The mystery thriller Conclave has most nominations for the Critics Choice Awards January 12, 2024 along with Wicked was both have become critics darling as some of the best this year. This is a maser movie and very welcomed as it truly stands out amongst the rest. It has suspense and intrigue and does it well without going too far over the top. It takes us inside the papal voting process and shows us the drama of it which might be real to some extent. Bottom line – it’s a good mystery. Don’;t go in expecting it to change your world but it is well executed.
Directed by Edwards Berger and written by Peter Straughan, the film with an Angels and demons sort of feel is standing out amongst the rest this awards season. What truly stands out is the acting, screenplay, directing, and excellent cinematography.
Conclave was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and American Film Institute,10 Critics Choice Award nominations and six Golden Globe nominations.
The movie had its world premiere at Telluride in August 2024. It was part of Special Presentations section for the Toronto International Film Festival last September 2024 and Focus Features opened it in theaters in the North America October 25, 2024.
On RottenTomato, 92% of 222 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.1/10.
The cast is beyond superb. It feels like a “in a perfect world” wish list of a cast. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto and Isabella Rossellini. With those names, I don’t even have to keep writing, you know you want to see it. For Fiennes, I call this a career best.
While writing the screenplay, Straughan says he met with a Cardinal to discuss the logistics of the conclave. He also took a private tour of the Vatican. He says he did not feel hostility while he was there and felt that the Vatican had been open to him.
Spoiler alert in the last paragraph so stop reading before that:
Cardinal Thomas Dean Lawrence, played by Fiennes, is putting together a papal conclave after the death of Pope Gregory XVII. The College of Cardinals gather in seclusion as they do but as Cardinal Lawerence organizes it, he undercover things about each candidate. (It makes you wonder if this actually happens at this level.)
The four leading candidates are liberal Aldo Bellini of the USA, Nigeria’s social conservative Joshua Adeyemi, Canada’s mainstream moderate conservative Joseph Tremblay, and Italy’s traditionalist Goffredo Tedesco. Then to add to the story, a late surprise arrival, a missionary in Mexico and claims he was secretly named Archbishop of Kabul. Throughout, we find out claims about each one that creates the drama as the plot thickens more and more. Isabella Rossellini plays Sister Agnes, the cardinals’ head caterer and housekeeper
Throughout the conclave there isn’t one man who is close to getting the majority (two-thirds are needed to become Pope after the first ballot) The movie is filled with drama as each player pushes for supremacy of his own beliefs and desires and – agenda. Drama after drama unfolds with each of the characters. The script and plot are so well woven and extremely well acted. From bribery, illicit affairs, lies to accusations to outcry and corruption – the movie is filled with enough to keep you riveted. and just when you thought there was enough going on – throw in a suicide bomber and a bomb that kills many who are outside as people always gather and damages the Sistine Chapel. Then there are calls for an attack on Islamists and a call for war against Islam. The call for war can be compared to in-fighting of the cardinals.
Lawrence finds out that a medical appointment happened but here is the twist, a great twist. It was for a hysterectomy. Explained as he is ‘intersex’ and was assigned male at birth but did not know he also had a uterus and ovaries until a recent appendectomy and the late Pope hid the secret, implying he was helped in his rise to power. Where the story goes after that I will not include as you must see it. Then you will see why it’s getting many accolades.
