Conclave

Let me start by saying Conclave is hands down one of my favorite films of 2024. It’s not every day you see the Catholic Church rendered with such delicious, juicy intrigue, and it’s a film that doesn’t shy away from exploring the darker corners of its characters’ motivations.

It has left some within the Catholic community uncomfortable, as they’ve felt the film made a mockery of the Church. Yet, for viewers, this exploration of whispered confessions and outright confrontations offers an irresistible, almost Shakespearean intrigue. The cardinals’ competing visions of faith, shifts in Church practices, and power struggles will pull you in like a soap opera, and the script deftly balances reverence for tradition with sharp critiques of hypocrisy, ensuring you’re hooked with every twist.

Awards Contention 

Ralph Fiennes earned his Oscar nomination for a masterclass in subtlety as Cardinal Lomeli, the man tasked with overseeing the conclave of cardinals. From the film’s opening moments, it’s clear he’s a man ready for a break, yet he’s thrust into the monumental task of managing this chaotic election.

As Lomeli wrestles with his faith, the burden of leadership, and the swirling chaos around him, Fiennes’ performance is a study in subtlety. The conclave is locked away from the world, yet its weighty decision reverberates globally. Fiennes brings gravitas to every scene, commanding full attention even in the quietest moments, as Lomeli balances his firm beliefs with the need for impartiality.

Then there’s Stanley Tucci, who steals every scene he’s in as a charismatic cardinal with a secret or two up his crimson sleeve. He offers a vision of a Church that remains rooted in tradition while embracing evolution. Together, Fiennes and Tucci form the moral and dramatic core of Conclave, their performances elevating the material to extraordinary heights and delivering moments of palpable tension.

Veteran actress Isabella Rossellini brings an elegance and austerity to her role as Sister Agnes, whose role is to be invisible while bearing silent witness to all around here. “God gave me eyes and ears. So, therefore, I see and hear,” she states ominously, hinting at her real power. While I deeply respect and appreciate her work, I found her role here solid but not quite at the award-winning level she’s often known for. But others disagree, as she has earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nod.

Beyond the gripping story and the Oscar-worthy performances, Conclave is a visual triumph. Cinematographer James Friend transforms the Vatican into a character with his masterful use of light and shadow, evoking both the divine and the ominous. Each frame feels like a painting, from the golden hues of candlelit prayer rooms to the stark, towering grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The set design is equally impressive, earning Academy Award nominations for Suzie Davies (Production Design) and Cynthia Sleiter (Set Decoration) for their recreation of the Vatican, a seamless blend of artistry and reverence that is worth the price of admission—or stream—on its own.

Finally, pay attention to the costumes, which have earned an Oscar nomination for Lisy Christl. Darker and richer than the real-life counterparts, they were inspired by both Renaissance paintings and a 2020 Balenciaga couture show, as Christl has explained. Yet ultimately, these cloaks work as symbols of the unity and the division at the center of this unforgettable film.