Is it easier to dislike things than to like them? is there something facile about finding the flaws in a work of art? After reading Henry Oliver, as I say this morning on writers using AI, I wondered whether prompt was find things wrong with Conclave. Of course, my own biases come into play here: Irish Catholic, Irish Catholic, (yes, squared) and, therefore, this whole drama involves me in a way that I assume it doesn't for people without that background. But I do know something about mystery stories and the complaint that Cardinal Lawrence does not do any investigation seems undermined by Sam's own statement that " Lawrence slips into the pope’s quarters and finds all the key financial records he needs tucked thoughtfully away by the late pope in the minutes before his death in the exact spot where Lawrence will find them but, curiously, no one else." If that is an investigation, then how many policiers and detective stories are disqualified? Our heroes are constantly coming across a clue that heretofore went unnoticed from Sherlock Holmes to Nancy Drew. Finally, since Conclave is an adaptation some of the choices are preordained, right? (Was that a pun?) I wasn't crazy about the ending, but that's the story that the novel told. told. And I'm always appreciative of people who are able to tell stories
Hi TJ, yes, I suppose you're right - it's easier to destroy than to create. But I certainly wasn't going into Conclave planning to dislike it. It had its charms but I found it facile and safe. What's wrong with saying that out loud lol? I did think the investigation part of the film was absurdly easy. To be fair, the focus is less on that on more on the building psychological tension as Lawrence finds himself pushed closer to the center of the action than he really wants to be. - Sam
Mr. Kahn takes this film as a political melodrama, a moral allegory couched in a political scenario composed of 'types', e.g. the 'professional managerial class', thus reducing the drama to the trivial, since what are the penalties for misrule in the insulated, irrelevant world of the Catholic Cardinals and their Pope? There can only be drama if you see Conclave as a true struggle with evil, with sin and redemption, with doubt and hope, with the elusive and mysterious nature of faith and free will. At stake then are the souls of those God places among us with the highest moral authority to lead his church, to do his will. That requires belief, or enough suspension of disbelief, to enjoy the drama. Clearly something Mr. Kahn lacks.
Since when did "we the people" ever get "better Oscar bait than this"? My only disagreement with your critique is your assumption that the academy awards signify anything other than movie industry promotion.
Ironically, the film about the Catholic Church reveals the "crucifixion" of original and complex filmmaking in favor of topical BS that elicits a reaction as brief and as fulfilling as Pop Rocks. The film is marred by stereotype and inaccuracies, and as you note, is more a vehicle for the actors than for the audience. Full disclosure: I did not waste my time seeing the film, but I have read multiple reviews, so maybe I'm part of the problem. I, too, was surprised that "Conclave" received any nods from the Academy. Ironically, Hollywood reveals it cannot outlast the very "institution" in the film.
Hi Catherine, it definitely scratches an itch for the Masterpiece Theater crowd so I'm not surprised it's doing well. It's really not horrible - in the way that Anora, I strongly believe, is horrible - but I believe that a "best film of the year" should be taking more creative risks.
I mean, it was pretty PC, though it showed some daring having the not-Robert Sarah African candidate be a conservative (which is true to life) and having the reactionary point out with no Latin they're all sitting segregated by language. And it wasn't *terribly* anti-Catholic--most of the cardinals are men trying to do right by their consciences, even if those consciences lead them to different places.
It was kind of slow, but as someone who doesn't watch that many movies, I thought there were enough twists and turns to be interesting to the casual viewer at least.
Enjoyed this essay. Conclave was very easy to multitask through. The scenery and the costumes were magnificent but you only needed a smallish portion of your brain to follow the rest.
If I could make a satire I would have the roster of the St.Louis Cardinals show up for the final vote wearing their cleats, which would make quite a sound against the marble floor.
Agree with you Steven. The Young Pope is unbelievably fabulous and is a completely level of filmmaking. This was just bland costume drama that knew its audience and knew its metrics for success and zeroed in on those.
Is it easier to dislike things than to like them? is there something facile about finding the flaws in a work of art? After reading Henry Oliver, as I say this morning on writers using AI, I wondered whether prompt was find things wrong with Conclave. Of course, my own biases come into play here: Irish Catholic, Irish Catholic, (yes, squared) and, therefore, this whole drama involves me in a way that I assume it doesn't for people without that background. But I do know something about mystery stories and the complaint that Cardinal Lawrence does not do any investigation seems undermined by Sam's own statement that " Lawrence slips into the pope’s quarters and finds all the key financial records he needs tucked thoughtfully away by the late pope in the minutes before his death in the exact spot where Lawrence will find them but, curiously, no one else." If that is an investigation, then how many policiers and detective stories are disqualified? Our heroes are constantly coming across a clue that heretofore went unnoticed from Sherlock Holmes to Nancy Drew. Finally, since Conclave is an adaptation some of the choices are preordained, right? (Was that a pun?) I wasn't crazy about the ending, but that's the story that the novel told. told. And I'm always appreciative of people who are able to tell stories
Hi TJ, yes, I suppose you're right - it's easier to destroy than to create. But I certainly wasn't going into Conclave planning to dislike it. It had its charms but I found it facile and safe. What's wrong with saying that out loud lol? I did think the investigation part of the film was absurdly easy. To be fair, the focus is less on that on more on the building psychological tension as Lawrence finds himself pushed closer to the center of the action than he really wants to be. - Sam
Mr. Kahn takes this film as a political melodrama, a moral allegory couched in a political scenario composed of 'types', e.g. the 'professional managerial class', thus reducing the drama to the trivial, since what are the penalties for misrule in the insulated, irrelevant world of the Catholic Cardinals and their Pope? There can only be drama if you see Conclave as a true struggle with evil, with sin and redemption, with doubt and hope, with the elusive and mysterious nature of faith and free will. At stake then are the souls of those God places among us with the highest moral authority to lead his church, to do his will. That requires belief, or enough suspension of disbelief, to enjoy the drama. Clearly something Mr. Kahn lacks.
Since when did "we the people" ever get "better Oscar bait than this"? My only disagreement with your critique is your assumption that the academy awards signify anything other than movie industry promotion.
That’s true of course. Maybe my tolerance for “Oscar bait” has started to go down with time.
Ironically, the film about the Catholic Church reveals the "crucifixion" of original and complex filmmaking in favor of topical BS that elicits a reaction as brief and as fulfilling as Pop Rocks. The film is marred by stereotype and inaccuracies, and as you note, is more a vehicle for the actors than for the audience. Full disclosure: I did not waste my time seeing the film, but I have read multiple reviews, so maybe I'm part of the problem. I, too, was surprised that "Conclave" received any nods from the Academy. Ironically, Hollywood reveals it cannot outlast the very "institution" in the film.
Hi Catherine, it definitely scratches an itch for the Masterpiece Theater crowd so I'm not surprised it's doing well. It's really not horrible - in the way that Anora, I strongly believe, is horrible - but I believe that a "best film of the year" should be taking more creative risks.
But how do we demand better films? Please tackle that next?
Just by writing snippy reviews! What else?
I mean, it was pretty PC, though it showed some daring having the not-Robert Sarah African candidate be a conservative (which is true to life) and having the reactionary point out with no Latin they're all sitting segregated by language. And it wasn't *terribly* anti-Catholic--most of the cardinals are men trying to do right by their consciences, even if those consciences lead them to different places.
It was kind of slow, but as someone who doesn't watch that many movies, I thought there were enough twists and turns to be interesting to the casual viewer at least.
Enjoyed this essay. Conclave was very easy to multitask through. The scenery and the costumes were magnificent but you only needed a smallish portion of your brain to follow the rest.
If I could make a satire I would have the roster of the St.Louis Cardinals show up for the final vote wearing their cleats, which would make quite a sound against the marble floor.
That would be cool! Come to think of it, there haven’t been nearly enough MLB/Vatican tie-in films! A Legate Of Their Own? Papal Bull Durham?
Spent first 10 minutes of the film trying to get my head around all these papists wearing yarmulke...
Had a 10 minute nap about half hour in, pacey it is not...
And the big reveal at the end.... yawn....
I was mainly relieved there was no mention of Jews, therefore no antisemitism.
P.S I'm generally not a cynic
PS I find that somewhat hard to believe Hans!
Agree with you Steven. The Young Pope is unbelievably fabulous and is a completely level of filmmaking. This was just bland costume drama that knew its audience and knew its metrics for success and zeroed in on those.