Conclave (2024)

Conclave

• Catholicism has always been very interesting to me. I’m not Catholic, nor do I support all of their beliefs, but I always thought the structure and traditions were intriguing to look at. I think that’s the biggest reason I loved this movie so much. Getting a movie that revolves around the election of a new pope was super investing for me. I was locked in for every second, solely because of the practices and rules that the cardinals follow in that election. And then you put all the mystery on top of it, and you have a near perfect. The writing was incredible, and though it wasn’t as deep as I thought, I loved the way everything played out. There’s not necessarily a huge buildup or huge climax, but each scene adds a piece to a very tense puzzle. Absolutely beautifully put together. The performances are freaking incredible, from every single person involved. There’s not a single character that isn’t important, and every actor gave 110%. One of the best casts of 2024. Ralph Fiennes does so much communicating with his eyes and body language, and the trio of Lithgow, Tucci, and Castellitto was phenomenal. The costume design was pristine, the cinematography was crisp and colorful, but also packed full with a sense of dread and desire. Lastly, the score added so much depth to each scene where the music was present, and I’d love to see it get nominated for an Academy Award. Overall, this is one of the best movies of the year, and should seriously collect a couple nominations next year. I’d recommend it to all drama/mystery fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go see it now!