The Stream: The uneven pacing means the movie suffers from some slow moments.

The Big Screen: Unexpectedly twisty for a movie about choosing a new pope.

The Final Bill: Who knew a political “thriller” set in the papal conclave could be this interesting?!?

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Edward Berger
Writers: Peter Straughan based on a novel by Robert Harris
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Isabella Rossellini
Genre: Thriller
Rating: PG for thematic material and smoking
Runtime: 1 hour 53 minutes
Production Companies: Access Entertainment, FilmNation Entertainment, House Productions, Indian Paintbrush
Platform: In theaters October 25, 2024
Notable Trailers: Wicked, A Complete Unknown, Mufasa: The Lion King,

Hey, Streamers! While some may be consumed with horror movies and things that go bump in the night, the rest of us desperately need some counterprogramming. Luckily, despite the dead body in the very beginning of the movie, there are no jump scares or bloody sequences in this week’s new release, Conclave. In Conclave, Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who is tasked with leading the papal conclave for the selection a new pope after the unexpected death of the current Pope. As candidates for the new pope emerge, revelations come to light as well challenging the College of Cardinals and their attempt to present a unified front for Catholics worldwide. Political intrigue and melodramatic hijinks ensue.

In the interest of full disclosure, I read the novel that Conclave is based on this summer. I really enjoyed that book and read it in just a few days, which means I wasn’t as surprised by some twists that occur in the story. The movie Conclave tells the same story as the novel with very little major changes. Thankfully, the movie retains the political machinations that you might expect in men jockeying for the highest position in the religion, which makes for a very engrossing story. The plot does have thrilling elements, and the audience gets pulled into the motives of each candidate and questions what issues may come to light. There are some twists that seems silly and convenient. Also, the movie kind of plods a long a little bit. Luckily, some of the turns in the plot are enough to reinvigorate interest.

Nevertheless, Conclave is bolstered by the artistic touches in the movie like the beautiful, authentic-looking costumes of the cardinals and the cloistered and ornate sets in The Vatican. They are a feast for the eyes. Additionally, the score and editing heighten the drama of the movie. Also, Ralph Fiennes is very good as Cardinal Lawrence. He plays Lawrence’s crisis of faith convincingly. Fiennes has a very restrained look and provides a strong presence as Lawrence attempts to maintain order over the conclave. Fiennes’ motivations aren’t always clear and that makes Lawrence an interesting character to follow. I’ll also note that the support cast is vast, but each one gets to have good moments, especially Isabella Rossellini and Stanley Tucci.

Ultimately, Conclave is a good movie that relies on the thrilling twists of this otherwise solemn occasion. The costumes and set design are beautiful and enhance the story. What could otherwise be silly political/religious machinations becomes an entertaining time at the movies. Despite some slow moments, the overall production will keep you engaged enough for a bowl of popcorn at a matinee.