2024 has been a great year for cinema. We’ve gotten incredible movies like “Dune: Part Two”, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”, “We Live In Time”, “Monkey Man” and “Inside Out 2.” Yet despite the stiff competition, “Conclave” has made a compelling case for the film of the year title.
“Conclave” follows the cardinals of the Catholic Church while they are locked in the intense, high-stakes process of electing the next pope after the sudden death of the current pontiff. Known as the conclave, this ancient process sequesters them from the outside world within the Sistine Chapel. Each vote is a battleground of ideology, power and faith. The film captures the dramatic alliances and rivalries which emerge as the cardinals grapple with their own ambitions, spiritual beliefs and the Church’s future, making for a riveting watch as every decision counts.
The acting in this film is masterful, with performances that have you rooting for certain characters while viscerally opposing others. Yet, at every turn, the nuanced portrayals allow viewers to empathize with even the most morally questionable characters.
Ralph Fiennes commands the screen as the contemplative Cardinal Lawrence, embodying a man wrestling with his faith while striving to honor the religion he increasingly questions. Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow deliver standout performances as cardinals with starkly opposing ideologies. Sergio Castellitto brings chilling intensity to his role as the staunchly traditionalist Cardinal Tedesco, crystallizing the malevolence within the church’s conservative factions. His convincing performance raised the stakes of the film, making palpable the impending consequences should he ascend to the papacy.
Isabella Rossellini’s Sister Agnes adds a grounded, compassionate touch amidst the power plays through the occasional comedic relief. Lucian Msamati shines as Adeyemi, a Nigerian Cardinal who plays into the film’s discussion of racism and the tension between idealism versus human nature, injecting layers into his character. The cast of “Conclave” is a tour de force of high-stakes, character-driven storytelling.
The film is perfectly paced, slowing down at the right moments, allowing the gravity of certain situations to set in while picking up at other moments to keep audiences on their toes. You truly never know where the film is going to take you. It is the perfect length, not overstaying its welcome but giving the audience enough to be satisfied.
Visually, the film is gorgeous. Most shots are tastefully framed. The film highlights the paintings of the Sistine Chapel to emphasize its themes. It is colorful and delightful to look at during its pleasant moments but becomes dim and dreary when the tension heightens in the plot.
Thematically, the film is nearly flawless. “Conclave” tackles an ambitious array of themes: power, purity, human sinfulness, partisan politics, idealism, racism and the rise of right-wing populism in the West, along with society’s marginalization of certain groups. It uses the inner workings of the Church as a lens to explore these ideas, showing how power struggles and moral compromises unfold even within such a revered institution.
Additionally, the film brings out the tension between personal ambition and the Church’s ideals, reflecting a universal conflict between the desire to do the right thing and the inevitable flaws innate to being human. It subtly draws comparisons to modern politics, hinting at the divisions we see in our world. Through its characters and the choices they make, “Conclave” also shows how ideals can be bent or broken by ambition and how some people and groups end up pushed to the side as a result. The tension between ideological purity and the flawed nature of man is at the core of the film.
The film’s biggest flaw, in my opinion, is that it doesn’t clearly explain how the conclave process works. It assumes the audience is already familiar with the rules and traditions behind the conclave. There are key moments when characters make major decisions, but it’s often unclear whether they’re pushing the limits of what’s allowed or acting within the usual rules. For important character moments like these, it’s crucial to know if a character is breaking sacred rules to achieve a certain outcome — indicating a big turning point — or if they’re just being curious or bold.
Still, despite this flaw, “Conclave” stands out for its skillful storytelling and complex exploration of human fallibility and faith in a year of cinematic hits. With masterful performances and a captivating narrative, the film manages to delve into heavy themes such as power, purity and moral compromise, all within the unique setting of a papal election. The film’s emotional depth and thematic resonance make it a powerful contender for film of the year.
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