'Conclave' Reviews: "Conclave is everything I could have ever hoped it to be, and more"

         On October 25, 2024, Focus Features released 'Convlave', which has received rave reviews from critics, currently holding at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes alongside a Critics Consensus that reads, "Carrying off papal pulp with immaculate execution and career-highlight work from Ralph Fiennes, Conclave is a godsend for audiences who crave intelligent entertainment." In the film, "Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church." The ensemble cast includes John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci, Lucian Msamati, Brian F. O'Byrne, and Isabella Rossellini. Read the full review round-up below.

        Clotilde Chinnici of Loud and Clear Reviews says, "Ultimately, Conclave is everything I could have ever hoped it to be, and more. The film is not only an excellent thriller, but also a very successful reflection on the Catholic Church and the system of corruption that it has come to represent." Adding, "The acting is where Conclave shines the brightest. Ralph Fiennes is excellent as the main character, solidifying his place in this year’s Oscar race and as one of the most fascinating and transformative actors of his generation. Stanley Tucci and Sergio Castellitto are also in their respective roles as Bellini and Tedesco, representing two polar opposites within the Catholic Church. The cinematography by Stéphane Fontaine is also particularly impressive."

       Peter Debruge of Variety notes,  Adapted from the Robert Harris novel by Edward Berger, who assumes a very different challenge after “All Quiet on the Western Front,” this thinking man’s thriller unfolds like a murder mystery behind the locked doors of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where the College of Cardinals is cloistered, except no one suspects foul play in the previous pontiff’s death. Still, intrigues abound as the papabili — those considered next in line for the job, played by such formidable actors as Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow — pull whatever levers they can to be elected. But “Conclave” obviously concurs with Plato’s adage, “Only those who do not seek power are qualified to hold it,” featuring a host of candidates who seem positively British in their self-effacing humility, side by side with others ambitious enough to sabotage their rivals."

       Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture writes, "Following up his Academy Award-winning WWI film “All Quiet On The Western Front,” director Edward Berger returns with “Conclave,” a meticulously constructed thriller based on the novel of the same name by Robert Harris. Releasing during an election year here in America may draw more extreme parallels to today’s society than if it were released any other year. Still, there’s no denying the timeless quality of Berger’s film as man’s quest for power is as traditional as it gets and has, sadly, never faded away. Peter Straughan’s well-crafted screenplay pulls back the ornate curtains of the Vatican to reveal a world rife with ambition, conspiracy, and hidden secrets."

Photo by Matthew Schwartz on Unsplash

       David Ehrlich of indieWire praises the film, stating, "Much of the movie is confined to the red and gray marble corridors where the cardinals sleep at night, the nuclear bunker-like design of which helps deepen the impression that the fate of the outside world is at stake. The rest takes place in less oppressive spaces, where the various rounds of voting are interrupted by bombshell accusations worthy of US Weekly. Pushing against the unavoidable talkiness of Peter Straughan’s (piously faithful) script, Berger keeps the blood pumping with a forcefully gliding camera, a handful of static compositions so painterly they could be hung on the walls of the Vatican, and a Volker Bertelmann violin score so loud and oppressive that it sounds like it’s lobbying for a vote. When that doesn’t work, Isabella Rossellini is on hand to appear as the glowering Sister Agnes, who puts the fear of God back in any cardinals who might be worshiping at the altars of their own ambition. No matter how didactic the movie’s writing might be (read: very), “Conclave” is never dull. And while the tension between idealism and realpolitik might be thin and superficial, the pettiness of it all is as much of a feature as a bug in a story about a group of old and/or aging holy men whose little red skullcaps can’t disguise the fact that they’re still bullying each other in the cafeteria."