Conclave Movie Review

Conclave (2024)

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Written by: Peter Straughan (screenplay by), Robert Harris (based on the book by)
Directed by: Edward Berger
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, Carlos Diehz
Rated: PG
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Plot
When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.

Verdict
It's an intriguing premise, venturing into a conclave. Every facet of the movie is well crafted, from framing and production to performances and story. It's well made, and while it shows us the traditions, we also see that even cardinals are not infallible. Numerous forces push and pull at the conclave, not just the cardinals vying for position but the outside media and human foibles. While we see a new Pope elected, this movie still has more to say, leavings us with something to consider long after the movie has concluded.
Watch It.

Review
The idea of this movie alone draws you in. How does the selection of a pope work? It's something the outside world doesn't get to see. Throw in three top tier actors, and it's a compelling watch.

This movie could be set in the present day or even one hundred years ago. Conclave is built on procedures that haven't changed, which makes this movie outside of time and place. Conclave has been occurring for over seven hundred years. There are only a few elements in the movie that skew this toward the modern day.

During conclave at the Sistine Chapel, Roman Catholic cardinals choose a pope. They isolate themselves continuously to prevent outside influence. The cardinals must follow tradition, and this is a huge event. They even board up the windows as people try to use a seismograph to get vibrations off the window panes.

Stanley Tucci, Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow play Bellini, Lawrence, Tremblay

It's contentious from the start as rumors and gossip circulate before it begins. There's political maneuvering and intrigue as many vie for the top spot. One of the front runners, Bellini (Stanley Tucci), doesn't want to be pope but he doesn't want Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) to be elected due to his regressive views so Bellini relegates himself to running. Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz) shows up, but he isn't on the list. Since he's from Kabul, the publicity of his appointment would have been dangerous.

Seclusion makes rumors difficult as Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) can't investigate rumors. He's told that the Pope had asked cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) to resign. Tremblay denies it, and Lawrence has to rely on his gut instinct with no way to verify. On top of all that is happening, Lawrence is irritated that the Pope refused his request to quit managing the Vatican and lead a church. While he's committed to his job to lead conclave, his unresolved feelings linger as he struggles with not wanting this job but committed to steering them to the best decision.

Ralph Fiennes plays Lawrence

Visually, this is amazing. The framing of nearly every shot is picture perfect. It never abandons the insinuation that we're on the outside looking in. With the uniformity and color of the cassocks, the color palette is always striking. That's bolstered by great performances, especially from Fiennes. Everything about this movie is incredibly well done; performances, shots, framing, and the contention between characters.

With any election, people want to win and sometimes they resort to morally gray actions. While I doubt all these events would happen at one conclave, it makes for great entertainment. Bellini realizes he can't win, so he proffers voting for Tremblay instead of the traditionalist Tedesco or narrow minded Adeyemi. With all of this, there's still media scrutiny. If they take too long to select a successor, the church will be portrayed as divided. Lawrence had no considerations to be Pope, but his leadership during conclave make him a potential contender.

I really like how this ends, tying back to Lawrence's homily that began conclave and challenging him to embrace the ideas he presented. It also asks the audience to consider the essence of a person and what makes them who they are. It's a powerful movie with care and craft to every facet.