Conclave

I just got back from the theater after seeing "Conclave," a film I was extremely excited for and liked a lot. For most of the movie I was so captivated by the gorgeous cinematography, fantastic performances, great score, and quality costume and production design, that I was convinced this must be a 10/10 movie. But then, unfortunately, the ending arrived.

I believe that the ending to a film is the most important part. What will you leave the audience with? What is your final statement to them? Well, in this movie, it's so contrived, confusing, and absurd that any final statement becomes muddled, and I left the theater with a bad taste in my mouth. The ending is so unrealistic that it threatens to destroy every frame of what came before. It is done purely to make a statement about the church and to shock the audience. Now, this doesn't ruin the movie as a whole (not to me, anyway), but it does unfortunately mar an otherwise superb film.

So many reviews are blaming Hollywood and thinking this movie is somehow pointing fingers at Pope Francis. It isn't. It is a movie based on a book of the same name written by Robert Harris. The book was released in 2016, way before the pope got sick. It just so happens that the current events coincide with the recent release of the movie to stream on Prime. People's emotions are heightened because of the death of Pope Francis and are forgetting this is just a work of fiction. One review says the movie should have some respect as the pope has just died! Please remember the movie was first released in the Telluride Film Festival in August 2024!

Acting, intrigue, dialogue and cinematography are spot on throughout but the warning signs are there earlier in the movie. When the potential candidates talk about being a new liberal progressive church, it makes you wonder where else there going to go with it and boy do they go with it.

I let the odd tone shift go but the ending, which I won't spoil, that comes out of a different movie and causes the lead to go against everything they shoot for during the movie.

It seems like a slightly less expected political thriller over what is a big event in the world as and when it happens but then shifts like rollercoaster in the final scenes.

Director Edward Berger does a magnificent job taking us behind the doors of the Roman Catholic headquarters in the selection process of replacing a Pope that has passed away. I was wondering how the Filmmaker was going to make such a solemn gathering interesting. The answer is you add deception, ambition, and plenty of twists and turns to make this quite a religious thriller that's sure to surprise you. The cast is an amazing group of actors lead by Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini to name a few. The music adds a great touch that just enhances all of the drama. This film is definitely a must watch I have watched it twice just to enjoy the performances.

And now...a film for adults.

Based on Robert Harris' 2016 novel, CONCLAVE takes the viewers inside the Vatican during the College of Cardinals' process of selecting the new Pope...filled with Political in-fighting, twists, turns and surprises galore.

And...if the average age of the folks in the Movie Theater I attended a showing is any indication..."Grown-Ups" are flocking to this film.

As Directed by Edward Berger (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT), CONCLAVE moves along sprightly, unraveling a mystery - not a "whodunnit" but rather a "who's gonna get it" - and it gets surprisingly tense.

This is thanks, in part, to the fine, fine actors that have been cast in this film. Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort in the HARRY POTTER films) anchors the events as the "Dean" of Cardinals who is tasked with leading the disparate group of Cardinals to a consensus pick of the next Pope. He acts as much as a Detective as a Facilitator as he battles his own conscious of faith...and ambition...all while uncovering schemes and plots of some of the "humble servants" vying for the top job.

Ably assisting is John Lithgow, Isabella Rosellini and quite a few others (mostly unknown) who battle for the "pole position" in the race to be the next Pope. Special notice should be made to GREAT Stanley Tucci for his supporting turn as one of the contenders who's platform seems to be "I don't want this" but who, underneath, really, really wants it.

Don't be surprised if both Fiennes and Tucci (as well as Director Berger) are mentioned come Oscar nomination time (they are that good).

As stated above, this film has twists and turns galore and it is a fun ride to roll with these turns, but if I am being honest, I felt that this film went "one twist too far" and should have/could have ended 10 minutes before it ended (without the one last twist). Now, some would say that this final twist is the point of the film, but...I would have been fine without that point being made.

You be the judge...and join other "adults" in the movie theater.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)