Wasn't it Noel Coward who first came up with that one?
And on it goes. Like the base characters that inhabit it, co-writers and directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg's endlessly crass flick gets old fast, but never matures.
The film contains strong sexual content, including graphic sexual activity, masturbation, full nudity and same-sex kissing; gross scatological humor; several uses of profanity; and pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
By Joseph McAleer, Catholic News Service
NEW YORK - Talk about a fish out of water story! A sheik wants to bring his favorite Scottish pastime to the Arabian desert in "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" (CBS).
This charming blend of comedy and drama -- based on the novel by Paul Torday -- insists nothing is impossible, not even re-creating a bonnie loch in the middle of the Middle East.
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom ("Dear John," "The Shipping News") and written for the screen by Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire"), "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" covers a lot of ground -- or should that be water? -- ranging from romance and diplomacy to world peace and the ins and outs of fly fishing, all with verve and a sense of fun.
Dr. Alfred "Fred" Jones (Ewan McGregor) is Britain's foremost fisheries expert. Although he suffers from Asperger's syndrome, an autism-like disorder which makes social interaction difficult, he perseveres in a dull government job and a loveless marriage.
Excitement lands on his doorstep in the person of Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt), a glamorous consultant with an important billionaire client: Sheik Muhammed of Yemen (Amr Waked). The sheik is passionate about salmon fishing, and dreams of importing it to his native country.
Never mind the challenge of cold-water salmon surviving in the not-so-fish-friendly desert. The sheik is a visionary, regarding the project as a beacon of hope and a peace-building bridge between East and West.
Everyone loves a good news story, especially the British government. With casualties mounting in Afghanistan, the prime minister commands his manic press secretary, Patricia Maxwell (Kristin Scott Thomas), to change the headlines. She latches onto the salmon story and pitches it as a symbol of Anglo-Yemeni cooperation.
"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" barrels along as one powerful man's folly moves closer to reality, transforming not only nature but the engineers involved.
Fishing becomes a metaphor for faith, especially for nonbelievers like Fred. Patience, tolerance and humility are all virtues necessary to fishing, the sheik reminds him. Sometimes, after hours of waiting, "in the end you are rewarded for your faith and constancy -- with a fish."
At the construction site in Yemen, Harriet and Fred are impressed by the devout nature of the Muslim workers as they respond to the call to prayer.
"I don't know anyone in England who goes to church anymore," Harriet says. "On Sunday we go to Target," Fred responds.
"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" may be just the ticket to soften the hearts -- and open the minds -- of even hardened skeptics.
The film contains brief war violence, partial nudity, implied premarital sex, and occasional profanity and rough language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.