CONCLAVE
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Isabella Rossellini, Sergio Castellitto, and Carlos Diehz
Director: Edward Berger
NICK
I'm not particularly religious, so the concept of the conclave was foreign to me. That said, director Edward Berger instantly sucked me into this process and the tension surrounding the decision. This is high-concept drama told by highly acclaimed actors. The always reliable Ralph Fiennes, in particular, gives one of the best performances of his career, but it's the sum of Conclave's parts that truly makes it shine. Whether it's the sound design and score, the beautiful yet simplistic visuals, or the overall tone of the film, it all amounts to a well-oiled machine I could have spent another hour with.
ADRIANO
Conclave is so much goofier than you'd expect from a movie about religion, and I say that complimentary. Featuring a stirring performance from Ralph Fiennes, Conclave is sabotage, conspiracy, twists, and shock at almost every turn. All of it is natural, too, never for the sake of a cheap rug pull, but instead to elevate a high-stakes thriller that had me second guessing and feeling tense throughout. The ending could divide audiences, but I thought it was a perfect cap to a film about how religious institutions desperately need to evolve. A well-crafted thrill ride of a film.
QUENTIN
Conclave is amongst my most overhyped movies of the year (I blame Nick). That’s not to say it’s bad, but at no point did I find the story gripping or thrilling, which is kind of the point of a “conspiracy thriller,” no? Granted, it boasts terrific performances and is handsomely made, but the characters are so underdeveloped that the twists and turns (including a silly final reveal) never hit as hard as seemingly intended. I genuinely didn’t care who became Pope, and a movie like this requires the audience to take a side to work effectively. Conclave is decent, I suppose, but a disappointment, nonetheless.
KATIE
Conclave is a ridiculously entertaining and suspenseful film consisting of little more than people talking in rooms, which is why it's so impressive. Even as someone with a Catholic background, I’ve never felt invested in the election of the next pope, but Conclave is immediately gripping, plunging you into a process filled with intricate drama and a mounting sense of tension that’s felt in every line of dialogue. It’s also sharply funny in the way it juxtaposes modernity with the absurd rigidity of Catholic tradition, and boasts a career-best performance from Ralph Fiennes.
AMARÚ
Please excuse the blasphemy on this particular review, but holy shit, because you can feel the tension from the first note of composer Volker Bertelmann’s violins and the immediacy of director Edward Berger’s striking images. Conclave is a powder keg of politics and power in papacy, delivering a conspiring mystery worthy of our favorite political thrillers. Oscars will be touted for the many brilliant acting performances here, but the spotlight belongs to Carlos Diehz, whose mere presence is a lightning bolt piercing through this monstrous ensemble. Conclave, by its final frame, is a potent crescendo whose gradual momentum explodes to a fantastically satisfying conclusion.
PAIGE
Conclave piques the interest of the viewer as a behind-the-scenes political thriller focusing on the oldest religious organization in the world, one with perhaps the most secretive and exclusive leaderships within that milieu. Director Edward Berger leans into the most mysterious components of the rites, traditions, and disciplines that influence so much of the global population. Political jockeying is highlighted as we stumble into each new revelation before the last shocking twist. My only complaint is that the plotline that drives us forward to the edge of our seats leaves us with a contemplative, but misleading and disappointing conclusion.
This political thriller is a behind-the-scenes look at the corruption within the Catholic Church, but it unfortunately falls short of the excitement its compelling premise promises. That said, from a technical standpoint, Conclave is excellently crafted by Edward Berger and it’s well acted. It's just that the story isn’t as engrossing as I had hoped, primarily because the characters are so underdeveloped. The slow pacing also doesn’t do the film's reveals any justice, as they all feel too toned down. The story needed more tension and buildup to make this promising plot truly work.
This film was reviewed by Quentin, Nick, Adriano, and Katie as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Zurich Film Festival, 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, and 2024 BFI London Film Festival respectively.