Religious films have seen consistent theatrical releases for as long as cinema has been around. However, aside from the occasional Passion of the Christ or Dan Brown adventure, you rarely see a religious film that peaks the interest of mainstream moviegoers. That changes this weekend with the release of Conclave, a film adaptation of the Robert Harris book of the same name, that is sure to get the masses talking.
The pope (Bruno Novelli) has died. Now, it’s up to Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) to lead the papal conclave in order to select a new pope. While that may sound simple enough, Conclave plays out more like a tense thriller than a staunch religious affair. With backstabbing, skeletons of the past, and more, this is one for a wide audience, no matter your faith.
Conclave has an ensemble cast that shines in some of their best performances in years. Fiennes is joined by Stanley Tucci (Cardinal Bellini), John Lithgow (Cardinal Tremblay), Lucian Msamati (Cardinal Adeyemi), and Sergio Castellitto (Cardinal Tedesco) to name a few. Each member of the cast plays an integral role in setting the tone and seriousness of the film, and it will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
While there is some levity in Conclave, the papal conclave is a serious matter, and is treated as such in the film. In addition, this isn’t restricted to matters of the church. There are several outside elements, and even scandals that have connections to real-world problems and conspiracies. The selection of a new pope demands the attention of the audience, but the background shenanigans will keep them invested.
Conclave has more in common with Knives Out than a traditional religious film. While the film score can be a little overpowering (Christopher Nolan?) when unnecessarily trying to build suspense, the ensemble cast helps to bring things back down to Earth. Throughout the film, you’ll be guessing who the next pope will be, and what, if any consequences will follow. This leads to an ending that is bound to have people talking in not-so-nice tones.
The booming soundtrack lends itself to a theatrical experience, but despite that, this isn’t a film that you must see in theaters. Conclave will eventually make its way to Peacock (like most other Focus Features films), so if you can’t make it out to the theaters over the next few weeks, you won’t miss out on too much if you have a Peacock subscription. It’s still a likely contender for a number of award nominations, but those performances are just as good in the comfort of your home.
About Conclave
Synopsis: When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.
Director: Edward Berger
Writers: Peter Straughan, Robert Harris
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow
Rated: PG
Runtime: 2 Hours
Bryan Dawson has been writing professionally since the age of 13. He started his career as a video game writer and has since worked for Random House, Prima Games, DirecTV, IGN, AOL, the British Government, and various other organizations. For GNN, Bryan taps into his passion for movies.
