Mystery Movie Review - Conclave

 Conclave the movie is adapted from the international bestselling novel by Robert Harris published in 2016.

What it's about:  The Pope has died, but there are many questions surrounding his passing.  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.  Once the Church's most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope's wake.

Rated: PG

Tagline: What happens behind these walls will change everything.

Cast:

Ralph Fiennes: Lawrence

Stanley Tucci: Bellini

John Lithgow: Tremblay

Lucian Msamati: Adeyemi

Jacek Koman: Wozniak

Bruno Novelli: Dead Pope

Thomas Loibl: Mandorff

Brían F. O'Byrne: O'Malley

Isabella Rossellini: Sister Agnes

Sergio Castellitto: Tedesco

Carlos Diehz: Benitez

Director: Edward Berger

Writers: Peter Straughan & author Robert Harris

Rotten Tomatoes and critics reviews:

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

IMDB Rating: 7.4/10

"[Fiennes's] performance is a study in restraint, yet he effortlessly conveys the internal turmoil of a man who is deeply torn between duty and conscience." Devesh Sharma of Filmfare

"A faithful adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel, screenwriter Peter Straughan delivers a brave and layered script that compels you to scratch the surface and think beyond the obvious crisis in picture." Renuka Vyavahare of The Times of India

"A faithful adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel, screenwriter Peter Straughan delivers a brave and layered script that compels you to scratch the surface and think beyond the obvious crisis in picture." Juan Jose Beteta

"A slow-burning, fascinating and unpredictable narrative anchored by a colossal ensemble cast." Kiko Martinez of San Antonio Current

"Edward Berger‘s scandalous mystery set within the walls of the Vatican, is, at once, a revealing thriller as much as it is a delicious farce" Peter Gray of The AU Review

Noteworthy awards or rankings:

Nominated for 8 Oscars:

• Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score): Volker Bertelmann
• Best Motion Picture of the Year: Tessa Ross Juliette Howell Michael Jackman
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Ralph Fiennes
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Isabella Rossellini
• Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan
• Best Achievement in Film Editing: Nick Emerson
• Best Achievement in Production Design: Suzie Davies (production designer) Cynthia Sleiter (set decorator)
• Best Achievement in Costume Design: Lisy Christl

12 BAFTA Nominations
11 Critics Choice Awards
6 Golden Globe Nominations
294 total nominations all told

Trivia (mostly from IMDB):

• It's established that there are 108 cardinals involved in the conclave. However, in the third round of voting there are a total of 110 votes and then in the fifth round of voting there are 113 total votes counted.
• Many of the actions Cardinal Lawrence and the rest of the cardinals take during the film's conclave process are accurate to the Catholic faith and centuries of tradition.
• In the novel, Cardinal Benitez is a Filipino, and from the Archdiocese of Baghdad, not Kabul.
• Isabella Rossellini, who began acting in films in the 1970s, earned her first Oscar nomination for her performance in this film.
• The film's cast includes four Oscar nominees: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini.
• In the novel, Ralph Fiennes's character is named Cardinal Lomeli.
• This is the fourth time a Sistine Chapel set has been built at Cinecittà Studios for a feature film, after The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965), The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), and The Two Popes (2019).

My Thoughts:

First, the cinematography is phenomenal, lush, and rich. Like a work of art, light and dark are used for emphasis and symbolism.  A feast for the eyes. The music score is impressive as well.  The acting was equally great.  Isabella Rossellini is the only woman in the cast, other than nameless nuns scurrying around, and her presence is felt throughout the movie.  Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow all give top-of-their-game performances.  Acting students will be watching and taking notes for generations to come.  

The message is timely and clearly about challenges and decision facing the church and nations today.

The directing delivers a taught thriller, albeit slow burn, when it could have been tedious or boring.  The script is quite well done, except the twist at the end comes out of nowhere. It was never set up early on and certainly no hints of it so the viewer can go "oh, of course-why didn't I get that" so I feel it was a cheat, like a jump scare, to jolt the viewer out of left field.  Definitely worth seeing if you haven't already.  

Did you see Conclave?  Leave your thoughts on the movie in the comments.

Movie Trailer:

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Review - The Omega Factor

International bestselling author Steve Berry gives us a new main character. Nicholas Lee is a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) investigator working in the CLIO (Cultural Liason and Investigative Office.)  When Publishers Weekly says "Dan Brown fans will want to check this one out," I just had to see for myself. 

Author: Steve Berry

Copyright: June 2022 (Grand Central Publishing) 465 pgs

Series: 1st in Nicholas Lee Thriller (maybe a stand alone)

Sensuality: Some action violence scenes

Mystery Sub-genre: Suspense Thriller 

Main Characters: Summer Westin, Wildlife biologist for Save the Wilderness Fund

Setting: Modern day, Utah's Heritage National Monument

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Book Blurb: "The Ghent Altarpiece is the most violated work of art in the world. Thirteen times it has been vandalized, dismantled, or stolen. Why? What secrets does it hold?  

 Enter UNESCO investigator, Nicholas Lee, who works for the United Nations’ Cultural Liaison and Investigative Office (CLIO). Nick’s job is to protect the world’s cultural artifacts—anything and everything from countless lesser-known objects to national treasures. 

When Nick travels to Belgium for a visit with a woman from his past, he unwittingly stumbles on the trail of a legendary panel from the Ghent Altarpiece, stolen in 1934 under cover of night and never seen since. Soon Nick is plunged into a bitter conflict, one that has been simmering for nearly two thousand years. On one side is the Maidens of Saint-Michael, les Vautours—the Vultures—a secret order of nuns and the guardians of a great truth. Pitted against them is the Vatican, which has wanted for centuries to both find and possess what the nuns guard. Because of Nick the maidens have finally been exposed, their secret placed in dire jeopardy—a vulnerability that the Vatican swiftly moves to exploit utilizing an ambitious cardinal and a corrupt archbishop, both with agendas of their own.  

From the tranquil canals of Ghent, to the towering bastions of Carcassonne, and finally into an ancient abbey high in the French Pyrenees, Nick Lee must confront a modern-day religious crusade intent on eliminating a shocking truth from humanity’s past. Success or failure—life and death—all turn on the Omega Factor." 

My Thoughts:  I am used to Steve Berry's series featuring Cotton Malone but this is a new series with Nicholas Lee as the main character.  Nicholas Lee started in the army as an MP, tried to get into Magellan Billet at the Justice Department but didn't get hired on.  That's when he got into UNESCO as an investigator.  He is an official UN representative which grants him access during investigations to preserve the world's art treasures.  Nicholas Lee pushs the envelope in this investigation because it involves a very special nun, Kelsey, who was the love of his life-until she left him for a convent. Kelsey is not just a nun, but a talented art restorer and she is the one who asks Nicholas to help.

The action starts with the building on fire where he was supposed to meet Kelsey.  The pacing is on target with just enough breaks between action to catch your breath and understand more of the plot before more action. I loved the various settings, I always travel vicariously and these were great. The climactic confrontation had twists as well as high tension.  The wrap-up explained all the events, the history, and how it all ties together.  

I recommend for political/conspiracy thriller fans and I vote for this new character to be an ongoing series.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

Here is a Steve Berry interview about this book: