Movie Review: CONCLAVE

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN / Staff Writer

Posted: October 25th, 2024 / 03:22 AM

CONCLAVE movie poster | ©2024 Focus Features

Rating: PG
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Brian F. O’Byrne, Isabella Rossellini, Sergio Castellitto, Carlos Diehz, Balkissa Maiga
Writer: Peter Straughan, based on the novel by Robert Harris
Director: Edward Berger
Distributor: Focus Features
Release Date: October 25, 2024

Just in time for the American presidential election comes the political thriller CONCLAVE. People who love this genre but are about to weep at what’s happening in the U.S. may be reassured on hearing that the politics here surround the election of the new Catholic Pope in the Vatican, after the previous one dies unexpectedly.

Indeed, this may be a political thriller for those longing for at least a fictional return to the days when, no matter how many secrets and lies were revealed, there were a few behavioral standards in place.

Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is Dean of the College of Cardinals at the Vatican in Rome. One of his tasks is to preside over the election, where all of the cardinals vote – often repeatedly – on who among them should be Pope, until someone wins a majority.

Lawrence, who would like nothing better than to retreat to a monastery, had asked the Pope to relieve him of his duties, but was refused. So, Lawrence feels it is his duty, to the old Pope’s memory, to his job description, and above all to God, to make sure that the election runs smoothly and fairly.

The cardinals are secluded for the duration of the process, although Lawrence employs Archbishop O’Malley (Brian F. O’Byrne) as an intermediary with the outside world, which becomes necessary when disturbing rumors arise.

Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz) joins the group just before the doors close. No one has heard of him before, and he’s suspected of being an impostor. But then it is proved that announcing Benitez’s identity, or his flock, would have been dangerous – he served the Church most recently in Kabul. (It comes as news to a lot of the cardinals, as well as the audience, that there actually are practicing Catholics in Afghanistan.)

While the promises and threats are different, it turns out that papal politics aren’t so different from the regular kind. Everybody is lobbying for his choice, and there are stark differences. One popular candidate, Italian Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), is against everything from interfaith cooperation to translating prayer from the original Latin. American Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) is suspected of unbecoming ambition. Lawrence’s best friend, Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), is outspoken about wanting women to have greater influence in the church. And newcomer Benitez insists on voting repeatedly for Lawrence, even though Lawrence begs him to do otherwise.

Director Edward Berger, working from Peter Straughan’s screenplay, based on the novel by Robert Harris, takes this all seriously, although he allows the characters some humor. But the reflective tone makes sense. Whatever the ultimate cosmic truth may be, these people are soberly trying to reconcile their perspective on God’s will with their own needs and hopes.

Berger has an eye for spectacle. A shot of all the cardinals in their red robes walking through the rain under a sea of white umbrellas looks like some sort of natural phenomenon, like butterfly migration.

Fiennes is thoughtful and soulful, conveying integrity and worried curiosity at the same time. Tucci balances him with wry pragmatism and sincere outrage. Castellitto has charisma that comes from conviction, while Diehz gives Benitez gentle rectitude. Lithgow expertly handles Tremblay’s smooth persona. O’Byrne’s O’Malley is credibly intimidated by what’s happening around him. Isabella Rossellini Sister Agnes, who is in charge of the nuns working at the conclave, lets us see her warring impulses to obey Church strictures and to express herself.

Straughan’s script has a lot of good twists, many of which receive proper build-up, yet are genuine surprises. While it’s possible to anticipate who wins the papal election, if anyone claims to have guessed the final revelation ahead of time, they’re lying. This alone is good enough cause to see CONCLAVE, but its ideas, visuals and performances are worthy reasons as well.\

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