Conclave

Ralph Fiennes and his ornate robes are the Superglue that holds this Vatican thriller together. The costumes and sets are all perfect and artful and the acting is expert. Political maneuvers are often achieved through mannered implications and nuanced facial expressions, as the important cardinal dudes try to pick a new pope. The top-tier cast is up for it. But thanks to Fiennes stoic character, the plot points tend to resolve themselves pretty smoothly and the resolution comes out of nowhere. It’s an amusing surprise, but its purpose seems to be to render the rest of the plot much ado about clothing. It’s all about ceremony - the underlying truths will be kept secret. Still, a highly competent drama for audiences resistant to car chases.