****

A film for grown us. There will be no video game spin offs for this one.

Based on Robert Harris’ 2016 novel, Conclave takes the viewers inside the Vatican during the College of Cardinals’ process of selecting the new Pope…filled with Political in-fighting, twists, turns and surprises.The film, which is by far the best adaptation of Harris’s work to date, is basically 12 Angry Men with incense and some Latin argumentation. We see doors being sealed with red wax, ballots going up in smoke to signal the first round of voting, and cardinals undergoing security checks, vaping and using iPhones. 

As Director by Edward Berger moves things along generally at a sprightly pace apart from a mid film sag, , unravelling a mystery. This is not a “whodunnit” but rather a “who’s gonna get it? ” – and it gets surprisingly tense.

Ralph Fiennes anchors the events as the “Dean” of Cardinals who is tasked with leading the disparate group of Cardinals to a consensus pick of the next Pope. He acts as much as a Detective as a Facilitator as he battles his own conscious of faith…and ambition…all while uncovering schemes and plots of some of the “humble servants” vying for the top job.

Ably assisting are John Lithgow, Isabella Rosellini who battle for the “pole position” in the race to be the next Pope. Special mention should be made ofStanley Tucci for his supporting turn as one of the contenders who’s platform seems to be “I don’t want this” but who, underneath, really, really wants it.

Don’t be surprised if both Fiennes and Tucci (as well as Director Berger) are mentioned come Oscar nomination time (they are that good).