Despite not being a practicing Catholic, I must admit some level of bizarre fascination with the history and politics of the Church. So when I learned that there was to be a cinematic adaptation of Robert Harris’ 2016 novel Conclave, I was intrigued. Having already read the book, I knew this movie would likely ruffle a lot of feathers. And while the ending will most likely be divisive, the journey there is one that’s filled with excellent performances and bound by the themes of faith and ambition.

The film opens up with the death of the current pope, which per papal law, triggers the event known as the papal conclave, which sees the College of Cardinals gather from around the globe to elect the next Holy Father. Ralph Fiennes’ Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence is assigned to lead the voting ceremony, with designs on putting the far more liberal and progressive Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci) on the papal throne. Standing in the way of this goal are John Lithgow as Joseph Tremblay, Sergio Castellitto as Goffredo Tedesco, and Lucian Msamati as Joshua Cardinal Adeyemi, a moderate, traditionalist, and conservative, respectively. As the event gets underway, a series of mysteries and conspiracies threaten to undermine the proceedings, including the arrival of a Cardinal, whose appointment by the late Pope was kept a secret to all, as well as machinations to tilt the voting procedure in favour of one candidate over another.

Conclave feels like the kind of movie that doesn’t get enough attention from studios and moviegoers as much these days, but I wish we’d get more films like this. It’s a slow-burn, character-driven mystery/thriller that’s hinged on the performances of its leads. That’s the true hook of this movie; everyone involved is on their A-game and delivers performances worthy of nominations, in particular Fiennes and Tucci. We’re invested in the politics of the vote, as well as the hopes and dreams of the potential candidates and everyone’s position is clearly staked. Is it a bit heavy-handed? Sure, but that just lends itself to the drama of the event. This is a film all about ambition, pride, prejudice, greed, and morals and Conclave really dives into those themes. Lawrence, for example, is a man in charge of the conclave and has no designs on the throne, but would that not make him an ideal candidate? But does he really have no designs on the throne? Likewise, will these Cardinals condemn and betray one another for the chance to become Pope?

Equally impressive is the cinematography, which is gorgeous, and the score, which gives off a sinister and spine-chilling vibe, as opposed to the opulence and grand score I think we would have expected to be associated with the Church. The movie does have some pacing issues, that said. It’s a two-hour movie but can feel like two and a half at times, mainly when we’re having quieter moments of reflection and investigation with Fiennes’ character alone. It also has a tendency to linger on the tradition, when I think cutting to the point would’ve served it better. Quite often, we’ll see the many steps involved in the voting process, from name reading, walking to the front desk, and declaring an oath.

Now I read the Robert Harris novel years ago, so I went into the film knowing about the controversial twist and much like the novel, it does kind of come out of nowhere, despite being bound to certain themes peppered throughout the film. Your opinions on the twist may change your entire perception of the film and reactions from the Church have thus been mixed to say the least, so depending on where you fall on the political/religious spectrum may affect your enjoyment of the film.

But overall, Conclave is a great film that’s elevated by the performances of its talented cast. It’s certainly not for everyone but I think regardless of your opinions on the ending, you’ll enjoy a mystery/thriller that’s about the ambitions of powerful men in an institution that prides itself on a legacy of tradition.