Conclave
Upon the Pope’s (Bruno Novelli) death the cardinals are gathered for Conclave to vote and decide who will become the next leader of the Catholic Church. At the head of the Conclave proceedings is the respected and dutiful Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes). But, as powerplays are in order and politics begin to take hold within the church itself, several front runners find themselves shaded and discredited from acquiring the Papacy; with questioning of faith and the church at its core central to each Cardinal’s heart, it could take divine intervention to select the next Pope.
Written by Peter Straughan and Robert Harris and Directed by Edward Berger this master’s class in cinema and acting shines with its lead and further ensemble including Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini; each and all delivering the goods in what could be a simple procedural but instead turns whodunit amidst the nuanced stickiness that faces the Catholic church in present day. Beautifully captured cinematography and further notes to the production design, costuming, and score all elevate this piece to the top of the class as we head into award season. And, while the film’s finish is telegraphed well in advance, it’s still a pleasure to watch all the pieces come together over the two hour runtime. Totally worth it, Conclave is rated PG.