Oscar-winning director Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) believes Conclave comes as close to the truth about what transpires during the selection of a pope as any outsider has ever come. Based on Robert Harris’ bestselling novel, Conclave presents the secretive papal election as a high-stakes thriller, with the Catholic Cardinals manipulated like chess pieces by those who crave ultimate power.
A progressive pope’s death sets the game in motion, with Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), the dean of the College of Cardinals, overseeing the conclave to select the next pope. The gurney carrying the pope’s body is barely out of sight when the jockeying for position begins. Alliances are forged, and plans are put in place to secure the required 72 votes to become pope.
The pope’s death comes as Cardinal Lawrence is experiencing a crisis of faith, which adds to his burden of guiding the conclave. He’s fully committed to Cardinal Bellini’s (Stanley Tucci) cause, viewing his fellow liberal as the right person to continue moving the Church forward. Cardinal Bellini is the most progressive among them. He supports LGBTQ+ rights and refuses to be deterred when his supporters suggest he should keep his opinion about women playing a more significant role in the curia to himself.
Those who don’t support Cardinal Bellini are in the Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow), or Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) camps. Tremblay is a power-hungry conservative, and Adeyemi has a decent shot at being the first African pope in history. Tedesco is the most dangerous. A right-wing radical who views Islam as the enemy, Tedesco’s ascension would set the Church back hundreds of years.
However, the deceased pope threw a wildcard into the mix, elevating Father Benitez (Carlos Diehz) to Cardinal Benitez of Kabul. Benitez’s unexpected presence and stellar record of serving in war-torn countries add an extra layer of tension to the conclave.
As the papal conclave begins, Cardinal Lawrence is aware of the high stakes of this election. Shocking discoveries about the leading contenders make his already arduous task even more complex. As voting gets underway, Lawrence faces the difficult decision of whether to inform the sequestered cardinals about these allegations of illicit activities. And if he doesn’t, what will happen to the Church if the truth comes out?
Conclave’s synopsis doesn’t pop on paper, but the story springs to life on film as one of the best political dramas in recent years. The papal conclave serves as the subject matter, but the film’s themes are equally relevant to recent global political elections, especially in the United States. The lust for power is overwhelming in both cases, with factions ripping apart institutions and opposing sides refusing to consider positions other than their own as valid.
Edward Berger’s assembled an impressive cast, with two-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes as the film’s moral center. Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence is a decent man thrust into an unenviable position. Prior to the pope’s death, Lawrence was already uneasy about the Church’s future. As revelations rock the College of Cardinals, Lawrence is forced to confront corruption at the highest levels of the Church.
Filmed at the Cinecittà studios in Rome, production designer Suzie Davies and her team brilliantly recreated the Vatican. The attention to detail on the most minute level is clear in each frame. Director of photography Stéphane Fontaine’s work complements Davies’, with Fontaine shifting the vibe from claustrophobic to less intense as the scene demands.
Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) adapted Robert Harris’ novel, which explores the depths of human greed and ambition. Cardinal Lawrence is our entry point to this ultra-secretive ritual. Through his eyes, we see the corruption inherent in the process of selecting the leader of the Catholic Church. Power-hungry individuals are rarely those who should wield it, a harsh truth that applies to many areas of our lives. And Conclave holds up a mirror to the ugliness of men who have lost their moral compass.
It isn’t necessary to understand or even care about the Catholic Church and all its archaic ceremonies to enjoy Conclave. Led by an Oscar-worthy Ralph Fiennes performance, Conclave is a riveting political drama with a timely message as well as a satisfyingly smart mystery thriller.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic material and smoking
Running Time: 2 hours
Release Date: October 25, 2024 in theaters, streaming on November 26th
Studio: Focus Features
The post ‘Conclave’ Review: Ralph Fiennes Delivers a Riveting Performance appeared first on ShowbizJunkies.
0 Comments