Conclave - Edward Berger
I meant to watch this ages ago — when the Pope died — but never found the time. I knew it had rave reviews, but I was a bit on the fence — how can they make a film about a papal election interesting?
But my God (an intentional blaspheme), this is good. The performances across the board were exceptional, the cinematography, the music, everything. Ralph Fiennes was superb, taking on the role of the reluctant leader of the cardinals. Stanley Tucci was another standout performance, taking the role of the Pope the world needs, not the Pope that wants to be there.
The ongoing contrast of the cardinals who want power, and those who want to see a different world is a great commentary on the Catholic Church. Tucci and Fiennes’ monologues on policies tell us the potential of the Church to do good, but the film shows how these ideals can be destroyed through the political process. It breaks down the nuances of politics, and how people must do bad things to do good.
While watching, I thought the initial twist was a bit obvious, but then the aftershock comes in and I had my jaw on the floor. For anyone who takes any interest in the dynamics of power and politics, and progressivism vs the establishment, this is a must watch.
5/5