Conclave

This movie is so much better than I expected it to be. I could be a really dry topic, but it is engaging almost from the very beginning. The acting is superb, it's easy to understand what could be a convoluted and boring subject of a papal conclave. I found that after I watched it the first time, I kept thinking about the movie and the characters. I watched it a second time (borrowed from the library) and even read the book which was also surprisingly good. The script follows the book closely and while you get a bit more about the clerical clothing and traditions, you get enough in the movie to understand everything. Every time I watch the movie or have others watch it, it sticks with you and makes you think for a few days afterward. Given the new pope, the election depicted in the movie (no spoiler) seems even more prophetic and relevant.

The Oscars got it wrong, but the British still appreciate excellent (and decency) in movie making. Every aspect of "Conclave" is superior to anything Hollywood produced in the 2024 film year. "Conclave" won the British equivalent of the Academy Award for Best Picture and also a second Best Picture Award for a British-made film. With the recent election of Pope Leo XIV by a very real Conclave the film is even more relevant than it was when it first appeared, long before the fatal illness of Pope Francis I. (Reporters covering the recent election of the new Pope wrote in newspapers such as "U.S..A. Today" about the "politics" that led to the election of the first ever American-born Pope. The screenplay is a masterpiece. Hollywood did get that one correctly. The only Oscar "Conclave" won was for Best Screenplay. The story unfolds like a thrilling mystery story. Every scene is a small miracle. The acting is uniformly outstanding. There are no "small" roles. Several actors and actresses should have been nominated in the Best Supporting Acting categories. Much of the film was shot on location in Rome and near or at The Vatican City and elsewhere in Italy. I cannot imagine that the Vatican leaders allowed the movie cameras into the Holy City, so the set directors deserve great credit for the reality of the settings. Scenes from inside The Sistine Chapel are magnificent. The music is great without being intrusive. I have watched the DVD at least four times since it arrived from Amazon two weeks ago. "Conclave" is a film that is going to have lasting power. People will be watching it with great interest for a great many years to come. Don't miss viewing "Conclave."

Outstanding movie adaptation. Although certain liberties are apparent, most authorities find the procedural aspects accurate. Great casting and cinematography.

Je n'ai pas tellement aimer, je l’ai trouvée un peu long pour rien. Par contre les acteurs jouent bien leur rôle.

An interesting glance into the secretive world of the church.