A gripping mystery/thriller set in the heart of the Vatican
There’s a screenwriting adage that Blake Snyder popularised in his writing advice book Save The Cat! called ‘The Pope in the Pool.’ The lesson comes from a script called ‘The Plot to Kill the Pope’ wherein key exposition is delivered to the audience early on in the story during a scene in which the Pope is taking a swim in his pool.
The idea is that audiences are so intrigued by seeing the Pope in such an unusual way that they don’t even notice that they’re being spoon-fed the exposition. ‘The Pope in the Pool’ is simply a reminder to writers to avoid delivering necessary facts in a straightforward (i.e. boring) way—that they should strive to, at the very least, show us something interesting or never-before-seen while they’re teaching us the ‘rules’ of the story.
The writers of Conclave, it seems, took the advice quite literally. Trying to describe this movie to someone who hasn’t seen it, you face several barriers. The necessary facts of the story are quite dull: it is about a group of cardinals convening to choose the next Pope. But it is the manner in which this story is told that makes it so compelling, and one of the best movies I’ve seen all year.
Our Father
Following the death of the Pope, Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with leading the papal conclave of cardinals that will vote for his successor, but secrets, ambition, and politics abound amongst these revered holy men. Sequestered from the outside world, Thomas is tasked with choosing between what is more important: God, or the Church?
I’m sure there are some who will find this subject matter about as interesting a child finds a Sunday-morning homily, so let me start convincing you to see this movie by discussing the great Ralph Fiennes. With his sad puppy eyes, he gives a rich and totally immersive performance. He’s the movie’s only point-of-view character, is present in quite literally every scene, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
His character is extremely compelling. Thomas has been suffering from a crisis of faith, even going so far as attempt resignation prior to the Pope’s death. Watching this ‘Doubting Thomas’ be thrust into such an important role and forced to ideologically wrestle with heavy-hitting cardinals is endlessly interesting
Choir of Angels
Conclave’s score, composed by Volker Bertelmann, is also one of the most striking I’ve heard in a while (catch him gaining another Oscar nomination in 2025, I bet). His sharp, haunting strings instantly evoke the familiar feeling of a murder mystery. Although the Pope’s death (probably) isn’t a murder in the traditional mystery sense, the fallout and secrets that come to light after his passing are heavily inspired by the genre.
No, Conclave’s plot isn’t driven by a police detective, but there is an investigation—and a certain amount of rule-breaking—conducted by Thomas that goes hand-in-hand with the score and atmosphere of the movie.
Speaking of atmosphere, this movie is stunning to look at. The cinematography by Stéphane Fontaine (who is also sure to be nominated for an Oscar next year) is so evocative. I literally gasped aloud at a shot of some cardinals walking and holding umbrellas. And the sets—such as the cardinal’s apartments and the replication of the Sistine Chapel—are designed with such obvious care and detail.
Pride Before The Fall
The content of the story itself isn’t too shabby either. There are, essentially, four cardinals with the required clout to become the next Pope, and although Thomas supports the liberal Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci), the reality is that the other far more conservative and unscrupulous candidates are much more popular.
The theological and political war between the candidates is fascinating in how it reveals the true character of these men. As Thomas begrudgingly uncovers their secrets and starts working towards eliminating certain candidates for the race, you can’t help but wonder what his true ambition really might be. Is it true that he doesn’t want to be Pope, as he claims? Or do we, the audience, know Thomas better than he knows himself?
I hope I’ve done a decent job of convincing you that Conclave is worth a watch. The complex layer of motivations and ambitions combined with the stunning sound and visuals are going to pull hard for this film at next year’s Academy Awards, I’m sure. It’s an excellent and accessible movie about integrity and personal belief that doesn’t talk down to its audience.
Thanks for reading my Conclave review. If you liked it, consider checking out my wishlist or buying me a cup of coffee at https://ko-fi.com/kieranobrien or below.
Comments