Dir: Edward Berger, UK/US 2024, 120 mins
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Sergio Castellitto
Review by Carlie Newman
Ralph Fiennes shows that he has real acting chops as he portrays Cardinal Lawrence, who finds that he has the job of running the Conclave, a gathering of 118 cardinals from all over the world, which will elect the new Pope after his beloved old Pope dies of a heart attack.
This truly excellent film, directed by Edward Berger, is based on the 2016 best seller written by Robert Harris. As voting takes place, Cardinal Lawrence finds out secrets of a number of the front runners.
Leading the pack at the beginning is the African, Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) who could become the first black Pope. Lawrence finds out that Adeyemi was involved in a sex scandal and is out of the running.
Pushed aside too is the progressive Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) the Canadian moderate, Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) and Cardinal Telesco (Sergio Castellitto) who believes strongly in the old traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.
The appearance of a newly appointed Mexican archbishop called Benitez (Carlos Diehz) surprises everyone. Seeing all but speaking little is Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini) who assists in exposing explosive secrets. Lawrence keeps his own secret: that he had doubts about the Church and wanted to leave the Vatican, but the late Pope made him remain.
Dark secrets abound but the biggest, most shocking twist comes at the end of the film.
Director Berger uses his cast with great sensitivity. Nobody over acts and each character shows both their back story and present ambitions.
Every single one of the actors gives a wonderful performance. And Ralph Fiennes is just wonderful. His is a restrained performance with all emotion confined to his face and body movements. He is surely in the running for a best actor Oscar.
Perhaps Rossellini, in a small but important role, could also be nominated in the supporting actress category. The photography, with use of colour – particularly the red robes of the Cardinals contrasting with the dark furniture of the Sistine Chapel -is exemplary.
The film has the excitement of a thriller and the drama of a courtroom scene and is absolutely unmissable.
