Film Review – Conclave

Only in the strange film year of 2024 would a story about an assortment of cardinals in Rome gathering to vote on the next pope become one of the most suspenseful movies of the year. Of course, “Conclave” has help, as it is an adaptation of a popular 2016 novel by author Robert Harris, who labored for over 400 pages to create a charged situation populated with stubborn and secretive characters. The material also has the benefit of exploring the little-seen world of Vatican hierarchy and power plays, making it unique to a certain degree. Director Edward Berger, following up his breakthrough hit, “All Quiet on the Western Front,” and screenwriter Peter Straughan (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) create an icy yet riveting understanding of conflict in the feature, boosting Harris’s plotting through exceptional technical credits and some of the best ensemble acting of the year. “Conclave” surprises with its potency, and it has a few ideas to share about the human condition and the state of God’s influence. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com