Conclave (2024) review

Three weeks after the death of the Pope, the College of Cardinals convene at the Vatican in order to elect his successor with Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), the Dean, having to act as manager/investigator of the frantic proceedings: Italian Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) wants the Church to be more conservative, American Bellini (Stanley Tucci) is a progressive, the late Holy Father may have asked Canadian Tremblay (John Lithgow) to resign, Nigerian Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) has a secret child and Mexican Benitez (Carlos Diehz), who works in Afghanistan, is a mysterious but benevolent newcomer.  Peter Straughan adapted the book by British writer Robert Harris and although it has some trappings of genre fiction - certain plot details just so happen to pop up at opportune times (Isabella Rossellini's Sister Agnes obtains documents for Lawrence, there are papers behind the deceased Pope's bed, a suicide bomber blows up a vehicle, etc.) - the mostly-male cast is appropriately solemn (albeit gossipy), Fiennes is a strong (but fretful) lead and Berger's direction helps smooth out the belabored sections.  Part of the "final twist" is telegraphed in advance, but it adds a little something extra for the audience to ponder post-viewing: so what if the new Pontiff has ovaries?  Does God make mistakes?