Movie Review: Conclave

 Movie Number 3 of 2025

The Movie: Conclave

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Stars: 4.5

Opens 9 January

After watching the disappointing Parthenope in the afternoon and wanting to do something to celebrate the end of the holidays, I found a preview screening of Conclave, a movie which has been getting rave reviews and Oscar banter. It got me out of the flat and into a full movie theatre, which was great to see. Also, how can you go wrong with a cast including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini and John Lithgow, among others. 

This is a solid film based on Robert Harris' book of the same name. 

For those out of the loop, a conclave is what is held when the old Pope dies, and a new one has to be elected from the remaining cardinals. The men meet in Rome, in the Sistine Chapel and vote a new one in. This is a convoluted affair, filled with politics, factions and intrigue, as the politics of any large organisation would entail 

Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Dean Lawrence, the man in charge of running the conclave. A good man who has to remain above all of the factions and make things happen. On one hand, there's Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) a Canadian Cardinal who appears to be moderate, popular and ambitious. There's Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), Lawrence's friend, an American and very liberal in his views. This puts him in contention with Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucien Msamati) a popular Nigerian cardinal with a very conservative stand on things. And there's the Italian Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), a traditionalist and far right thinker. 

Another interloper turns up at the eleventh hour. A Mexican working in Afghanistan, Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Deihz) who has only recently been made a cardinal by the last Pope. A quiet man, you know he's going to have something to do with all this.

And yes, with all this, they have Isabella Rossellini and her group of nuns to do the catering in the conclave.

This is a very approachable thriller, with Ralph Fiennes at his best, a man trying to keep his head in a sea of piranhas, keeping all of the factions in line while trying to get to the bottom of the truth. Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow play themselves to great effect. Isabella Rossellini casts a sinister glow as the nun, in charge of the catering of the conclave with a number of ulterior motives. 

Even if you have no idea about the Catholic Church and it's working, this film is a fictionalised version of what goes on at one of these conclaves, right down to the black and white smoke and the voting. 

My only criticism of the movie is that it feels a bit procedural, which is a strange thing to say seeing this is a thriller and it's bound to be a little formulaic. You meet all the main players early - you know that each of them are going to have their part to play. And the twist at the end is good. 

The cinematography and score are wonderfully atmospheric, bringing an extra layer to what's already a good film. I also like that Edward Berger's direction is very assured. The movie keeps a great pace without letting the audience get lost. At two hours on the nose, it's not too long either. 

There is all sorts of talk on the internet about this receiving a lot of Oscar Nominations. I can see why. This is a very well-made movie, with all the right ingredients to keep the audience on their toes. 

It's definitely worth a look. I have to say I was doing a bit of a fist pump with the twist at the end. 

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