14/18
This is an incorrect assumption
Synopsis
When Cardinal Lawrence is assigned to lead one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, the selection of a new pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundations of the Catholic Church. Based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris "Conclave".. Cardinal Benitez delivers his climactic speech in Spanish. It’s a stretch to assume that all the other cardinals can easily understand him. All the cardinals are fluent in Latin by default, and many speak Italian in other conversations in the film. All of these languages belong to the Romance language family, so it’s no exaggeration to assume that most of the cardinals have a basic knowledge of Spanish. Sister Agnes: Although we sisters are supposed to be invisible, God has still given us eyes and ears.
Every move calculated, every alliance scrutinized
Quoted in The Saad Truth: My Review of Conclave (Film) – Wokeism Destroys Everything (2024). Allegri: MisererePerformed by Capella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, Massimo PalombellaCourtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GMBHUnder license from Universal Music Operations Ltd. Lies. Deception. Manipulation. Strategy. A chess game on a global scale.
A complex and gripping contest of strategy and influence
Edward Berger takes an intimate and sacred process like the Conclave and transforms it into something thrilling that echoes the scheming, treacherous and intriguing nature of Game of Thrones and Succession, while still being surprisingly relevant. Conclave is a meticulously constructed closed-door thriller in which religion and politics collide and the souls of petty men are tested for a chance at supreme power. Conclave is a film about choosing the least objectionable candidate to avoid undoing decades of progress. Hmm… sounds familiar. Not to get too political, but there is a reason this movie came out when it did, and the overall defiant messages presented in the film couldn’t be more relevant to the current political climate not only in the US but in many other countries around the world. I’m seeing a lot of pleasantly tongue-in-cheek reviews on Letterboxd/social media saying this is a fun movie about priestly gossip (“What if an episode of Gossip Girl took place entirely in the Vatican????”), and that’s not untrue, but it also fails to mention that it’s a very serious and deeply moving movie about the tension of faith, the desperate search for certainty, and the true purpose of the church in the world.
It’s supposed to be a reminder to avoid unnecessary or banal sequences
This is the kind of well-staged “men in rooms” drama that feels like it was made in the 1940s or 1990s. Imagine an Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Moneyball, A Few Good Men) movie set in the Catholic Church. That’s Conclave. The ensemble is outstanding with Ralph Fiennes giving a performance that is as nuanced as it is commanding. The tense atmosphere is amplified by a heart-pounding score and immersive sound design, although moments of over-the-top levity occasionally break the tension, adding an unexpected level of entertainment to this gripping, high-stakes election. It’s one of the year’s most compelling and impeccably crafted films, a masterclass in classic Hollywood filmmaking, brilliantly directed by Edward Berger who recently made All Quiet on the Western Front. There’s this “rule” in film editing: don’t show the door closing; just cut to the other side.
Conclave completely ignores it
Characters pause and move between lines, their sneakers squeaking on Italian marble. They eat and swallow food uncut, and pause in the middle of important dialogue only to make a Nespresso in real time. People call it a thriller (and I agree), but it’s also a Vatican hangout movie.