Virginia_Lee_RI

Happy tears, sad tears, joyful tears, tears of heartbreak. If you need an emotional release, this movie will provide it. Irene Dunne is so deeply emotive that every feeling she portrays has great impact. Cary Grant is more subtle, but just as effective. In many ways I enjoy his performance more than Dunne's because it's not what one expects from Grant. Initially his character is what you expect, but his transition into a mature, loving father is a study in great acting.

I found it impossible not to cry at various points. I was completely immersed and invested in the story. I cared about these people. I admit to caring more about the adults than the little girl, but the story wasn't really about her so much as the adults.

Again, if you need an emotional release, I recommend this movie. It's quite simple cinematically, but it's not about bells and whistles. It's about love and heartbreak and hope and joy.

With a can't miss cast, I was hoping for something a bit less staid. Sure, choosing a pope is very serious business, but I was left wanting more. I want to know what happened next. I want Robert Harris to write a sequel to his original novel of the same name because the film and his novel leave us with quite the cliffhanger.

Lithgow is deliciously slimy. Msamati's skill at depicting Cardinal Adeyemi was a masterclass for actors. I felt every single feeling he exhibited to my core. Tucci was Tucci, of course, as he underplayed Bellini with gravitas and humility. Fiennes' ran the gamut as the Dean of the Cardinals. As ever his portrayal gives an intimate depiction of a man who feels quite real as he navigates grief, a crisis of Faith, anger, determination, and so much more. Isabella Rossellini commanded every scene she was in, of course. I could watch an entire movie focused on her character because of the depth she brought to her portrayal of the chief nun at the Vatican. (Sorry, I'm not Catholic so I don't know the proper terminology.)

As to Carlos Diehz? I look forward to more of his work. He has the subtlety of Fiennes and Tucci, but is able to get passionate when necessary as he showed in his big speech during the conclave. He's a main reason I want a sequel.

Conclave's pacing will irritate some people. So will the editing because it felt to me like big chunks of story were missing. I found it to be fascinating, well-acted, and the cinematography to be very well done. The umbrella scene was pure art.

Sure, it could have been way more dishy, but I enjoyed that it was slower paced and somewhat cerebral. I've been fascinated by this topic since I was a kid. The Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris West and The Clowns of God were a couple of my favorite books when I was young. I also recommend White Smoke by Andrew M. Greeley.

I was late to becoming a fan of Robert Williams (aka Robbie). Boy bands were never my thing after the Osmond Brothers and if they hadn't had Merrill's rock edge, I'd have bored of them more quickly being a Who fan by the age of six. Regardless, Better Man is a movie that requires the suspension of disbelief and, frankly, it's impressive how easy that was to achieve as a viewer.

It's clear that the interviews that led to this film were honest and that Williams laid bare his humanity and occasional lack thereof. It's a modern coming of age story that, as a viewer, left me wanting a sequel because of how his life has evolved. I'd have him to tea with my late mother now. Not so much when he was younger even though he was so lovely to his nan and his mum.

The effects are very well done. The makeup and CGI effects are pretty seamless and because of the high level of artistry I didn't think about the chimpanzee face and body that Robbie donned so early in the film. It amazed me how much I cared about his character despite how awful he was being.

I don't want to spoil too much because there are some scenes that transcend pithy reviews and simply need watching. I'm going to look up some live concert footage now to compare with some from the film. I am certain I'll cry while watching it with this story as background. Worth your money and your time.