“Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, hit it big at the box office. According to Box Office Mojo by IMDbPro, the independent film has grossed around $38 million, surpassing its $20 million budget and unexpectedly pulling people into theaters. The thriller has also earned a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and sits at a comfortable 7.4 on IMDb. 

These days though, tickets to the movies are close to $20. So, how much is “Conclave” truly worth?

“Conclave” is a slow-paced mystery that follows Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawerence after the death of Pope Gregory XVII. Lawerence and the College of Cardinals are brought together to participate in the process of “papal conclave,” or the selection of a new pope. Fierce rivalries build between the possible candidates and an unexpected arrival shakes up the Vatican.

A huge portion of the audience for this movie were, unsurprisingly, the elderly. The first thing I noticed walking into that theater was that I was the only person under the age of 50. What I also found surprising was that the whole theater was packed. A rare sight post-COVID.

“Conclave” panders to their audience’s tastes well. This movie reminded me of one that might have been created in the early 90’s. The plot itself is fairly simple and the mystery comes more from what Lawrence does not want to know rather than what he does.

The glacial movement of plot and dialogue are elevated by the incredible acting and cinematography. Ralph Fiennes, who most notably appears as Voldemort in the Harry Potter film series, puts on a stand out performance. His acting is subtle yet compassionate in ways that endear his character, Cardinal-Dean Lawerence, to the audience. Along with him, incredible performances are seen across the board from the star-studded cast.

Despite me bashing the pacing, it is mostly unnoticeable throughout the film. This is fully due to the outstanding cinematography, spearheaded by French cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine. One could pause the movie at any point in time and find some of the most beautiful photography ever seen before on screen.

The composition of the shots are not just for show either. Many television series and movies lately have fallen into the trap of pretty pictures that do nothing more but slow down the story and distract the audience. Fontaine, however, masterfully composes each scene to give the audience context and move the plot forward. Oftentimes it is able to mask the mystery while revealing the true nature of characters or even foreshadowing. 

“Conclave” explores the fallacies of Catholicism from quite literally inside the church. While a viewer might easily sight the film’s obvious themes of prejudice and greed within the church. It is interesting to see how Director Edward Berger weaves in messages of grief and identity. A huge question that is explored in the film is “What makes someone fit to lead?”

Archetypes are presented to the audience at first. I found that it was a way of creating familiar characters that the audience could feel safe in. Berger presented the “obvious” choices, and then slowly peeled away the facade to reveal complex humans that were deserving of empathy. He slowly makes the audience question their own feelings on who they think is a good leader, before shattering their understanding entirely. 

It is impossible to talk about “Conclave” without discussing the ending. Director Edward Berger is no stranger to controversial endings. His Academy Award winning feature film, “All Quiet on the Western Front” received similar criticism for its unexpected conclusion. It seems that Berger enjoys leaving his audience more than a little surprised.

However, while some thought the final reveal made the movie ridiculous, I quite enjoyed it. I think that it was intended to reinforce themes of destructive misogyny showcased explicitly throughout the movie. I know for a fact that others in my theater enjoyed it as well due to the laughter that erupted from the conclusion. 

While “Conclave” may not be changing the art form, it is a well written, acted and directed movie that is desperately needed in theaters at the moment. One can not walk into a cinema without being visually assaulted by oversaturated and hollow media created for the sole purpose of maximizing profits. “Conclave” on the other hand is a movie created with intent and heart that might just be worth your money.