Conclave is a political thriller drama that follows the selection of a new pope after the most recent one has passed. While all the cardinals around the world are sequestered in Rome for the selection, Cardinal Dean Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) begins uncovering secrets and scandals about all the candidates and must do what he can to ensure the right person is leading the church. Ralph Fiennes delivers an Oscar-worthy performance, coupled with stellar cinematography, a dynamic score, and stellar supporting performances, all of which make Conclave one of the more thought-provoking watches of the year.
Something I found out about myself during this (which I should’ve known sooner) is that I enjoy these political, people vying for the throne type of stories. Now, it perfectly happens to tie into what is happening in America now as I write this the day of our presidential election, but to see the clash of ideals, the scandals and conspiracies unfold, and the pettiness of these serious men looking to gain an edge over each other is incredibly entertaining to me. The movie does a good job of emphasizing that each candidate has their warts (shocker) but validates why they have the support they have. Even as the movie boils down to the more socially liberal candidate versus the conservative one, both are shown not to be the right option as much as the other.
The praise for Conclave starts with Ralph Fiennes. He is at the center of the Conclave (the selection of the new pope) as he has to organize and oversee the selection. While he carries himself with poise and confidence around others, he has doubts about his own faith, having asked the previous pope for retirement. This movie has a lot of messy men, and while he has his dirt, can navigate his way so calmly and suavely to the truth. This is one of those performances where you get so entranced by his presence on screen that you forget that this is the same person who wanted to kill Harry Potter and rule the wizarding world. This movie is so well acted from the top down. Everyone, namely Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow excels in this drama, but Fiennes brought it.
This movie is shot and scored gorgeously. The way the movie shoots characters walking down the halls or looking at a crowd of cardinals is just so aesthetically pleasing. Cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine understood how to take scenes that were uninteresting on the surface and make them feel powerful.
The score and entire sound design in general is just top-notch. For a movie that is a bunch of men in a room, the score by Volker Bertelmann never once takes its foot off the gas. It’s high-octane, and thrilling, and helps create a tense atmosphere when there is no action happening. The sound design works wonders as well. Every breath from Fiennes’s nose, fold of a ballot, and dish broken in the background is given incredible weight due to it having no accompanying background music. These might seem like minor moments but they go so far in creating an immersive experience where we are a fly on the wall for this incredibly secretive process.
While cliché to say, the movie is gripping from minute one to the credits, thanks in large part to its ending. The person chosen as Pope was somewhat not surprising given the framing of the character, but what happens after they’re chosen had everyone in my theater gasping. My dad was sitting next to me and he nearly fell out of his chair. It goes for it, and I think it hammers home the message of the new pope about acceptance.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Conclave is a gripping political drama that will hold your breath until its very last shot. From its excellent cast to the excellent work behind the camera and with the sound, this movie is an all-around blast. It is one that will get a lot of love come awards season and it’s one I don’t think you’ll want to miss.
