25/50
When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world’s most secretive and oldest events – the selection of a new Pope – he finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundations of the Catholic Church. This is Charles Diehz’s first major film appearance. He was an architect until 2020, when his last son left home and he decided to take online acting classes and go on auditions. Adeyemi is claimed to be the first African Pope. The Roman Catholic Church has had three African Popes: Victor the First (189-199 AD), Miltiades (aka Melchiades, 311-314 AD), and Gelasius the First (492-496 AD). However, it is likely that he is referring to an ethnically African Pope, as those three Popes, although born in Africa, were all of ethnic European descent. Lawrence: Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt. If there were only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery. And therefore no need for faith. Let us pray that God will grant us a Pope who doubts. And that He will grant us a Pope who sins, asks for forgiveness, and moves on. Featured on The FP7 Project: Episode for December 10, 2024 (2024). Allegri: Miserere Performed by Capella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, Massimo Palombella Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GMBH Under license to Universal Music Operations Ltd. Greetings again from the dark. It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve had a good, old-fashioned “big” relationship, serious and tension-filled. Dramatic film starring big movie stars. Well, that’s exactly what director Edward Berger, fresh off his Oscar-winning film ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (2022), gives us in his latest effort. Writer Peter Straughan (TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, 2011) has adapted Robert Harris’s 2016 novel and the result is a crowd-pleaser that may garner some Oscar consideration. Ralph Fiennes gives what might be his best performance yet. And that’s saying a lot for the respected actor who previously excelled in films like SCHINDLER’S LIST (1993), THE CONSTANT GARDEN (2005), IN BRUGES (2008), A BIGGER SPLASH (2018) and THE MENU (2022). His impressive career is only enhanced by this most recent role of Cardinal Lawrence, saddled with the heavy burden of facilitating the titular conclave tasked with electing the new Pope. At the start of the film, the beloved Pope has just passed away… and as they say, “let the games begin.” Of course, these games involve political maneuvering, power struggles, and secret promises. Director Berger chooses to show us very little of the actual negotiations and instead showcases the various iterations of loyalty during each successive secret ballot (of course) within the confined walls of Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel, Cardinal Lawrence’s most of his time is spent researching councils, scolding others for their behavior, and dealing with the immense egos of the considerate few (himself included). Stanley Tucci plays Cardinal Bellini, who pretends not to want the position while campaigning as the ‘progressive’ voice the church needs now. John Lithgow is Cardinal Tremblay, one of the most ambitious and assertive who may or may not have intentionally undermined another’s work. Either way, Lucian Msmuati’s Cardinal Adivemi is a victim of Tremblay’s actions. Cardinal Tedesco, played by Sergio Castellitto, is the most outspoken in his desire to return the church to the old ways (Latin Masses forever!), which he deems appropriate. Bryan F O’Byrne plays O’Malley, Lawrence’s assistant, and yet, despite all these men, it is Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes who manages to shoot (figurative) fire from her eyes, while maintaining her “place” and significantly impacting the proceedings. She is dazzling and memorable in her limited role.