Virginia_Lee_RI

With a can't miss cast, I was hoping for something a bit less staid. Sure, choosing a pope is very serious business, but I was left wanting more. I want to know what happened next. I want Robert Harris to write a sequel to his original novel of the same name because the film and his novel leave us with quite the cliffhanger.

Lithgow is deliciously slimy. Msamati's skill at depicting Cardinal Adeyemi was a masterclass for actors. I felt every single feeling he exhibited to my core. Tucci was Tucci, of course, as he underplayed Bellini with gravitas and humility. Fiennes' ran the gamut as the Dean of the Cardinals. As ever his portrayal gives an intimate depiction of a man who feels quite real as he navigates grief, a crisis of Faith, anger, determination, and so much more. Isabella Rossellini commanded every scene she was in, of course. I could watch an entire movie focused on her character because of the depth she brought to her portrayal of the chief nun at the Vatican. (Sorry, I'm not Catholic so I don't know the proper terminology.)

As to Carlos Diehz? I look forward to more of his work. He has the subtlety of Fiennes and Tucci, but is able to get passionate when necessary as he showed in his big speech during the conclave. He's a main reason I want a sequel.

Conclave's pacing will irritate some people. So will the editing because it felt to me like big chunks of story were missing. I found it to be fascinating, well-acted, and the cinematography to be very well done. The umbrella scene was pure art.

Sure, it could have been way more dishy, but I enjoyed that it was slower paced and somewhat cerebral. I've been fascinated by this topic since I was a kid. The Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris West and The Clowns of God were a couple of my favorite books when I was young. I also recommend White Smoke by Andrew M. Greeley.

I was late to becoming a fan of Robert Williams (aka Robbie). Boy bands were never my thing after the Osmond Brothers and if they hadn't had Merrill's rock edge, I'd have bored of them more quickly being a Who fan by the age of six. Regardless, Better Man is a movie that requires the suspension of disbelief and, frankly, it's impressive how easy that was to achieve as a viewer.

It's clear that the interviews that led to this film were honest and that Williams laid bare his humanity and occasional lack thereof. It's a modern coming of age story that, as a viewer, left me wanting a sequel because of how his life has evolved. I'd have him to tea with my late mother now. Not so much when he was younger even though he was so lovely to his nan and his mum.

The effects are very well done. The makeup and CGI effects are pretty seamless and because of the high level of artistry I didn't think about the chimpanzee face and body that Robbie donned so early in the film. It amazed me how much I cared about his character despite how awful he was being.

I don't want to spoil too much because there are some scenes that transcend pithy reviews and simply need watching. I'm going to look up some live concert footage now to compare with some from the film. I am certain I'll cry while watching it with this story as background. Worth your money and your time.

I've been a fan of Rachel Griffiths for years, my fandom cemented during Total Control when I loved hating the character she played. Madam will have some people clutching their proverbial pearls, but it's relevant in so many ways. I can't spoil it much b/c of only having watched one episode, but if the writing and acting stays at this caliber, I am sure I'll come back to increase my star rating. Things of note -- the realness of a longtime marriage. Raising two sons, one of whom is disabled. Trying to begin a business from a female perspective that is deemed morally wrong by a male-run bank. The odd pairing of a sex worker with the wife of a client that I'm sure will become a friendship. The quirky characters. The gorgeous scenery of New Zealand! In just the first episode Griffiths is transcendent as she segues from being a betrayed wife to an interested listener to a loving mother to someone who can clearly do the difficult things as needed and more. She glides through these transitions of character and inhabits Mack so completely she made me wish Mack was a real person I could hang out with over coffee in an outdoor cafe and critique all passersby as we sipped fancy espresso drinks and nibbled on fresh patisserie. I love this series. I need to go mainline the rest immediately.