The Rite

What is it that possesses good actors to do crap films? What made Robert DeNiro do Godsend? Al Pacino do to S1m0ne? Nick Cage to do, well anything? Is it boredom? Lack of funds? Or something else more sinister?
The Rite is directed by Mikael Hafstrom (1408) with a screenplay by Michael Petroni (Possession) adapted from Matt Baglio's book The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist.
Fresh out of Priest college, but not yet a priest (the dude has issues with his faith), Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue - The Tudors) was given a choice by his funeral-home-owning father (Rutger Hauer - Hobo With A Shotgun) - take over the family business or become a priest. Pfft.
Not quite ready to take those final vows, Michael is sent to Head Office in Rome to learn about Exorcisms. There he meets Angeline (Alice Braga - Predators) a journalist with a weak back story who is writing an article on exorcisms.
Cat/motorcycle loving Father Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins - The Wolfman) tries to get Michael's faith back on track by showing him Rosaria (Marta Gastini - Borgia) a sixteen year old pregnant girl who is possessed by a demon. Skeptic Michael thinks she needs psychiatric help. But, as this movie is called The Rite, and not The Prescription - Michael soon finds out he is very wrong.
The film should have been called The Wrong, that would have been very apt. Why is it that so many religious-horror flicks are made and barely any of them get good marks?
You know that scene in one of the Austin Powers movies where Dr Evil's chair starts going up and down and he calls for an 'old priest and a young priest' - that's all I could think about while watching this. What is it with old priests and young priests already? That and Destiny's Child song 'Say My Name...'
Anthony Hopkins, great as he is, lends some gravitas to the film. Give Da Vinci a couple of crayons and sure, he'll draw something nice but it won't be no Mona Lisa.
Everyone else was rather ordinary. Some of the scenes were shot beautifully and Hopkins' make-up in the end was well done. Someone needs a pore refining mask...
All in all - tis a bit of a croc. Go watch The Exorcist again instead.
Hollywood - something with a speck of originality next time, please.
Things I learnt: nothing at all from the film but it is almost that time of the year when one has to take a cardigan to the cinema. Rug up, peeps!
The power of Christ compels you - don't see this film!
Two out of ten.