Sometimes, just when you think you have a movie all figured out, you discover you haven’t.
That happened to me while watching the Vatican drama “Conclave” (PG, 120 minutes, in theaters).
There was a point, early on, when I thought, “Oh, please; the so-called twist coming is so obvious.” My prediction was correct. But I wasn’t prepared, at all, for where the film ultimately goes.
Directed by Edward Berger (“All Quiet on the Western Front”), written by Peter Straughan (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) and adapted from a novel by Robert Harris (“Enigma”), “Conclave” starts with the death of the pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) must then convene cardinals from across the world for sequestered meetings at the Vatican, where they will elect the next pope by voting until someone receives a two-thirds majority.
Ralph Fiennes stars in director Edward Berger’s “Conclave.” (Focus Features)
This papal conclave has all of the intrigue one might find in a political convention. (“Conclave” actually calls to mind the 1964 Gore Vidal-written political drama “The Best Man.”) And it’s not just because the priests are divided into conservative and liberal camps. As some of the cardinals vie to become the next pope, the competition gets down and dirty, with back-room deals made and scandals revealed.
Lawrence finds himself in the middle of this jockeying for power and becomes a kind of cardinal-sleuth – all while weighing his own ambition and motivations.
Fiennes gives his usual powerful, intelligent performance as the often-conflicted Lawrence and is the primary reason to see “Conclave.” He’s supported by an impressive cast, including Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow as two of the cardinals under strong consideration for pope, and Isabella Rossellini as a nun who carries lots of secrets.
The story, though, never quite catches fire. Part of the problem is that, while vote after vote is taken, we can easily guess who will win. And while some of the issues discussed about the future direction of the church hold some interest, there’s not a lot of depth to these debates.
Still, the last 20 minutes or so, when “Conclave” takes an unexpected turn, gives the film more weight. *** (out of four)
** Click here for Tim Miller’s previous movie columns for Cape Cod Wave **
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Tim Miller
Tim Miller is co-president of the Boston Society of Film Critics and a Tomatometer-approved critic. He teaches film and journalism at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or follow him onTwitter @TimMillerCritic. Or you can ignore him completely.
