Conclave
White smoke gets in your eyes
Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci mix politics and religion in the wonderfully acted Conclave.
When the Pope unexpectedly dies, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) must call together the College of Cardinals to select a new leader for the Catholic Church. The process of selection is highly secretive, and the results will be scrutinized throughout the world. It’s an important job and Lawrence is determined to find the best candidate for the job.
Four frontrunners emerge from the preliminary debates: American progressive Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), Italian traditionalist Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), Nigerian conservative Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), and Canadian moderate Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow). Each has a strong backing in the voting body, and each has secrets that are about to be unearthed. But none of the candidates seem able to raise the 2/3 majority needed to take the Papal title.
Can Lawrence steer the cardinals into making the best choice or should Jesus take the wheel?
A superb ensemble cast and an intriguing concept makes for an engrossing watch. This is not a subtle character drama, this is pulp in papal draping. Each revelation about the candidates is more outrageous than the next. Each clandestine meeting more gossipy than the one before. This is Dynasty, but the shoulder pads are replaced with little red zucchettos.
And that’s not a bad thing. Watching Fiennes, Tucci, and Lithgow sink their teeth into melodrama is always a good time. Director Edward Berger wisely allows performance to be the focal point of the film. Each actor gets a scene where they shine. Indeed, the interesting part of the film was never going to be who the Cardinals chose, but how they got to the decision. Think of it like 12 Angry Cardinals — the arguing and machinations are the point, not the result.
Though the film gets a little twist-happy by the end, there’s no denying the power of the actors on screen. Fiennes has long been a reliable figure for any film, and here he really shines as a man who must wrangle powerful people into a good decision. His Cardinal Lawrence must juggle massive revelations about the characters of each candidate and try to find one that will not lead the church to disaster.
The schemes are fun and the revelations juicy, but Conclave does seem to overreach at its ending. The reveal feels a little too on the nose for the film and rather taints what was an enthralling drama. Still, where else can you enjoy Isabella Rossellini as a firecracker of a nun?
Whether you’re devout or a heathen, Conclave has plenty to offer. A powerful ensemble, an interesting look at the inner workings of the Catholic Church, and some good old-fashioned catty drama? What more could you ask for?
Verdict: An excellent cast and melodramatic script make this a film worth going to mass for.
Conclave is rated PG and is available in theaters
