43/41
Based on Robert Harris' 2016 novel "Conclave"
Narrative
When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.. Sister Agnes: Although we sisters are supposed to be invisible, God has nevertheless given us eyes and ears.. A very fine movie overall, displaying good use of the talents of the cast and crew.
Very approachable presentation
Many nice touches add to the interest and entertainment value, e.g. Lines delivered in Latin with subtitles in English. I especially liked the audio work, as the lines were easier to hear and understand than in many other recent films, and the score was very effective.
A more gritty, realistic portrayal would have been an interesting alternative here
The characters and staging may have been sanitized a bit to appeal to a wider audience. This film should be especially entertaining to those who take in interest in the evolution of the Papacy through new popes, showing the changing understanding of how to interpret Christ's teachings in the modern world. Definitely see this if you have strong opinions about the choices the Church makes in selecting popes.
The present film is more about the intrigue and Machiavellian behavior in the College of Cardinals
Non Catholics will also enjoy this look at how the sausage is made, and we don't see this inside perspective often. The only comparable film recently was "The Two Popes," which was a more cordial story. The climax of the plot is near the end, but it's well worth the wait, and quite unpredictable..