Conclave Review: Poignant Pope Drama Paints Topical Political Picture

Ralph Fiennes delivers a career-best performance, with Stanley Tucci matching him beat for beat in Edward Berger‘s excellent Pope election drama Conclave.

Conclave Overview and Star Rating

Following the death of the current Pope, Dean Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) oversees the thankless task of electing the next Pope. He’s also battling a crisis of Faith while trying to keep the peace between candidates vying for the Papacy. The candidates are divided between those who want to push the church toward a more progressive future and the Italian contingent who want to bring the church back to its conservative roots.

Tucci’s Aldo Cardinal Bellini is the most vocal, unbending of the liberal contingent. Goffredo Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto, brilliant) represents the conservative viewpoint with other candidates, including Lawrence, running for the Papacy.

While not fast-paced by any means, Berger, Peter Straughan‘s screenplay, and Volker Bertelmann‘s string-heavy score make every scene in Conclave engrossing. Every 10 minutes, a new wrinkle is added that disqualifies some frontrunner candidates or calls into question the deceased Pope’s mysterious machinations.

With the election coming soon, the Conclave also succeeds in holding up a mirror to today’s political landscape. Those in power and those who seek it clinging to their respective groupings is one compelling story. Conclave adds another layer by showing how someone with ideals will cede power when the lesser of two evils is presented.

Conclave is, without a doubt, one of the best 2024 films. However, there are a couple of issues in the film. The 3rd act twist involving one of the candidates challenges just how progressive the so-called reformed Cardinals are. While the attempt is admirable, the execution has a heavy-handed preachiness that ends the film on a whimper rather than an empowering note. A Nigerian is running for the Papacy. However, the subject of race is not touched on in the film to the extent of LGBTQ and women’s rights.

If you’re looking for a film that allows great actors to sink into a compelling and important story, Conclave is a great 2-hour experience.

Reluctant Overseer

Lawrence never wanted to oversee the Conclave. In fact, he attempted to resign as a Cardinal due to a crisis of faith, but the Pope rescinded his request. Now, Lawrence, already discouraged by the Church, must push forward.

He tries to keep the election within the rules. There are a few problems, though. The outwardly progressive Bellini, who Lawrence supports, is having a difficult making up ground. Many of the frontrunners display flaws that make them ineligible.

Over his objections, Lawrence begins to get votes for the Papacy. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Lawrence may have to run to stop the Conservative-minded Tedesco from winning.

Fiennes is a remarkable actor and impeccably cast in a role that requires small reactions and big, unexpected explosions of frustration. Lawrence is a good man, trying to keep a contentious situation above board.

Pope Candidates

Bellini, Lawrence, and Vincent Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz) are the main progressive candidates on the ballot. Benitez throws the entire Conclave off as the late Pope secretly made him an Archbishop. Lawrence believes the Pope kept it a secret since Benitez carried out a dangerous ministry in Afghanistan.

On the conservative side are Joshua Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), Joseph Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow), and Tedesco. These three have varying conservative principles. Adeyemi of Nigeria is the most moderate. He is a social conservative and economic progressive. Tremblay is a quiet, conservative politician who knows how to work the political angle. He has a quiet demeanor but doesn’t hesitate to blackmail or make quid pro quotes to garner support. Tremblay also doesn’t state his views as openly as Bellini or Tadesco, which makes him seem less polarizing.

Then, there’s Tedesco, whose views are the polar opposite of Bellini’s. He wants to make the Vatican great again, so to speak, by reducing the input of women and LGBTQ. Bellini feints not wanting power, but his hatred for Tedesco makes him more hungry. Bellini wants the Papacy if the people choose him because they agree with his views. However, if he falls too far behind, he will throw his support behind someone less evil than Tedesco.

Tucci and Fiennes are terrific screen partners. Fiennes’ Lawrence tries to end the game by playing the rules, while Tucci’s Bellini tries to win it for his side.

Conclave Final Thoughts

Conclave is a fascinating look at the lengths people will go for power. This sort of film could be set in any political arena, such as a presidential or senate race. However, the fact that it centers around the Papacy gives the film more weight. Unfortunately, the ending eases some of that way off the film, but the weak ending doesn’t impact the overall experience of Conclave too much.

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