Well, lemme tell ya, this movie Conclave sure did stir up a lotta talk ’round the water cooler, folks! Now, I ain’t no movie critic or anything, but I watched that film and I gotta say, it’s got some folks real upset, especially them good ol’ Catholics. They say the film ain’t exactly paintin’ the church in the best light, and I can see why. They show all these folks fightin’ over power, backstabbin’ each other like they’re in some kinda soap opera, all while pretendin’ it’s how the whole papal election thing works. I reckon it’s a bit much for anyone who holds their faith close to their heart.
Now, Conclave ain’t exactly a documentary, so don’t go thinkin’ it’s some kind of real tell-all about how a pope gets picked. Naw, this one’s made up, and it shows the whole process as a kinda political game, where everyone’s fightin’ to get their own folks in power. They make it look like it’s all about backroom deals, and, well, that ain’t exactly how it works in real life. At least, that’s what I reckon. I ain’t no expert, but I do know a thing or two about people, and they sure don’t act like that when it comes to the Lord’s work. But in this movie, it’s all secrets and sneaky moves, like they ain’t got no faith at all. Makes ya wonder, don’t it?
So, what’s all the fuss about? Well, folks like Bishop Robert Barron, who’s a big name in the church, said the movie ain’t doin’ the right thing by the Church. He thinks it’s spreadin’ some bad ideas about the process of choosing a pope, which is supposed to be a sacred and holy moment, led by the Holy Spirit. In the film, though, they ain’t showin’ no Holy Spirit; they’re showin’ folks argue and plot. You see, this here Conclave movie kinda turns the whole thing into a drama, like they’re makin’ a reality TV show outta something that’s supposed to be serious and prayerful. And I gotta say, that don’t sit right with some folks. It’s got them thinkin’ it’s all about politics and not about faith at all. A lotta folks are sayin’ that movie’s got it all wrong.
But I’ll tell ya, it ain’t all bad. The movie does got some nice parts to it, like the way they set up the rooms and buildings. It’s real fancy, all them old-timey looks and decorations that make it seem like you’re really there in them big ol’ church halls. They got the production design down pat, I’ll give ’em that. But when it comes to the story, well, it feels a bit off, like they’re missin’ the whole point. I guess some folks like it, though. It sure got folks talkin’! It’s like a thriller, ya know? Real tense, all them secrets and stuff. But, I reckon if you look too hard, you’ll see it’s just a big ol’ drama, and some folks ain’t too happy ’bout that.
Is it a good movie for Catholics?
I reckon that depends on what kinda movie you’re lookin’ for. If you’re hopin’ for a documentary about how the pope gets picked, then you’re gonna be mighty disappointed. It’s not that kinda movie. But if you like a good ol’ thriller, where there’s lots of tension and power struggles, then you might enjoy it. Just don’t expect it to give ya a real look at what goes on behind them doors when the cardinals are choosin’ the next pope. That part, well, it’s all a bit exaggerated.
What’s wrong with how they show the papal conclave?
Well, like I said before, they make it seem like it’s all about politics, power plays, and backstabbing. That ain’t what the Catholic Church teaches about the process. The real process is about prayer, the Holy Spirit, and unity among the cardinals. But this movie? It don’t show much of that. It’s all about the drama. It’s like they took somethin’ that’s sacred and made it into somethin’ real ugly, all for the sake of moviemakin’.
Should Catholics watch this film?
Now, I ain’t gonna tell anyone what to do, but if you’re a good Catholic, you might wanna be careful with this one. It’s got a lotta things in there that could rub ya the wrong way. It makes it look like the Church is all about politics and not about faith. If you’re lookin’ for somethin’ that’s more about the real spirit of the Church, you might wanna skip this one. But hey, if you just want a thriller and don’t mind a bit of drama, you might enjoy it. It’s got that, for sure.
Final Thoughts
All in all, Conclave is a film that’s gonna get ya thinkin’. Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on how you feel about the Church and how they show it in the movies. It ain’t a documentary, that’s for sure. It’s a thriller with a lotta drama, and if you can look past that, you might find it a bit entertaining. But for folks who hold the Church dear, this movie might be a bit much to handle.
Tags：[Conclave Movie, Catholic Review, Papal Election, Movie Criticism, Catholicism, Church Politics, Holy Spirit, Vatican Film Review, Drama in Church, Thriller Movies]
