Conclave

⭐ 8.5/10

We watched this the night after Wicked, and these are polar opposite movies.  This movie is filled to the brim with style. I was completely gripped right from the start with its simple premise - they are choosing a new pope and its all politics. You quickly get a sense of who each of the candidates is, you pick favourites, and there is a bit of Eddard Stark's philosophy going on here where the one's that don't want power are probably the best choices to have it.

The performances across the board here are amazing, particularly Ralph Fiennes, who is kind of running the election.  The burden is so clear in all his mannerisms, and he's perfect as the guy who is juggling scandals and ego in attempt to find the right person. The set is beautiful, the music kind of creepy, and every shot is staged beautifully. You can tell how much thought is put in to every frame, and there are images in this movie that are seared into my brain.

This movie is exciting! The process is established early, and as votes are counted every day you can feel momentum shift. The ending is not what you would expect, and leaves you with a lot to think about. I especially liked when the idea of religion and God is directly tackled, and I wish there was more soul searching from more of the cardinals. The only reason I didn't rate this higher is because I don't feel like I need a rewatch like I often do with my favourites. Otherwise this is a pitch perfect movie I would recommend to everyone - it's rated PG! When's the last time you saw a moving, beautiful award-worthy movie you can recommend to your parents!