VENICE, Italy (AP) - Thomas McCarthy wants Pope Francis to go to the movies.
Specifically, the American director would like the pontiff to see his new film "Spotlight," a fact-based expose of clerical sexual abuse and its cover-up by the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Boston.
The movie stars Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams as real-life Boston Globe reporters, and premieres Thursday at the Venice Film Festival.
McCarthy says he's excited and apprehensive about holding the film's first public screening in overwhelmingly Catholic Italy. But he doesn't expect to be getting rave reviews from the church.
The director said "I expect no reaction" from the church," but added: "I would love to be proven wrong. ... I would love the pope to see this."