Fresh off All Quiet on the Western Front, director Edward Berger trades in trench warfare for a subtler kind of tension with Conclave. This time, he’s working from Robert Harris’s novel of the same name, adapted by screenwriter Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), who certainly knows his way around a tightly wound thriller.
Conclave imagines the tense and secretive process following the fictional death of the Pope. Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), as Cardinal-Dean, must oversee the papal conclave—a gathering of cardinals cloistered to elect a new pontiff. Fiennes is joined by an exceptional ensemble, including Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, whose performances add layers of gravitas and intrigue.
The setting itself is practically a character too. Production designer Suzie Davies and cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine have created a Vatican so convincing you’ll forget it’s not the real thing. Rome may not have been built in a day, but it’s impressive this set came together in under ten weeks.
Though Conclave looks like elitist Oscar bait, and kinda is, it’s also a genuine popcorn thriller that offers a fascinating voyeuristic peek into a process most of us only imagine. Watching the cardinals’ power plays reveals as much about human ambition as it does about the church.
Conclave weaves timely social commentary on biases within religious institutions with the high-stakes drama of a dramatic succession. This dual richness is what we’ve been missing in cinema all year.
In a nutshell: Yes, it's a pope 'n popcorn movie. A riveting fictional peek behind the curtains of religious power. The story feels so genuine that, aside from its wild ending, casual viewers may mistake it for historical fact.
Award potential: This should score nominations in all top categories, acting and lower-line ones, including production design, costume, sound, and editing.
Though Conclave looks like elitist Oscar bait, and kinda is, it’s also a genuine popcorn thriller that offers a fascinating voyeuristic peek into a process most of us only imagine. Watching the cardinals’ power plays reveals as much about human ambition as it does about the church.
Conclave weaves timely social commentary on biases within religious institutions with the high-stakes drama of a dramatic succession. This dual richness is what we’ve been missing in cinema all year.
In a nutshell: Yes, it's a pope 'n popcorn movie. A riveting fictional peek behind the curtains of religious power. The story feels so genuine that, aside from its wild ending, casual viewers may mistake it for historical fact.
Where to watch: In theaters now
Would it be better with Olivia Colman? Of course. But it is still a cinematic thrill to see Isabella Rossellini, daughter of Ingrid Bergman (The Bells of St. Mary's) as a nun.
Award potential: This should score nominations in all top categories, acting and lower-line ones, including production design, costume, sound, and editing.
Composer Volker Bertelmann, who won an Oscar for his score for All Quiet on the Western Front, should also be nominated for his distinctive work here.
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.
