Conclave wasn’t the surprise Best Picture winner like some thought it might be, but the political thriller did take away Best Adapted Screenplay at the 97th Academy Awards. Edward Berger’s delightfully fun drama is filled with strong acting performances and is a delight the first time around. Thanks to the Conclave 4K release, I can now say that the film is just as fun upon rewatch.
“Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events–selecting a new pope. The Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world, locked together in the Vatican halls. Tasked with running this covert process, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church. Also starring Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front),” says the official description.
Few theater experiences were as fun as watching Conclave, which is, despite all the prestige of the papacy setting, a delightfully trashy movie. There’s backstabbing, so much gossip (it’s hilarious how Fiennes’ Lawrence acts above it yet is involved in all of it), and some really memorable twists (even if the one at the very end seemed more for shock factor than anything). That’s why I was both excited to experience the film at home, but also slightly worried that it wouldn’t be quite as enjoyable.
Thankfully, as I watched the Conclave 4K release I was pleased to see that the film is just as good even when you know what’s going to happen. This is due to the superb acting performances, as when you’re less intrigued about who will win, you have more time to appreciate everyone bringing their A-game to the standout scenes and the level of craftmanship that went into the film (you can really appreciate the sets and costume design in 4K). Fiennes and Stanley Tucci both have some fantastic moments, but for me, it was John Lithgow who really shined the brightest. It’s clear he had a great time in the role and Lithgow can really just take it to the next level when he’s working with a great script (check out my interview where he talks about the film’s “fascinating duality” for his thoughts on the character).
There are two very worthwhile bonus features included in the Conclave 4K release. First is “Sequested: Inside Conclave,” which is a 17-minute featurette that features both cast and crew discussing the making of the film. It’s all quite interesting, even if I would’ve liked to have seen more in-depth coverage in each individual aspect covered, ranging from the casting to the costuming and themes. The far meatier inclusion is a commentary track featuring director Edward Berger. This is quite informative as Berger has so much knowledge, shares stories from filming, and goes into some interesting discussions on how it used blue screens. I still could listen to Berger talk about the film for even longer, which is the mark of an interesting and varied commentary track.
Conclave 4K Review: Final Verdict
The Conclave 4K release allows one of 2024’s best films to be enjoyed at home in premium detail. Not only does the film, which is beautifully shot and features some wonderful costumes, look great, but it remains an interesting watch even when you know who will become Pope and what the twist ending is. It’s an easy recommendation for anyone that enjoyed the film or just want an interesting political thriller to enjoy.
Product was provided by distributor for our Conclave 4K review.
