Conclave
4.5 out of 5 stars
A stellar cast with Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci. Isabella Rossellini and John Lithgow – sucks you in right off the bat. It’s about a cardinal, Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes), who has to manage the election of the next Pope after the Pope has died.
The intricate politics of the Vatican – the eternal struggle between traditionalist and progressive elements – manages to come across convincingly as the film follows Cardinal Lawrence managing and organizing the election of the next Pope.
With a brilliant cast, gorgeous cinematography, and effective score, the film slowly – sometimes almost imperceptibly – gathers emotional weight through the performances and silences of its actors.
I loved the film except for one thing: I didn’t think the end was big enough. His quiet crisis of faith is never properly tested – SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT – for by the end, I wanted Lawrence to have to really struggle with keeping a secret. I felt it could have been more.
But this quibble aside, it’s a wonderful film: a compelling drama, with stunning performances, gorgeous cinematography, and a film full of tension.
