We Have a Pope

2012

We Have a Pope

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

65%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 81

55%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 5,598
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Movie Info

Nanni Moretti joins forces with the great French actor Michel Piccoli to tell the story of Melville, a cardinal who suddenly finds himself elected as the next Pope. Never the front runner and completely caught off guard, he panics as he's presented to the faithful in St. Peter's Square. To prevent a world wide crisis, the Vatican's spokesman calls in an unlikely psychiatrist who is neither religious or all that committed, played by Moretti, to find out what is wrong with the new Pope. As the world nervously waits outside, inside the therapist tries to find a solution. But Cardinal Melville is adamant: he does not want the job, or at least needs time to think it over. What follows is a marvelous insight into the concept of a human being existing behind the title of God's representative on Earth. -- (C) IFC

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Cast

Michel Piccoli
as Cardinale Melville / Papa
Nanni Moretti
as Psicoanalista
Jerzy Stuhr
as Marcin Raijski
Renato Scarpa
as Cardinale Gregori
Margherita Buy
as Psicoanalista
Franco Graziosi
as Cardinale Bollati
Camillo Milli
as Cardinale Pescardona
Roberto Nobile
as Cardinale Cevasco
Ulrich Von Dobschütz
as Cardinal brummer
Gianluca Gobbi
as Swiss Guard #1
Dario Cantarelli
as Attore #1
Camilla Ridolfi
as Girl
Leonardo Della Bianca
as Boy
Manuela Mandracchia
as Attrice #1
Rossana Mortara
as Attrice #2
Teco Celio
as Attore #2
Roberto De Francesco
as Attore #3
Chiara Causa
as Attrice #3
Mario Santella
as Cerimoniere
Toni Laudadio
as Capo gendarmeria
Enrico Ianniello
as Giornalista
Cecilia Dazzi
as Mamma
Lucia Mascino
as Commessa
Maurizio Mannoni
Giovanni Ludeno
as Portiere
Giulia Giordano
as Ragazza al bar
Francesco Brandi
as Barista
Leonardo Maddalena
as Ragazzo in autobus
Salvatore Miscio
as Prete
Salvatore Dell'Aquila
as Medico
Peter Boom
as Cardinale #1
Erik Merino
as Cardinale #2
Kevin Murray
as Cardinal
Harold Bradley
as Cardinale #3
Jelle Bruinsma
as Cardinale #4
Alfredo Cairo
as Cardinale #5
Mauro Casanica
as Cardinale #6
Don Somasiry Jayamanne
as Cardinal
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Critic Reviews for We Have a Pope

All Critics (81) | Top Critics (30)

  • Always the star of his movies, even when he shouldn't be, the atheist Moretti gets caught up in his own papal bull. But Piccoli's blessed empathy prevails.

    May 31, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Peter Howell

    Toronto Star
    Top Critic

  • This is rich material that Moretti mines for both superficial absurdity and deep pathos. But he refuses to forge an orthodox happy ending, let alone a tinny satire.

    May 11, 2012 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Joe Williams

    St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Top Critic

  • We Have a Pope takes its shots at the institution of the Catholic Church, but this is by no means a scathing satire. It's more of a character study, insightful and nuanced, about a man grappling with a profound sense of inadequacy, questioning himself.

    May 3, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Steven Rea

    Philadelphia Inquirer
    Top Critic

  • Though skeptical, the film isn't at all mean-spirited.

    Apr 27, 2012 | Full Review…

    Ben Sachs

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • "We Have a Pope" is a nuanced, moving and profoundly humane exploration of doubt, faith, weakness and resolve.

    Apr 27, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Michael O'Sullivan

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • "We Have a Pope" has great heart.

    Apr 26, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (81)

Audience Reviews for We Have a Pope

  • Jan 06, 2014
    There were two alternatives: a) Criticize the worldwide blind fanaticism that exists towards the Catholic Church and the non-existent "authority" of the Pope. b) Dedicate a controversial mockery statement towards the monster that the Vatican (along with the Catholic Church) has represented for centuries. The result was a mixture. We enter the entrails of the Vatican with a satyrical approach, sometimes adopting the appearance of a spoof of all its members, sometimes becoming a character study, and closing with an ending which bravery deserves an applause. However, it is precisely its lack of focus and balance the major issue, making difficult for the viewer to truly understand the motives of the film. It is a mixed bag with good performances (especially by Pichel Piccoli) and intelligent moments, some creative, some funny, some unpredictable, but all uneven when seen as a whole. But above all, the most admirable feature about the film is its predominant statement: the Pope is not an authority. He is not a man "chosen by God" to guide. What people need is Divine guidance in their lives, and such guidance can only be derived from God Himself, "the one that loves all and mediates all". It's contradictory that people claim to love God and "live under His principles", when this fanaticism present in the Catholic world is something that the Bible itself condemns, which is God's Word. <i>For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.</i> 1 Timothy 2:5 82/100
    Edgar C Super Reviewer
  • Jun 02, 2012
    A promising beginning turns into a bit of a mess. This is a film that does not know whether to take itself seriously or as a pure comedy and leads to a very very empty ending. Sound and Fury signifying nothing.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Apr 18, 2012
    As the Papal Conclave wears on, it appears that there is no clear frontrunner which might have something to do with nobody really wanting the promotion. Eventually, the name of Cardinal Melville(Michel Piccoli) takes precedence and wins out. At the worst possible moment right before being introduced to the faithful, he has an anxiety attack. After a time of waiting for him to recover his senses, the cardinals get restless, with the Austrlian contingent wanting to go over the wall to do a little sightseeing. So, while the powers that be read them the rule book, they also bend them a little to bring in a famed psychologist(Nanni Moretti, who also directed and co-wrote). First off, a disclaimer. "We Have a Pope" really has no problems with the Catholic Church or anybody associated with it. Yes, there is a little white lying and conniving but absolutely no global conspiracies, so hopefully nobody's going to hell.(Still, what the Church would do with the ending and the volleyball tournament is beyond me.) Rather, with amiable good humor, Nanni Moretti shrugs as he wonders what all the fuss is about.(To quote him, he is always harder on himself in his films than others.) More is the shame considering the awful pressure the cardinals are under with such lofty expectations. And don't forget; one should always be vigilant towards those seeking power.
    Walter M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 26, 2012
    Even with Piccoli in a strong performance, it doesn't live up to the promise of its premise, offering us an efficient first half with good pacing but then becoming disjointed and dragging with no direction towards nowhere. Besides, Moretti's character seems completely useless.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
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