TIFF: Ralph Fiennes carries the engaging and tense "Conclave

by Matt St Clair

Ralph Fiennes in "Conclave" © Focus Features

After taking audiences through the treacherous WWI battlefields in the Oscar-winning epic All Quiet on the Western Front, director Edward Berger crafts a different exercise in tension in the form of a Pope election with Conclave, a high-stakes thriller based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris that is full of high-stakes political intrigue and stellar performances...

Once Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with proceeding with the titular conclave after the Pope passes away, what transpires is an uncovering of hidden secrets and heated conflicting of ideologies. As candidates from the progressive Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) to hardcore conservative Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellito) begin feuding, the dialogue along the lines of who the least dangerous candidate is or how they absolutely cannot have Tedesco win the election given how he wants to undo decades of progress made by the Church provides echoes of what’s at stake in the next few months, having American viewers thinking, “Papacy or Presidency?” Tense and eerily timely as the script may be, screenwriter Peter Straughan still weaves in moments of sly humor for much-needed levity.

While Edward Berger’s last film possessed strong performances, Conclave is even more of an acting showcase. At its center and in almost every scene, is a sublime leading performance from Ralph Fiennes. With just his eyes, Fiennes makes you feel the always-on-edge Lawrence’s staunch persistence in completing the election and feeling of the weight of the world on his shoulders. In his quintessential scene-stealing fashion, Stanley Tucci brings wit and pragmatism to the role of Cardinal Bellini. While his role is comparatively smaller, John Lithgow who plays Cardinal Tremblay, an early consensus favorite for the title, manages to leave an impression. 

Meanwhile, there’s Isabelle Rossellini as Sister Agnes, a witness to the transpiring conflict. The most prominent female role in the entire movie, Rossellini’s role mostly amounts to astute observing, giving Agnes an air of mystique when staring in the background, before getting her own soapbox moment where Sister Agnes goes noble in front of the cardinals about the societal roles that nuns are forced to play. Though, given the size of her role, anyone hoping for this to be the actress legend’s overdue first Oscar ticket will still have to hope for a coattail situation.

As for the film’s technical prowess, it does possess effective cinematography from Stéphane Fontaine (Jackie, Rust and Bone). One standout scene in particular involves Lawrence being engulfed in darkness as he’s running a meeting with the other cardinals to illustrate his dimming belief in his ability to carry on with the conclave. Also, while overarching at times, the bombastic score by Oscar-winning composer Volker Bertelmann, does help Conclave make the case to be seen on the big screen. 

A pulsating directorial and writing exercise with stellar performances, Conclave is a winning follow-up for director Edward Berger. Whether it’ll be an Oscar frontrunner is up in the air only because who knows if voters want to think about another stressful election shortly after the one we'll experience in November. But with its sharp screenplay, its leading man in career-best form, and skilled filmmaking, this one definitely feels like a player. B+

Conclave is screening as part of the Special Presentations section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and will be released by Focus Features on November 1st.

Comments

[TomG]

I was really hoping Rossellini finally gets her nomination. It is still possible- precursor TV awards will have to be consistent. It looks like this movie is heading for trying to get a Best Picture Nomination so maybe this can still happen.