Conclave

Conclave
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto
Directed by Edward Berger

To say the Catholic Church has had a rough go for awhile would be an understatement, as accusations have abounded about child abuse at the hands of clergy and, equally as alarming, the Church's attempt to cover them up. Pope Francis has been able to resolve some of those issues and has bridged a gap between the more conventional, stoic Church of the past and incorporating modern views for a new generation, but there's still a lot of work to do. The Catholic Church is still steeped in old traditions, and the overall concept itself seems against religious teachings. The Pope is supposed to be protected from error when he speaks of matters of faith and morals, the human connection to God, which is something Jesus Himself is supposed to be, the bridge between God and man. "Conclave" takes a fictionalized look inside the mysterious practice of electing a new Pope, and while I had some apprehensions seeing a 120 minute film about old men talking, I was hooked from the jump and kept in continual suspense thanks to the terrific performances, story, cinematography and musical score.

The Pope is dead, and its up to Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) to run the conclave to select the new Pope considering he's the Dean of the College of Cardinals. The cardinals arrive and are sequestered while they debate who should take the mantle of the new Pope by popular vote, and those in the running include Lawrence's friend Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci) who's liberal views stand out from the staunch conservative Church; Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow) who will seemingly do anything to win; and Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) who's strict viewpoints and warlike talk makes others worry that he'll take the Church back to the old times. As the days go on and no consensus is reached, news of potential candidates' past and current sins come to Lawrence's attention as he presides over the proceedings, hoping that they'll choose the right Pope, but all the while showcasing his own doubts in the process.

Director Edward Berger recently won an Oscar for Best International Feature Film for "All Quiet on the Western Front," and with "Conclave" he again brings his talent to the big screen in what'll undoubtedly be a numerous Oscar-nominated film. The movie itself is gloriously shot, beautifully performed and surprisingly tense, considering on the outside it's just about choosing a new Pope, but there's so much intrigue and suspense that you'll be on the edge of your seat.

The movie hits close to modern history with Pope John Paul II's death and the turmoil that happened afterward in selecting a new Pope. Pope Benedict XVI was selected in 2005, but resigned in 2013 due to his age, becoming the first Pope to resign since Gregory VII in 1415. Pope Benedict was then selected, and his more liberal views have divided the Catholic faithful ever since. "Conclave" takes a look behind the walls of the Sistine Chapel where the voting takes place, and shows the deeply flawed humanity that the Catholic Church tends to shield from public view. We are to see the Pope as an infallible mouthpiece for the Church and God Himself, but he's just a man, selected by other men, and as such the entire process is deeply flawed.

Ralph Fiennes gives an awards-worthy performance as Cardinal Lawrence, who must hold the entire conclave together as he receives news about past and present indiscretions of top-tier candidates and struggles with what to do with the information. He doesn't want the Church to resort to its old traditional style by a tyrannical man who feels any religion other than Catholicism shouldn't be respected, nor does he want a man who purposefully sets out to sabotage others' chances becoming God's mouthpiece for mankind. He walks a very tense tightrope as factions wage unholy war within the walls, and you sense the immense weight on his shoulders. Not only that, but he's been struggling with his own faith, as showcased by his powerhouse speech to the College of Cardinals where he holds the biggest sin is certainty, because with certainty there's no doubt, and as such there is no need for faith.

The supporting cast also give tremendous performances, from Stanley Tucci's liberal Bellini to John Lithgow's smarmy Tremblay, and Castellitto's ruthless Tedesco. Isabella Rossellini plays Sister Agnes, who sheds light on the archaic practices of the Church, as she says women are supposed to be silent, but God gave them ears and eyes. There's not one performance that's wasted, not one moment that's not entirely necessary, and not one moment of brevity. It's tense and volatile in the most unique ways, getting you sucked into the religious intrigue when you weren't expecting to.

All of that is heightened by the cinematography and music, Stéphane Fontaine brilliantly shoots each scene with pinpoint precision, from an army of red-cloaked cardinals to them all walking down the street from an aerial point of view with matching white umbrellas, each shot is a piece of art in and of itself. The music score by Volker Berteimann invokes a deep sense of dread with its deep tones and strings that in a way shouldn't go so hard for a film like this, but goes even harder than you'd expect.

Combining awards-worthy acting, a compelling story, brilliant direction, suspense and tension, awe-inspiring cinematography and breathtaking music, "Conclave" pulls no punches in its story, giving one of the year's best films.

The Score: A+