I watch this made for TV movie and as a non-Catholic found the first half not only well executed, but I saw in Cary Elwes' performance a depth and understanding of the character which was totally unexpected.He brought a genuine touch of spiritually to the role and I believed he could be the the man who would become the future Pope. As for the second part I found it equally well executed, but I had difficulty excepting any truth in John Voight's performance. It was,what I like to call, a "watch me act" lack-luster performance. It would seem he didn't have enough compassion and caring in himself to bring it to the character. As for the physicality of the role he played that somewhat adequately, but it even looked too studied; as though he had watched every news clip of the Pope and copied it instead of learning how the ailment would take a toil on one afflicted. His speech in regard to his having been giving it so he would be like all people whose lives had been disrupted by one thing or another may have been the actual words used, or the writing for the movie, was so lacking in compassion I felt them to be a nothing more then an excuse to Catholics to justify how a Pope came to be so ill! ............................................... In summary: A+ to Mr.Elwes and D+, at best, to Mr. "Academy Award Winning" Voight.
Review of Faith: Pope John Paul II
