Monsignor

It's amazing to me to read such widely opposing comments about this film. Mostly ignored, this film has perhaps a storyline that's rather difficult to believe, but many problems in Christiandom read more like fiction than fact in real life. Some Catholics may be offended by the film.

The movie starts out as a young Christopher Reeves, then a chaplin, has to make a choice as the Nazi troups close in, whether to open fire or not, as one of his soldiers dies of a bullet wound. Reeves ends up in the Vatican and through an unusual set of circumstances, relieves the church of its financial woes during WWII by selling Vatican supplies through the black market. He is befriended by a Cardinal, (Fernando Rey) whose performance in this film was perhaps the best of all the cast. Reeves ends up having an affair with the lovely Genevieve Bujold, their first encounter romantic, yet painful. The story continues with Reeves becoming involved in high finance as a bank manager for the Vatican, taking the blame for a multi-million dollar scandal brought on by a rogue mafia operative.

The film has been criticized for its fanciful plot, but at least we're not dealing with a child molestation, but a priest making very difficult choices while other priests are quick to condemn. It is a story of sin and redeption. Beautiful score by John Williams.

I generally only like movies which movie critics think are exceptional movies, but this movie is an exception. The critics and many people really trashed this movie, many because it is so anti-catholic. Don't be put off by the bad reviews. I think Chris Reeves has a great performance in this movie.

The plot of this movie is excellent and meaningful. It takes us behind the golden façades of the Vatican's walls and makes us take a plunge into its controversial policies and hipocritical acts. The only thing that ruins the plot is a love story of the main character à la "Torn Birds", which is meant as a "reminder" to us, that even priests have a heart (well, we know already). For the rest, the movie is flawless, and follows a very sinister path that at times crosses into true facts, which unfortunately, did happen. Christopher Reeve plays convincingly. Absolutely not recommended for those who "believe" in the Church. For all the others, it is a worthy insight into the machineries of power and corruption, even among the Holy Walls. To you, the final judgment...