PETER BRADSHAW reviews CONCLAVE

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#film #cinema #movies #conclave #ralphfiennes #isabellarossellini

[chadoakley]

Even though I figured out who would become pope as soon as they showed up, the journey to get there was not what I expected, and the final twist was completely unexpected.

[MrMusicbyMartin]

I really enjoyed this - one of the brownest, most shadowy films I’ve ever seen, like a Rembrandt painting. There is a moment when Isabella Rossellini breaks a taboo by speaking loudly to the assembled cardinals, and she finishes her tirade with a polite little curtsy. I filled the almost empty cinema with laughter at that point!

[beyourself]

I loved it... Fiennes and the men who played Adeyemi and Tedasco were top-notch. And any film with Tucci is worth watching.

[cinemaocd]

This movie has a massive cult following on tumblr. I went to see it because of the vape memes and clearly wasn't the only one. I really enjoyed the story and I always love Ralph Fiennes. Just a really solid, well made ensemble movie, a political thriller and those are few enough and far between. I hope this does well in awards season. It has some beautiful acting in it.

[dexstewart]

Isabella Rossellinni steals every scene she is in

[quadropheniaguy]

I have read the book and I loved it. I saw the movie on Wednesday with my Mum and I loved it all over again. It will win the Oscars for Best Actor (Fiennes), Best supporting Actor (Tucci) and best director (Berger). Maybe it will earn a best supporting actress nomination (Isabella Rossellini) too.

[andrewandjoanhart]

A fantastic, intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable movie. It has been a long time since I enjoyed a movie with good plot, great acting and a one that leaves me wanting more. Excellent and highly recommended, worth the price of the ticket

[PurushaDesa]

"Oh shit. The race has started. We need to start bringing together a plan."
"How can you sermonise and plot at the same time?"

[adrianprice]

Peter is truly the best writer on film the UK has. Utter delight to read his reviews and analysis. One of the journalist gems at The Guardian.

[dominictemple]

Very much looking forward to this, from everything I've heard from you and other reviewers it's going to be very good.

[steelpatriot]

My most anticipated film for quite some Looking forward to this very much. Keep up your good reviews on YouTube 👍

[helennoakes]

I read the book because I greatly admire Harris' work. Not a great fan of the Catholic church, I was amused to read confirmation of my impressions of that organization. I look forward to seeing the film.

[subscription]

The ending of Conclave disrupts the film's disciplined tone. The twist stretches credibility—there’s no way something like that stays secret in the Vatican. Lomeli’s procedural focus on protecting the papacy from scandal makes his acceptance of this twist feel inconsistent and implausible.

[c.a.savage]

I love Peter Bradshaw’s reviews !!! Top marks.

[johnmasterson]

Pure entertainment..as it should be but please let's hope it dosent feed into the rumour mill.enjoy the film and remember it's pure entertainment....

[maxdepasquale]

I've read the beautiful novel by Robert Harris, and about to go to see the film (it has landed on these shores only today! grr!). I loved how Harris described his characters - not good, not bad, all conflicted - and how deep he went with Cardinal Lomeli (Lawrence in the film)

I would just like to remind everybody that this is still fiction though 🙂 In order to make a thriller, there have to be a lot of twist and turns and surprises... not that Conclaves of the past were un-eventful (quite the opposite...) but the sheer amount of stuff that takes place in this "Conclave" is a bit removed from reality 🙂 But it's fine. It's a novel and a film, not reality. And it makes a good thriller to read / watch, though I wish I had seen a bit more of the "spiritual" side of things, as we did in "The two Popes".

The final twist made me think a good deal. I thought it was a bit off - but then one has to join it with Lomeli's speech during the service before the Conclave's beginning.

[mortalclown]

Lovely to find you on YT, sir. I tend to like reviews only after I've seen the movie: this is a fun exception, since I've read the book years ago.

Cheers and Happy 2025 🥂❄️ to all.

Paz y luz ✨️ 🕊

[somecontrol]

If I were an actor I would jump at the opportunity to work on a Peter Straughan script. Wolf Hall, Tinker, Tailor now this; he gives actors lines to chew on and audiences something to think about on the journey home. Also loved the way Berger manages to summon attention for every scene.

[Spiresbeyond]

A fun watch, nice to look at and listen to. My complaint is that alongside the plot twists came ‘theme twists.’ As though it wanted to say so much that it ended up saying very little.

[richardshiggins]

Read the book, indeed all his books and now you have only whetted my desire to view the film in all it's sanctimony and intrigue . thank you .