Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 2 ratings
After the unexpected death of the Pope, Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with managing the covert and ancient ritual of electing a new one. Sequestered in the Vatican with the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders until the process is complete, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could lead to its downfall.
Conclave is a taut, intelligent thriller elevated by an exceptional ensemble cast led by Ralph Fiennes in commanding form. The plot is meticulously constructed, using the claustrophobic papal election as a pressure cooker for moral, theological, and political tension—each revelation feels earned rather than cheap. Acting across the board is a genuine strength, with Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow all delivering nuanced, layered performances that elevate the screenplay. Cinematography is competent and atmospheric but not particularly distinctive—the Vatican interiors are well-used but not visually inventive. Novelty is moderate: the conclave setting is genuinely unusual for mainstream cinema, and the film has a serious philosophical intelligence, but the conspiracy-thriller scaffolding follows familiar genre beats. The ending is provocative and conversation-starting but divisive—its final twist feels somewhat abrupt and risks undermining the careful realism built throughout, landing it as a deliberate swing rather than a fully satisfying resolution.