Conclave (2024)

Conclave (2024)

Well there is never a more relevant time to watch Conclave, right? Following the recent death of Pope Francis, the cardinals of the Catholic Church have gathered to elect the next papal leader as I post this.

Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars

Plot: After the Holy Father passes away, Cardinal Lawrence is charged with organizing a papal conclave to choose the next pope. His duties end up going beyond the administrative and into the investigative as the secrets of papal candidates are uncovered.

Opinion: This movie is intense and atmospheric, with a somewhat jarring musical score that creates a sense of urgency and impending action. The cinematography is powerful, with shots that highlight the grandeur of the Vatican.

Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow as cardinals? Count me in. But seriously, the ensemble cast does a good job and makes for an interesting and dynamic set of characters. Ralph Fiennes was fantastic and deserved an Oscar in my humble opinion.

The movie does a decent job of being respectful of the traditions and process of the Catholic Church while also showing the humanity of its members. As one cardinal puts it: “We’re mortal men. We serve an ideal. We cannot always be ideal.”

The movie certainly seems to favor a more progressive and liberal viewpoint among the cardinals, although several ideologies are highlighted and all seem imperfect. Another good quote about the ambition of certain cardinals: “The men who are dangerous are the ones who do want it.” The film has more to do with the inner politics and ambitions of the clergy. There are more factions than just traditional versus progressive including race, language, and attitudes toward women in the church.

So now we come to my conclusion: this movie had all the makings of an incredible film but fell short for me at the end. It was suspenseful and dramatic throughout but the ending felt abrupt and out of place. I get the message, but it felt like the wrong conclusion to an otherwise fantastic political thriller in my opinion. Thus, I’d recommend this movie but maybe cautiously.