Conclave (2024) Dir: Edward Berger
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Edward Berger's mystery thriller, based on the well-rated novel by Robert Harris, looked like it could be one of the sleeper hits of the year. A film about selecting a new Pope does not necessarily scream thrilling, but the trailer told me to expect a film full of intrigue and drama.
I thought that the film's soundtrack was very atmospheric and dramatic, especially the main recurring theme. I must confess I liked it a lot. However, it did feel as though it carried a lot of the film's tension. I don't think a lot of the scenes would have felt as impactful or interesting without it, which I guess goes to show the importance of music in film.
There were undoubtedly some very pretty shots throughout the film, as well as some very satisfying use and emphasis on colour; specifically yellow and red. That said, for a film set in such an aesthetic location, I think that the film could've looked a lot prettier than it did.
The narrative, albeit interesting, was very drawn-out. To say it was 'slow-burn' was an understatement. I understand that it's not a typical thriller, but I think that the film would have felt snappier if it was both a little shorter, and was generally paced better. The opening twenty minutes were excellent, in that regard, but the story lost a lot of momentum very quickly.
I thought that the story provided an intriguing look at the modern Catholic Church, although, some of it came across, ironically, as bordering on preachy, at times. It seemed scared to appear as if it had anything to do with the Catholic Church of old, which, in fairness, is not the worst idea, considering the history of it.
Ralph Fiennes gave a very strong and consistent performance in this leading role. His facial expressions were very effective, and I found him to be an interesting vessel through which to follow the plot. I actually thought the scenes where he was alone were particularly well acted - it was compelling viewing.
Stanley Tucci has always been a very good supporting actor, and much the same can be said of this performance. His ability to speak seemingly plain dialogue in both an interesting and believable way is such a talent, and one he utilises excellently in this role. I wished he'd had a more significant presence, if I'm honest - I was surprised by how little screentime he had, relatively speaking.
John Lithgow and Lucian Msamati provided the best of the other supporting cast members. Each man had some excellent individual scenes, especially when their respective characters were at their most vulnerable. Beyond these two, I also felt that the performances of Isabella Rossellini, Carlos Diehz, Sergio Castellito, and Brian F. O'Byrne, were deserving of positive mentions.
Overall, I must admit, I was a little underwhelmed by this one. I was hoping for a much more thrilling thriller. It really is a shame that it was too bloated, because I think the conflicts between characters and some of the twists in the story were legitimately very good. For me, this is a little bit of a missed opportunity.
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