Introduction

So, have you ever wondered what goes on when it's time to pick a new pope? It's like something straight out of a movie, which, funnily enough, brings us to the flick everyone's been talking about, “Conclave.” It’s a 2024 thriller that’s thrown a lot of folks into the deep end of papal politics—suddenly, everyone's an expert on how the Vatican does its thing, thanks to Hollywood’s dramatization of this ancient tradition.

The Movie's Aesthetics

A Realistic Feel

The movie, I must say, does a pretty solid job giving us the vibe of a real-life conclave. You’ve got the tense, secret conversations among the cardinals, and boy, do they make it look as grand as you’d imagine. William Cavanaugh, who’s knee-deep in Catholic studies over at DePaul, mentioned they nailed the aesthetics. Think, the hushed, ornate corridors filled with whispers of power. However, Rev. Thomas Reese, who knows his stuff when it comes to Vatican inside stories, pointed out a few snags, like the cardinal's robes being too red in comparison to their actual lighter, more orangey hue. Not a huge deal, though, to be honest. I kind of dig the Hollywood color choice better, gives it that extra oomph, don’t you think?

Conclave Proceedings

Keeping it Brief

The movie also tries hard not to drag out the conclave proceedings because, let’s face it, a long drawn-out voting session screams ‘division’ and that’s drama no one in the Church wants. Smooth, relatively quick conclaves are the norm lately, which the movie gets right. But hold your horses, because Reese has a beef with how the voting is shown—votes are burned after each session, not every single time.

Plot Twists

Interesting Goofs

Now, for the juicy bits—the goofs and the gaffes. One major slip-up includes an archbishop from Kabul barging in to vote because the late pope had secretly made him a cardinal. Big no-no there, as Reese tells us, you can’t just waltz into a conclave without a public nod. And this twist does spark an interesting convo about the surprise factor in these elections. Did the cardinals really know what they were in for when they picked Pope Francis? History’s shown these choices can flip; a liberal can turn conservative, a caretaker pope might just kick off sweeping changes.

Political Drama

More eyebrow-raisers in the movie include dirty politics like vote-buying, which is pretty much unheard of today, and a cardinal blabbing about a confession, which is a total no-go—they’d be in huge trouble for that. The film also stumbles by painting the cardinals in broad political stripes—conservative versus liberal—when, in reality, it’s way more complex and subdued.

Conclusion

So, despite the film’s efforts to stay true to the conclave’s spirit, it seems like it takes quite a few liberties for the sake of drama. But hey, that’s Hollywood for you. Making cardinals out of mere mortals and stirring up good old cinematic trouble. It’s a blast to watch, but maybe take it with a grain of salt, or maybe a whole shaker. Remember, even the most 'liberal' cardinal by Vatican standards is probably way more conservative than what we’d normally think. And as for the whole liberal vs. conservative saga, let’s just say, in conclaves like these, it’s all about finding someone most can agree on, keeping it tight, no room for the extreme stuff. It’s fascinating how a silver screen tale can spark so much interest in such a secretive process, huh? Whether you’re a die-hard Vatican nerd or just a casual viewer, “Conclave” promises to keep you on the edge of your seat, guessing what’s real and what’s purely for the thrills. Exciting times in the world of religious drama, wouldn't you say?