Conclave review: Ralph Fiennes movie is a solid political thriller, but minor sins keep it from greatness

Edward Berger announced himself as a filmmaker that we need to pay attention to with his masterful adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front, the anti-war classic with a previous iteration that won Best Picture, though for my money Berger’s is the superior version. His followup, Conclave, is seemingly as far away from the battlefield as you would think, the Vatican, but based on another international best seller and with a cast of well known veteran actors Berger takes another intriguing look at a big idea that defines our civilization.

Based on the book by Robert Harris (adapted for the screen by Peter Straughan), Conclave begins as the pope passes away. The cardinals of the Catholic Church must now convene and hold a conclave to elect the new pope, which is overseen by Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes). A variety of men are the leading candidates for the papacy, with different motivations and outlooks on the church, portrayed by Stanley Tucci, John Lihtgow, Lucian Msamati and Sergio Castellito. But as the votes are tallied and leaders emerge, Cardinal Lawrence is confronted with a number of hidden truths that make for a chaotic and contentious proceeding.

Though they don crosses instead of flag lapels, Conclave is every bit a political thriller, and it’s when it is in that mode that it is at its best. The acting — which in addition to Fiennes, Tucci, Lithgow and the ensemble of male actors as the cardinals features Isabella Rossellini, who makes the most of her screen time — is as solid as you’d expect. But the thing that I walked away most intrigued by is Berger's ability to tackle big ideas about humanity in a digestible, entertaining way.

How All Quiet on the Western Front was nominated for nine Oscars (and won four of them) and Best Director wasn't one of them is beyond me, because Berger managed to create some of the most incredibly impactful sequences of war that I've ever seen to drill home the story's theme about the true cost and impact of war. Conclave (save for one sequence) features no such explosives. Its best moments come in the talking, and yet Berger manages to craft engaging sequences that also carry a message. In this case, what we are willing to accept from our leaders, in our beliefs and in ourselves. Conclave is not on the same level as All Quiet on the Western Front, but Berger has shown his masterful capabilities to take on complex ideas and execute them. He is one of the most exciting directors and I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Back to the movie itself, it really is a good script from Straughan, who manages to keep the threads of Harris’ twisty story and sprinkles in a number of good lines throughout. My only quibble is that there isn’t a single, overhanging conspiracy tying everything together that offers a greater payoff. In fairness it’s just a personal opinion and is not something I can blame those involved for, but having three separate (or loosely connected) conspiracies kept me from getting as fully invested in the plot. That being said, that choice does speak to the movie’s overall idea of the imperfections of these people meant to be serving God.

Elsewhere, the editing by Nick Emerson is also solid, as it makes each vote held for the new pope have its own rhythm and even intensity to it. Add in some great cinematography work by Stéphane Fontaine and Berger and company have crafted a handsome thriller.

Honestly the thing that I was disappointed with the most was the acting. Not that anyone is bad in the movie, but with a main quartet of Fiennes, Tucci, Lithgow and Rossellini, I was expecting a bit more. Fiennes is effective in being our guide through the twists and turns of the plot and his character's arc of dealing with his faith amidst these various revelations, but he doesn't elevate the role to a higher level as he has in past performances (i.e. The Grand Budapest Hotel).

One exception to that is Rossellini. Her Sister Agnes is the leader of a group of nuns brought in to help with the behind-the-scenes efforts of the Conclave. However, Agnes knows some of the secrets being hidden by the cardinals, and is a key piece for Lawrence as he dives deeper into the rumors and misdeeds. Rossellini is superb, basically representing the overlooked role of nuns in the Catholic Church, but someone who is a defender of her fellow sisters and a keen observer of her superiors. When she gets her big moment you can feel the pent up rage just below the surface. If I'd pick anyone from the cast to be a fixture in the awards season this year, it's Rossellini.

If you're a fan of the political thriller, then Conclave is well worth the watch. It may not be in the upper echelon, but Berger and his team get the job done in creating an entertaining story that also adds deeper themes for a well-rounded experience.

Conclave releases exclusively in movie theaters on October 25 in the US; it premieres in the UK on November 15.