MV R

So, I am a pretty tough customer when it comes to my baseline for entertainment. Saw this in a theatre and expected very little. What a lovely surprise and what a fun ride. Never been happier to see. a pair of legs strut their stuff with such gusto - it was radically charming and unapologetically predicated on the importance of the bonds between beings. Music was on point and it was a joy to watch. Anecdote to cynicism - it was a smart, grounded ride.

The most satisfying movie I have seen in ages. The score was a character unto itself. I thought it was a masterclass from Fiennes and the supporting cast was brilliant. This movie had a heft to it and was thoroughly engaging. Funnily, I went to another film (a heavily marketed sequel) on opening weekend here in London which left me without the escapism and total enjoyment I thought it would provide. Well, Conclave picked up the slack and delivered in its stead. The tone it managed to strike was unexpected, refreshing and yes, fun.

This movie is a small miracle. Any movie that comes together has so many moving parts - it’s a wonder any becomes cohesive. This one could have easily become entangled by its multiple threads, complex universe and sheer scope. It’s a delight of chaos and within that some simple elements of humanity pierce the absurdity and ring true. It is a work that asks the audience to surrender to its fractured images and creates beauty out of the slices of possibility. It never insults the audience and touches genuine complexities of pivotal relationships. It is a standout and a singular film.