Jude Law's Best Role Is Still This 10-Year-Old TV Drama Made by Paolo Sorrentino
It's not at all tempting to watch in one sitting – on the contrary, you want to savor every frame.
Ten years ago, HBO released a TV series that became a sensation: The Young Pope, a ten-episode drama from Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino, starring Jude Law.
Law, known for his roles in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Sherlock Holmes, delivers perhaps the best performance of his career as a young pontiff with rock-star aspirations who is domineering, arrogant, witty, and incredibly charismatic.
What Is 'The Young Pope' About?
Lenny Belardo was orphaned at an early age and raised in a monastery orphanage. At 47, he unexpectedly found himself on the papal throne, but he didn't seem at a loss. The cardinals who elected him expected to manage their inexperienced leader, but it became clear that any such tutelage was out of the question.
Pope Pius XIII demands cherry cola for breakfast, persuades a priest to spy on him during confessions, smokes in the Apostolic Palace, and generally behaves as if the papacy were a grand and exciting game.
He insists that the world not see his face and delivers his first public speech in a darkened room. Cardinals plot around him, including Cardinal Angelo Voiello, who is unwilling to accept the new order.
'The Young Pope', With Jude Law as the Rebel Pope, Is a Visual Feast From Paolo Sorrentino
In The Young Pope, Jude Law gives perhaps the best performance of his career. His portrayal of Pius XIII is Sorrentino's ideal character: relaxed, smart, arrogant, and incredibly charismatic.
He casually drops references to Banksy and Daft Punk, yet he is also an authoritarian ruler who personally inspects gifts arriving at the Vatican. Hailed by critics as the new Fellini, Sorrentino has created a series that prioritizes luxury and beauty over intrigue and power.
Every shot – from the back of the pontiff's head to the precisely lit geometric square – is imbued with a slightly dandyish ease. Sorrentino's frequent collaborator, cinematographer Luca Bigazzi, has created a visual masterpiece that begs to be examined with a magnifying glass.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Young Pope'?
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The Young Pope has 79% from critics and 87% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.3/10.
Where to Watch 'The Young Pope'?
The Young Pope is available to stream on HBO Max and Hulu.
