Monsignor

George Litman wrote on IMDB:

The tag-line for this film begins "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned".

And that's not so much being said by the protagonist of "Monsignor" but by the director, actors, writers, best boys, gaffers, caterers and the guys who swept the floor afterwards on this disaster.

As the "Monsignor" of the title, Christopher Reeve plays a man who moves his way up through the Catholic church through dubious means - murder, theft, the Black Market during WWII... you know, the usual stuff. And there's even enough time for him to seduce a nun (Bujold)!

I know next to nothing about Catholicism, so I cannot say what if any of this kind of activity holds any validity. But what does this mean: that those involved in the Vatican's business affairs are only bookkeepers who work under the guise of religion for otherwise nefarious means? I'd hope not, but this movie seems to think otherwise.   [ show more ]

Reeve is a good actor, always will be. What he saw in this kind of film is beyond me. Maybe he thought (like Faye Dunaway did in "Mommie Dearest") that something so broad and unimaginably coarse could only be played as a comedy, so why not just go with the flow?

And if he thought that, he was right! "Monsignor" has scenes that play as out-and-out comedy; never have you seen so many (unintentional?) sight gags in your life, and the stony faces that permeate this film might make you believe that Buster Keaton must have been a busy man at one time or another.

So, "Monsignor" is a bad film, but it's also good for one of those nights when you have a few friends over, a few beers, lots of popcorn and nothing better to do than have a few laughs at someone else's expense.

Those involved in organized religion, say.

Two stars. Eight if you're an agnostic. [ show less ]

bouledogue wrote on IMDB:

A pop novel inspired--if that be the appropriate word-- by the then-contemporary financial scandal at the Vatican, is turned into a bizarre movie with Christopher Reeve spectacularly miscast as an Irish priest with ethical conflicts who nearly brings down the Catholic Church through his cynical dealings with the Mafia. Just what motivates this strange and unsympathetic character is never quite clear, so perhaps one can explain Mr. Reeves's constant enigmatic smirking as a cover for confusion. Director Frank Perry does all he can to suggest parallels with 'The Godfather,' and the John Williams score even cribs from its music. This is the stuff of soap opera, and not very effective at that, but those fascinated with Catholic culture will get a charge out of the scenes inside the Vatican, especially the audiences with Pope Pius XII, played with diminutive grotesqueness by Leonardo Cimino. Fernando Rey is good as Cardinal Santori, the future Pope John XXIII, though his Spanish accent is of course inappropriate, and one might wonder why, when the cast is loaded with good Italian actors, a Spaniard was chosen for the principal Italian rôle. But then there are even more serious questions one might ask of this picture.

mjhuber wrote on IMDB:

This movie is a smart, absorbing and different take on the Vatican, exposing the high stakes politicking and personal vanities that impact the actions of the Church. There are no saints in this movie, only real people played with empathy and unusual perspective. A very young Christopher Reeves takes on a challenging role and pulls off the complexity and credibility the movie calls for. The supporting cast is excellent, a joy to watch. The movie keeps you guessing and praying. This is not a movie for dullards, if you appreciate an intelligent and compelling movie, try this one. It will surprise you, pleasantly. It tackles a subject matter that is very timely now with the various Church conspiracy books fad, such as "The Da Vinci Code." I am trying to find more information on the subject of the movie, presumably Archbishop Paul Marcinkus.