Jeri Jacquin
Coming in June on Bluray and Digital HD from HBO Home
Entertainment is a mind blowing limited series from creator/director Paolo
Sorrentino and THE YOUNG POPE.
Lenny Belardo (Jude Law) is now the first American Pope
choosing the name Pius XIII. Immediately he begins making changes the likes of
which the Vatican
and its priests have never seen. Upset that he was not chosen as Pope is Archbishop
Spencer (James Cromwell), his angers extends to Lenny by cutting him off.
Bringing in the big guns, Lenny chooses Sister Mary (Diane
Keaton), the nun who took care of him when his parents left him at the
orphanage. Knowing no one would get to him without dealing with Sister Mary, Cardinal
Secretary of State Vioello (Silvio Orlando) immediately knows choosing Lenny
Belardo as Pope could cost them all.
From his first speech however, everyone within ear shot
knows that this is a Pope who isn’t going to be controlled by anyone.
Immediately Lenny wants to know who is with him and more importantly, who is
against him. That’s when Vioello tries to call in those who would want to
control Lenny.
Of course when it all is brought to Lenny’s attention, he
calmly tells Vioello that excommunication is a card he has no problem playing.
But the games are not over as a woman named Esther (Ludivine Sagnier) is
brought in to work closely with the Pope as they all watch to see if a sex
scandal can be created to rock the Vatican .
It is clear quickly that Vioello is out of ideas as Lenny
also makes it clear that he knows what everyone is up to and every dirty little
secret they each have. Playing another dangerous game, Lenny makes demands of
the Italian Prime Minister that could bring problems for the politician.
But closer to Lenny is his friend Cardinal Dussollier (Scott
Shepherd) and in one fell swoop, the new Pope asks in a demanding way that he
point out all those incoming priests who do not follow the rules both in
celibacy and homosexuality. In those rules come shocks that will cause a
surprising agreement between two enemies.
A trip to Africa the Pope
wants to see the works of a Sister Antonia only to discover secrets and a
confession that goes haywire. In New York, Archbishop Kurtwell (Guy Boyd) has
agreed to provide letters written by Lenny that end up only helping the new
Pope’s cause sending the blackmailer to a colder place than he could have
imagined.
In San Marco as the Basilica, after spending his time
staying out of the limelight, Pope Pius XIII makes a grand gesture showing his
face to followers. Believing his sees the face of the parents he has longed to
find in the crowd, it leads to a finale that is spectacular!
Law as Pope Pius XIII is jaw dropping in every scene and in
every frame. I have to say that I was completely riveted by everything about
his performance. Seriously, this series just sends one wtf moment after another
and I couldn’t be more pleased about that. It is difficult to find a storyline
that is completely original and mind blowing AND get an actor to carry it but
with Law as Lenny – epicness complete! This character is intense and doesn’t
apologize for any of it, how can you not love that?
Keaton as Sister Mary is just a blast to watch as well. She
is a no-nonsense and ‘don’t let this habit fool you’ kind of nun who I would
hang out with in a heart beat. Keaton continues to surprise me in her role
choices and as Sister Mary I cheered every time someone came up against her.
Orlando as Vioello puts the slap on trying to get Lenny
removed and being totally creative about it. Keeping calm to his face, it is
when those robes are swaying down the halls of the Vatican that you can see the wheels
turning. Always appearing humble, Orlando
is always on his toes and looking for any way to crack the Pope.
Cromwell as Archbishop Spencer stands tall and defiant
against Lenny being chosen as the Pope. Trying to keep his divine composure, he
makes it clear that a mistake has been made and he isn’t about to help make
Lenny’s new post easier. I love this role for Cromwell but then again I pretty
much love every role he has played. This is a role filled with bitterness and
even rage of the highest kind.
Other cast include Cecile de France as Sofia, Toni
Bertorelli as Cardinal Caltanissetta, Andre Gregory as Elmore Coen, Rayna
Tharani as Maribeth, Tony Plana as Carlos Garcia, Gianluca Guidi as Father
Federico Amatucci, Ignazio Oliva as Father Valente, Biagio Forestieri as Peter,
Ramon Garcia as Cardinal Aguirre and Monica Cetti as Contessa Meraviglia.
HBO Home Entertainment has an extensive array of
critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking programs found on Bluray, DVD and
Digital HD. They have provided viewers with some of the most amazing programs
with huge fan bases that include the shows True
Blood, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, True Detectives, The Wire, Entourage and Game of Thrones. Launched in 1984, HBO
is world wide in viewed entertainment in more than 70 territories around the
world! For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.
THE YOUNG POPE is one of the most original series I have
seen in a long time. What is even more amazing is that originality is only the
tip of what this series brings. The storyline is fused with twists and turns
that only Lenny sees coming which means all eyes are on him.
Another fascination I had with the series is the stunning
visuals that are mixed with an ethereal feeling and moments where I could not
imagine where it all would lead. Between the visuals and Law, Keaton, Orlando and Cromwell not
missing a beat it is clear that THE POPE is heavenly perfection.
The Bluray includes the Special Features of The Making of THE YOUNG POPE, An Invitation
to the Set and Inside the Episodes.
The three disc set includes six hundred minutes of what I am calling total
epicness of a series that brings shock and awe to another level.
In the end – his religion is revolution!
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