ABC movie on late pope falls short
The recent death and the eventful life of Pope John Paul II have inspired three television movies in the same year. Two will air this week.
Last summer the Hallmark Channel broadcast “A Man Who Became Pope,” a five-hour European miniseries that explored the pope’s formative years in Poland under Nazi and Communist occupation. It was fine film, not afraid to depict the late pope as a man of great intellect and deep passions.
Sadly, the same cannot be said of “Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II” (8 p.m., ABC). This film, starring Thomas Kretschmann as John Paul II, attempts to cover the pope’s entire life in two hours, minus time for commercials.
The result is a dutiful depiction of major events presented with a curious lack of cinematic flair accompanied by an insipid musical score.
The film opens with a scene of the elderly pope praying to the Virgin Mary, asking for forgiveness of the sins of his church and for his own personal transgressions. This act of contrition frames the film as a series of flashbacks.
We witness Karol Wojtyla’s youth, scarred by the sudden and early deaths of his mother and elder brother. Major historical moments rush by without any attempt at explanation or context.
While “Have No Fear” can be forgiven for its mad dash through 20th-century history, the film contains some sloppy mistakes and anachronistic whoppers.
Cardinals at the Vatican II council are seen praying in 1962 for the “memory” of Pope John XXIII, a man who, in fact, lived until 1963.
Later we’re shown a clip of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev toasting the 1981 martial law crackdown in Poland. That’s odd, considering Gorbachev did not rise to power until 1985.
Before ending, “Fear” also covers – or at least mentions – the pope’s deep sadness over the sex scandal in the American church and his native Poland’s embrace of hedonistic materialism, which he condemned as “the culture of death.”
With its rapid recitation of so many dramatic events, “Fear” ultimately reduces itself to a dull wax museum of a movie. In fact, someone unfamiliar with the pope’s story will find the film completely confusing and uninformative.
CBS will take a crack at the Pope’s story starting Sunday with its four-hour miniseries “Pope John Paul II,” starring Jon Voight.
Bravo will spend the next four nights celebrating 100 “Great Things About the Holidays” (9 p.m., Bravo). The cheeky series employs the time-honored tradition of allowing midlevel celebrities and “stars” of Bravo series to offer snarky comments about Andy Williams holiday specials, Cabbage Patch Kids, figgie pudding, every Osmond TV special, The “O.C.”-inspired “Chrismukkah” celebrations and many more.
In two late-night TV firsts, the White Stripes will appear and perform on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central), and David Letterman hosts Oprah Winfrey on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS).
Other highlights
“The Orphans of Nkandla” (7 p.m., Cinemax) follows three South African families coping with the AIDS virus.
Jeff Probst hosts “Survivor: Guatemala” (8 p.m., CBS).
College prep on “The O.C.” (8 p.m., Fox).
Mistaken for a basketball talent on “Everybody Hates Chris” (8 p.m., UPN).
The reunited team tackles three separate mysteries on “CSI” (9 p.m., CBS).
The final four toil to promote a software giant on “The Apprentice” (9 p.m., NBC).
Reasons to give thanks for 1992 on “Reunion” (9 p.m., Fox).
The search for Martin’s shooter on “Without a Trace” (10 p.m., CBS).
Neela’s big decision on “ER” (10 p.m., NBC).
Cult choice
Star and director Woody Allen sends up Russian literature in the 1975 comedy “Love & Death” (6:30 p.m., TCM).
Series notes
English lessons on “Joey” (8 p.m., NBC) … Prom night on “Smallville” (8 p.m., WB) … Valentine’s Day on “Will & Grace” (8:30 p.m., NBC) … A mass transit mystery on “Love, Inc.” (8:30 p.m., UPN) … Shelly’s dilemma on “Eve” (9 p.m., UPN) … Ephram’s new living arrangement shocks Andy on “Everwood” (9 p.m., WB) … Kevin returns on “Cuts” (9:30 p.m., UPN).