Conclave- Is This One Of The Best Of The Year?
Just two years ago, a director I was unfamiliar with made my best film of 2022. I see tons of films, every year, but in 2022, nothing quite stuck with me like the harrowing All Quiet On The Western Front remake. Oscar voters agreed, as the movie received a Best Picture nomination, and won is several categories. It stands as one of Netflix’s best audio description tracks, and certainly as an example of why they should continue to embrace more audio description for international content.
Cut two years ahead, and that director, Edward Burger, is back with his follow-up, Conclave. Before this movie was ever seen by anyone, it had buzz due to the source material, the cast, and the director. Then, early reviews landed, revealing Conclave was as incredible as we expected, and managed to do it with a PG rating. He went from an ultra violent and bleak war epic, to. A quiet, almost chamber thriller, all about the political machinations surrounding the selection of the next Pope. It is twisty, reflective of politics on a broader scale, and always aware of the sensation of realism, like we’re being educated in the process simply by watching a fictional film. Conclave boasts a stunning cast, with the more recognizable names floating through award season. Ralph Fiennes, who has shockingly not been nominated since The English Patient, is finally getting his due, despite a career of memorable performances. He’s terrific, in what is largely an interior performance. He’s not loud, he certainly isn’t boastful, but he has the weight on his shoulders.
In the supporting cast, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini all easily have “that scene”, where a certain speech packs an extra punch, and resonates. Conclave is not predictable, and thus becomes an early favorite in the rewatchable category, as you’ll want to see this craft unfold again. how did we get from there to here? How did we select this new Pope? There are signs along the way if you look for them, but it is certainly a film I do not intend to spoil, because the journey is well worth it.
Conclave is one of the best of the year, certain to get multiple Oscar nominations. I’m near 400 films viewed from 2024, and Conclave is in my Top 10. So, I truly cannot recommend this enough. I also now have a favorite new director in Burger, who has managed to knock me out again. I can’t wait to see what he does next. This is now on Peacock with audio description, and I’d recommend giving it your time. It is a tight two hours, and never boring. For more, check out my video.
