"Conclave" A Must-Watch Masterpiece

     Look I understand how it seems for me to only be watching Conclave now. The pope died and now as a Catholic I'm interested in watching a movie about what happens when a pope dies. Even still, I don't think I can understate just how good this movie is, and that you should watch it, not just for its rare cultural relevance, but for the fact that it's a fantastic movie. It takes what seems like an arbitrary and overly secretive process and strips it down, it grounds down any sort of mysticism around it into one that we as humans can actually relate to. Because after all these cardinals are only human themselves, and what seems like some spiritual process is really a petty one, full of politicking and intrigue. If there was ever a time that it made sense to watch this film now would be it, and it would be worth every second of the two hours.

    I think to start if off you have to praise the acting, especially Ralph Fiennes, who without him this simply would not be possible. He straddles the line between being respected enough to feel like he could run this conclave, but also not dominating enough in terms of height or demeanor. Even in scenes where he has rare moments of anger, it's does not feel like an "I'm using my power to command you" kind of angry, and more of an "I'm drowning here help me out" kind of anger, which is how a good religious leader should act in my opinion. I especially did love his homily too, and the scene in which he's finally alone and is just allowed to cry about his friend. It might be short, and it might not be the climax of the film, but it did feel quite touching that he was allowed at least one bit of reprieve. Fiennes is just able to play a character that carries with him such a burden, and you can feel the weight in all his actions.

    I think what really sells everything in this film though is the directing and camera work. There are so many beautiful shots in this film, I'm amazed that they were actually able to film this movie in Rome. Whether it be a shot of the cardinals all walking in the rain with their umbrella's, or the way all of the usually beautifully lit paintings are undercut with little to no lighting to represent the dark times ahead, I rarely ever had a complaint about the way this film was shot. Perhaps the most striking one was when Lawrence, finally resigned to his fate is about to put his own name into the box, only for a bomb to blow the chapel open, as if divine intervention stepped in to say that it was not meant to be. Notably, this is pretty much the only time you ever even get a hint of feeling as if God is present. I'm not saying the film feels as if God has abandoned all of these cardinals, but it focuses on the humans struggling to "represent the ideal", you never really see them attempt to tap into spirituality other than through prayer. I think what helps is that the film is surprisingly dark in terms of colour, even the room all the cardinals are staying is surprisingly modern, and devoid really of any whites or sunlight. I suppose in my mind you'd expect the holiest place on Earth to look a bit lighter, but it all fits with how the film is supposed to be.

    The script for Conclave is fantastic too. The film is two hours, but they do not actually spend the entire film talking. I think that is what helps the scenes really stand out, because there's no dialogue overlaid between them at all times, it's a somber time and viewers understand that with the way the film portrays the comings and goings. This also serves a second purpose in making it so that everything that does end up being said feels that much stronger. Father Lawrence's homily supposedly caused a stir, but you don't need a montage of cardinals gossiping with each other, all you see is a comment from Bellini, and the tension that follows it, and it works. What isn't said is just as powerful with what is said. Father Lawrence is always going on about his crisis of faith, and he doesn't outright say he's questioning the existence of God, but you understand that's what he's basically saying. It's just like how the film never outright addresses the "touching children" allegations. The most you ever get are vague allusions to "sexual scandals" plaguing the church. It doesn't treat you as stupid, the movie does not feel the need to serve as this heavy handed critique of the church.

    I mean it's not like the movie would be inaccurate if it was revealed that one of the cardinals was revealed to be a pedophile, or to have one of them constantly rant about how much they hate gays. The film wasn't meant to be this anti-Catholic piece of work though. What it really is about is a test of faith in my opinion, That when push comes to shove, when the faiths of what should be the holiest men are tested will their values stand tall in the face of reality? Speaking to the big twist at the end of the film, it legitimately shocked me. I had accidentally read a "spoiler" to the film when searching it up claiming the pope was a woman, and I am thankful the true ending was not actually spoiled to me. Perhaps I should have seen it coming, perhaps I should have kept all these random details in my mind, but ultimately I think it's better that I didn't. After all, how much does it really matter? Carlos Diehz did a fantastic job with all the lines given to him, and really made you confident that the right choice was made.

Final Score: 85/100

    Watching good movies is fun maybe I should get back into that. Maybe I should get a cineplex subscription to watch more movies, at least this blog would have more content. Honestly it's kind of weird how close the death of the pope was to the release of this film. Regardless of what star power it held it's kind of hard to sell this film to someone. Not because it's catholic or anything it's not a particularly religious film in my opinion, but rather the fact that it describes what feels like should be a very mundane task This film was so good that I'm almost somewhat interested in this next conclave and how it turns out. Not just because I consider myself a catholic but because I do hope that it turns into one that is more progressive, particularly as the political pendulum has been swinging back conservative it feels as of late.