Now that the Golden Globes are over, the official Oscar race is about to begin!
It will start on January 23rd when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announce the Oscar nominees, with the 97th Oscars Ceremony scheduled for March 2nd.
At this point, with no real frontrunner in the Best Picture race yet, it seems to be a competition between ‘The Brutalist,’ ‘Conclave‘, ‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘Wicked‘.
The Best Actor and Best Actress races seem to have four actors locked in each category, with several possible nominees battling it out for that last coveted spot. And while Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña are locks for nominations in the Supporting categories, the rest of the nominees are pretty much up for grabs.
Moviefone is making its Oscar nomination predictions for the major categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, ahead of the nominee announcements on January 23rd.
‘Conclave’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ are leading the BAFTA nomination pack.
‘The Brutalist’ and ‘A Complete Unknown’ also nabbed nominations.
The awards will be handed out on February 16th in London.
As the tragic wildfires continue to wreak havoc across Hollywood award bodies, with nomination announcements and ceremonies delayed or cancelled, the UK’s British Academy of Film and Television Arts is pushing ahead with their own annual celebration.
The nominations for this year’s BAFTA film awards have been announced, and it’s a good year for ‘Conclave’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ in particular, which were nominated for 12 and 11 awards respectively.
Beyond the big two, there was also good news for movies such as ‘The Brutalist,’ ‘Anora,’ ‘Wicked’ and ‘A Complete Unknown,’ which have cropped up on a variety of other lists so far and are all expected to scoop various trophies once awards season can truly progress.
And this being the UK, there are naturally some categories that don’t crop up elsewhere, spotlighting British talent (which explains why Steve McQueen’s ‘Blitz,’ which hasn’t exactly been grabbing up nominations, saw more love here.
What are the snubs and surprises of this year’s ‘BAFTA’ Film Awards?
Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
While ‘Gladiator II’ has had a hard time cracking nomination lists, we were surprised to see Denzel Washington shut out of the Supporting Actor line-up.
‘Paddington in Peru,’ meanwhile, the third film in the beloved bear franchise, had the biggest opening for a British film since 2021 and has made a whopping $43M in the UK, but reviews weren’t as favorable as the first two films in the series and the movie couldn’t secure a BAFTA nom even despite the new kids and family category this year.
Both previous ‘Paddington‘ movies received multiple BAFTA nominations.
The BAFTA Awards this year will be held at the Royal Festival Hall in London on February 16th, hosted once more by former ‘Doctor Who’ actor David Tennant.
The nominations for the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards were announced on the morning of Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Initial plans to stream the nominations live with hosts Joey King and Cooper Koch were canceled due to the horrific fires that are ravaging the greater Los Angeles area, with the list of nominees posted online instead.
The nominees on the motion picture side provided a further twist to the impending Oscar race, as ‘Emilia Perez’ – which walked away with four prizes at last Sunday’s Golden Globes ceremony – continued to rack up multiple nominations, including Best Ensemble, Best Female Lead Performance for Karla Sofía Garcón, and Best Female Supporting Performance for Zoe Saldaña.
But while the Globes’ other big winner, ‘The Brutalist,’ was represented here by a sole nomination for Adrien Brody in Best Male Lead Performance, the musical fantasy ‘Wicked’ was a SAG favorite, with nominations for Best Ensemble, Best Female Lead Performance for Cynthia Erivo, Best Female Supporting Performance for Ariana Grande, and Best Male Supporting Performance for Jonathan Bailey.
Also a surprise: while Jeremy Strong got the nod in the Best Male Supporting Performance category for his malevolent turn as Roy Cohn in ‘The Apprentice,’ star Sebastian Stan did not land a nomination for either his star turn in that or ‘A Different Man,’ for which he won the Golden Globe on Sunday.
On the television side, ‘Shōgun’ followed its Emmys and Golden Globes winning streak with four nominations, including Best Ensemble in a Drama Series, two Best Male Actor nods, and a Best Female Actor nom. Additional multiple nominees in both the ensemble and individual acting categories included ‘The Bear,’ ‘The Diplomat,’ and ‘Hacks.’
AulZezx8OrKuKzuMPlPnE3
The 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will stream live globally on Netflix from the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Emilia Perez’ were the big winners at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards, winning Best Motion Picture in both their categories in addition to other major prizes.
Comebacks and upsets were the theme of the evening, as Demi Moore won her first award ever and surprise winners captured other categories.
Following last year’s disastrous hosting gig by Jo Koy, stand-up comic Nikki Glaser steadied the ship with a smooth, funny, if unspectacular performance as emcee.
‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Emilia Perez’ were the biggest movie winners at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 5, with the international journalists of the Golden Globe Foundation bestowing some of their biggest prizes on two of the more anti-commercial films of the season. A number of other highly hyped favorites like ‘Anora’ and ‘Wicked’ were largely shut out, while other major prizes went to a variety of smaller independent releases.
‘The Brutalist’ walked away with Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director for Brady Corbet, and Best Male Actor – Drama for Adrien Brody, while ‘Emilia Perez’ snagged Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Supporting Actor – Female for Zoe Saldana, Best Original Song for ‘El Mal,’ and Best International Motion Picture.
Neither film is what one might first think of as popular cineplex fare. ‘The Brutalist’ is a 3 ½ hour period epic about a brilliant architect and Holocaust survivor who struggles to find his place after landing in America following World War II, while ‘Emilia Perez’ is a musical about a Mexican cartel boss who transitions into a woman. ‘The Brutalist’ is just finding its way into theaters now, while ‘Emilia Perez’ has been streaming on Netflix since November. “We were told the film was undistributable, that no one would go see it,” said Corbet as he accepted Best Motion Picture. “No one was asking for 3 ½ hour film about a designer on 70mm. But it works.”
Moore, winning her first award of any kind in her long career, gave an impassioned and emotional speech in which she all but admitted that she never thought her work would receive any sort of acknowledgement beyond her ability to sell tickets:
“In those moments when we don’t think we are smart enough or pretty enough, or skinny enough or successful enough or basically just not enough, I had a woman say to me just know you will never be enough you can know the measure of your work if you just put down the measuring stick.”
She also revealed that she thought her best days as an actor might be behind her, a fear echoed by Adrien Brody in his equally emotional acceptance speech. “There was a time when I thought this would not be afforded to me again,” said the actor, who won an Oscar two decades ago for his portrayal of another Holocaust survivor in “The Pianist.”
Rousing speeches were among the highlights of the night, with Stan also acknowledging the difficulty of making films like ‘A Different Man’ and the Donald Trump biopic ‘The Apprentice,’ for which the Marvel star was also nominated for his portrayal of the convicted felon and once-and-future president. Meanwhile, director Jon M. Chu, accepting the Globes’ award for Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement – most popular movie, in other words – for ‘Wicked,’ insisted on “how important making this stuff is, when pessimism and cynicism rule the planet right now.”
Aside from that award, ‘Wicked’ was shut out of other major prizes, as were Oscar favorites like ‘Anora,’ ‘Nickel Boys,’ and ‘A Complete Unknown,’ all of which went home empty-handed. ‘Conclave’ earned the screenplay prize, while ‘Challengers’ composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won for Best Score and Kieran Culkin earned Best Supporting Actor for ‘A Real Pain,’ the latter one of the few awards of the night which seemingly has a lock on an Oscar win as well.
On the TV side, ‘Shogun’ was the behemoth of the evening, walking away with three acting prizes as well as Best TV Series – Drama, while ‘Hacks’ won for Best TV Series – Comedy or Musical and ‘Baby Reindeer’ earned the trophy for Best Limited Series. The latter beat out ‘The Penguin’ in that category, although Colin Farrell, as widely expected, did earn the award for Best Male Actor – Limited Series for his portrayal of the title Gotham City crime boss.
As for the Golden Globes show itself, host and stand-up comic Nikki Glaser was a largely smooth and entertaining remedy for last year’s disastrous stint by stand-up Jo Koy, although Glaser did pull back on her usual raunchier fare with a succession of funny, if somewhat predictable, jokes about various members of the star-studded audience. But she proved herself more than capable of working what can be an often tough and raucous room.
(L to R) Katy O’Brian and Kristen Stewart in ‘Love Lies Bleeding.’ Photo: A24.
From Director Rose Glass comes an electric new love story; reclusive gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) falls hard for Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.
(L to R) Kirsten Dunst and Cailee Spaeny in ‘Civil War.’ Photo: A24.
Directed by Alex Garland, in the near future, a group of war journalists attempt to survive while reporting the truth as the United States stands on the brink of civil war.
Pamela Anderson in ‘The Last Showgirl’. Photo: Roadside Attractions.
Opening in limited release in December 2024 and directed by by Gia Coppola, ‘The Last Showgirl’ stars Pamela Anderson as Shelly, a glamorous showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.
Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina in ‘Megalopolis’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, genius artist Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver) seeks to leap the City of New Rome into a utopian, idealistic future, while his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.
Directed by Osgood Perkins, in pursuit of a serial killer (Nicolas Cage), an FBI agent (Maika Monroe) uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree.
Directed by George Miller, as the world falls, young Furiosa (Alyla Browne) is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). Sweeping through the wasteland, they encounter the citadel presided over by Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme). The two tyrants wage war for dominance, and Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.
Directed by Morgan Neville, ‘Piece By Piece’ is a unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. Told through the lens of LEGO® animation, turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music’s most innovative minds.
Directed by Clint Eastwood, while serving as a juror in a high profile murder trial, family man Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma…one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict—or free—the accused killer.
After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose (Kit Connor).
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
Directed by Ridley Scott, years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the hands of his uncle (Joaquin Phoenix), Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger) who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
Directed by Coralie Fargeat, a fading celebrity (Demi Moore) decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself (Margaret Qualley).
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier, a former Marine (Aaron Pierce) confronts corruption in a small town when local law enforcement unjustly seizes the bag of cash he needs to post his cousin’s bail.
Zoe Saldaña as Emilia Pérez in ‘Emilia Pérez’. Photo: Netflix.
Directed by Jacques Audiard, Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an underrated lawyer working for a large law firm more interested in getting criminals out of jail than bringing them to justice, is hired by the leader of a criminal organization.
Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
(L to R) Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt), Jane Curtain (Kim Matula), Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman), Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott), Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris), Alan Zweibel (Josh Brener) and Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) in ‘Saturday Night’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
Directed by Jason Reitman, at 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of ‘Saturday Night Live‘.
From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, ‘Challengers’ stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.
(L to R) Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard), Hank Hanson (Corey Johnson), Jacques Lesgardes (Zinedine Soualem), Geoff Mason (John Magaro), Carter (Marcus Rutherford), Gladys Deist (Georgina Rich), Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), Marianne Gebhard (Leonie Benesch) star in Paramount Pictures’ ‘September 5’ the film that unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today, set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Directed by Tim Fehlbaum, during the 1972 Munich Olympics, an American broadcasting team is thrust from covering sports to reporting a dramatic hostage situation involving Israeli athletes. A young producer (John Magaro), unexpectedly leading the live broadcast, faces difficult decisions as time runs out, rumors spread, and the hostages’ lives hang in the balance.
Jude Law in ‘The Order’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Directed by Justin Kurzel, an alarming surge in violent bombings and bank robberies in the Pacific Northwest leads a weathered FBI agent (Jude Law) into a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a charismatic domestic terrorist (Nicholas Hoult) plotting to overthrow the US government.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, in the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Glinda (Ariana Grande) at Shiz University, and the two’s unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
From director Edward Berger, ‘Conclave’ follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Directed by James Mangold, set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, ‘A Complete Unknown’ follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan‘s (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts – his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation – culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
(L to R) Mikey Madison as Ani and Mark Eydelshteyn as Ivan in ‘Anora’. Photo: Courtesy of NEON.
Sean Baker‘s Palme d’Or winner ‘Anora’ is an audacious, thrilling, and comedic variation on a modern day Cinderella story. Mikey Madison captivates as Ani, a young sex worker from Brooklyn whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the impetuous son of a Russian billionaire. However, when Vanya’s parents catch wind of the union, they send their henchmen to annul the marriage, setting off a wild chase through the streets of New York.
The 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards will air on E! Sunday, January 12th, 2025.
Preview:
The 30th Annual Critics Choice Film Awards Nominations have been announced.
‘Wicked’ and ‘Conclave’ lead the pack with 11 nominations each.
The ceremony will air on E! on January 12th.
While last year’s crop of Critics Choice Association nominations saw ‘Barbie’ dominate the pack above all else, the latest batch is a little more evenly spread.
That said, ‘Wicked’ and ‘Conclave’ were the clear favorite for the voting members of the group, as the two movies nabbed 11 nominations each, including both showing up on the main Best Picture list.
Notably, ‘Wicked’s Jon M. Chu made the cut for Best Director, unlike the surprise at the Golden Globe nomination, while ‘Gladiator II’ might be looking for vengeance in this life or the next, as it couldn’t make the list for either Best Director or Best Picture, settling for another Best Supporting Actor nod for scene-stealer Denzel Washington and some technical categories.
Paramount Pictures’ ‘September 5’, the film that unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today, set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. the film that unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today, set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
CCA CEO Joey Berlin had this to say about this year’s nominated movies:
“This year brought us an incredible wealth of storytelling and performances, leading to indescribably close races for nominations. We are honored to be able to celebrate our landmark 30th year of the Critics Choice Awards with this talented group of nominees and are thrilled to bring viewers our best show yet. Knowing how close the balloting for nominations was, we anticipate an exciting evening of high drama on January 12.”
When will the Critics Choice Awards be on TV?
The awards ceremony will air live on E! on Sunday, January 12th, hosted by Chelsea Handler.
The 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards will air on E! Sunday, January 12th, 2025.
Seemingly having weathered the various scandals that have plagued the organization and the voting body of the awards, the Golden Globe Awards are back to some measure of their former luster, and back in the business of rewarding what they see as the best of this past movie and TV season.
If anything, this year’s batch of movie nominees feel weighted towards the indie side of things, albeit several produced by the indie arm of big studios. Still, there were the big titles –– ‘Wicked,’ ‘Dune: Part Two’ present as always.
Despite its later arrival on the awards scene compared to some of the other nominees, ‘A Complete Unknown’ –– which stars Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, scored some notable attention.
And even though it boasts a seemingly brutal (pun entirely intended) three hours and 45 minute running time (including an intermission!), Brady Corbet’s latest, ‘The Brutalist,’ also landed several nominations.
pH6fB4e5P7q4SrkEEBT6H1
The new category this year was “Cinematic and Box Office Achievement” which, (deep breath) is defined as “a gross box office receipt total of at least $150 million, of which $100 million must come from the U.S. domestic box office, and/or obtain commensurate digital streaming viewership according to recognized trusted industry sources within the qualifying year.”
Oh, and movies released after November 22nd get in based on projected box office and streaming views. Just in case you were wondering…
‘Gladiator II,’ meanwhile had to make do with showing up on the aforementioned Cinematic and Box Office Achievement list and, as could have been predicted, a Best Supporting Actor nod for Denzel Washington’s scene-stealing role.
The 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards is set to air live from the Beverly Hilton on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, January 5th.
On the TV side of the nominees, it was business as usual also as some heavy hitters (‘Abbott Elementary‘ and ‘Only Murders in the Building‘) saw plenty of potential trophies added to the list.
Among the newcomers, ‘Shōgun’ was well represented, as was fellow awards darling ‘Baby Reindeer.’ ‘The Day of the Jackal’ was perhaps the most surprising new arrival, though it’s not all that shocking given the success of that show.
The Globes are also the place where network TV gets more of a look in, with ‘Matlock’ among those up for awards.
Full list of TV nominations:
Best Television Series – Drama
Eddie Redmayne as the Jackal in ‘The Day of the Jackal’. Photo: Marcell Piti/Carnival Film and Television Limited.
If Eon Productions can somehow lure Edward Berger – the German director of 2022’s devastating ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and now ‘Conclave’ – to direct the next James Bond film, they can have my money now. Between the brutal scope of ‘All Quiet’ and the cerebral thrills of this new Vatican-set suspense drama, Berger has effectively shown his ability to bring intelligence, visual acumen, and narrative coherence to two wildly different genres – although one could argue that ‘Conclave’ is also about war, just played out on a different front.
The process of choosing a new Pope, a ritual shrouded in antiquity and mystery, is revealed in Berger’s absorbing film to be anything but holy. As various cardinals jockey for power and position themselves for the post, with conspiracies and scandals erupting left and right, ‘Conclave’ brilliantly demonstrates that even the alleged holiest of men – and yes, it’s all men – can be as petty, vain, and spiteful as anyone else. And it’s impressive how Berger shrouds all the pomp and circumstance in the cinematic equivalent of a paperback beach read.
Following the sudden death of the Pope, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), as Dean of the College of Cardinals, must assemble the conclave of cardinals who will elect the pontiff’s successor. Even as the cardinals are still arriving at the Vatican from all over the world, camps form around certain candidates. Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci) is the liberal, forward-thinking progressive from America; Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow) of Canada, already in the Vatican as an advisor to the Pope, is more of a moderate; Nigeria’s Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) is conservative and fiercely anti-homosexual, but could break new ground as the first African Pope; and Venice’s Cardinal Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto) is even more reactionary and seemingly determined to drag the Church back to the Middle Ages.
Once all the Cardinals are convened – including the mysterious, ethereal Cardinal Benitez of Kabul (Carlos Diehz), whose very existence was apparently known only to the late Pope before his unexpected arrival – they are sealed off from the outside world to begin voting. Almost immediately, scandalous information begins to emerge and shake up the voting process: Lawrence is informed that Tremblay was asked to resign by the Pope the evening before the latter’s death over an unknown matter, while a figure from Adeyemi’s past shows up and threatens to upend even his position as Cardinal. As round after round of anonymous voting continues, even Lawrence – who backs Bellini – starts to accrue votes, making Bellini and others suspicious that he really wants the job for himself. Everyone is revealed to have secrets – even the nuns, led by the fierce Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini), who are there to serve the Cardinals but act as a silent force amidst the proceedings.
As all this plays out across production designer Suzie Davies’ sumptuous recreations of the Vatican, including the Casa Santa Maria and the Sistine Chapel, the supposedly spiritual nature of the proceedings peels away like a mask, revealing the political machinations, petty jealousies, hidden histories, and potentially corrupt ambitions that lie beneath. Each of the major cardinals – both those actively seeking the papacy and those who claim they don’t want it – strategizes against the others, while Lawrence strains to keep order even as he is forced to reveal certain information that could affect the outcome of the election and even his own position.
Berger stages and paces it all like a spy thriller, with whispered confessions, clandestine meetings, and shocking revelations, but minus of course the car chases, bone-crunching fisticuffs, and explosive shoot-outs. There is also a nice seasoning of humor – served up dry by Fiennes in particular – that punctuates the somber proceedings here and there. Yet the film still builds up a palpable aura of suspense as it reveals the human failings that lie at the heart of one of the world’s oldest and most secretive institutions. While some of the Church’s own failings – like its inability to deal in real-life with a seemingly never-ending stream of sexual abuse scandals – are glossed over here and one late-in-the-game twist isn’t quite fleshed out enough to have the impact it should, ‘Conclave’ is nevertheless absorbing from start to finish.
‘Conclave’ offers up the model of a fantastic ensemble cast, led by the great Ralph Fiennes in one of his finest performances ever. When we meet him, Cardinal Lawrence is a man already deep into a crisis of faith, unsure of whether he even wants to remain a cardinal and reluctant to supervise the conclave and the election. His doubts about his own faith mirror that of the late Pope, and the more that Lawrence is burdened with, the more you can see in Fiennes’ eyes and manner how disillusioned he becomes. And yet something within him remains aligned with his God, and a speech he gives to the conclave halfway through makes it clear that in many ways he’s well-suited to the papacy he rejects. Fiennes is simply brilliant in the role as a man struggling to retain his composure and spirituality in a situation that tests them relentlessly.
“The men who are most dangerous are the men who want it” is a theme that echoes through this film, and all the other “men who want it” – Lithgow, Tucci, Castellitto, and Msamati – bring their vain, ambitious characters to life in deft strokes, with Tucci especially superb in portraying the subtly manipulative Bellini. New actor Carlos Diehz, in his first major motion picture, also brings a serenity to Cardinal Benitez that makes an impression despite the character’s tricky placement in the narrative. And of course there’s Isabella Rossellini, who is a portrait of strength, courage, and implacability as the head of the nuns who are there to silently support the conclave – a woman who nevertheless speaks volumes every time she opens her mouth.
We can expect ‘Conclave’ to be part of the Oscars conversation this season, even if it’s not quite as award-friendly as Berger’s ‘All Quiet on the Western Front.’ But nominations for best picture, best actor (Fiennes), best supporting actor (Tucci), cinematography, editing, costume design, and production design all seem like they’d be in the mix, with Berger and Rossellini also possible contenders depending on the strength of their categories. All would be well-deserved: this is in many ways big studio filmmaking of a classic vintage.
As we noted earlier, ‘Conclave’ doesn’t address the real-world issues and conflicts that face the Church as it trundles uncertainly into the 21st century, its mission and reason for existence very much in flux. This is, when it comes down to it, a political thriller cloaked in the pageantry and mystery of a vast, murky religious edifice. But Peter Straughan’s screenplay (from the novel by Robert Harris) and Berger’s sure-handed, meat-and-potatoes direction – which suits this material as effectively as his more stylized work on ‘All Quiet’ – reveal that there’s much more going on under the surface, and that even an institution that claims to be operating at the behest of its God is still privy to the will, whims, and weakness of man.
‘Conclave’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.
kjbXv8V9Myulq9x7kKclr1
What is the plot of ‘Conclave’?
When the Pope dies, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with organizing the conclave to elect his successor. But a secret kept by the late Pope, as well as machinations by some of the other cardinals, threatens the process and the papacy.
Who is in the cast of ‘Conclave’?
Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence
Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Bellini
John Lithgow as Cardinal Tremblay
Sergio Castellitto as Cardinal Tedesco
Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes
Lucian Msamati as Cardinal Adeyemi
Carlos Diehz as Cardinal Benitez
Brían F. O’Byrne as Monsignor Raymond O’Malley
(L to R) Director Edward Berger and Ralph Fiennes talk ‘Conclave’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ralph Fiennes and director Edward Berger about their work on ‘Conclave,’ Fiennes first reaction to the screenplay and his approach to his character, the tone and themes of the movie, and what audience members should expect from this theatrical experience.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interviews.
Moviefone: To begin with, Ralph, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and your approach to playing this character?
Ralph Fiennes: Well, I was hooked by the screenplay. It was a page-turner. The character of Lawrence, he’s central to the story as a witness, as a man with complex feelings of inner turmoil, inner contradiction. He’s suddenly a man thrown almost reluctantly into running a conclave. Having a Catholic upbringing, although no longer practicing Catholic, it provoked a massive sort of retrospective. I must unearth all those bits of my mother taking me to first communion and talking to me about the teachings of Jesus. All the stuff that was somehow back in my childhood had to be brought right forward and to be used as a source of, I guess, research or something on which to think about. But it was a page-turner to read, and it was gripping, and I had no doubt that I wanted to do it.
MF: Edgar, can you talk about the specific tone you wanted to create for this film and the themes you wanted to explore as a director?
Edward Berger: I was really drawn to this movie because it dealt with the question of doubt. I was able to sort of visualize whatever is going on, the interior journey that Ralph finds his character is going through, which is a journey of doubt, a crisis of faith, and to visualize that was very interesting. At the same time, it was my opportunity to make a political thriller, and very much inspired by the (Alan J.) Pakula movies from the ’70s, ‘All the President’s Men’, and ‘The Parallax View’. Those movies, how they play with dark, and light, and shadow, and color, and a pace of editing, and a precision was really sort of a Northern Star for us.
MF: Finally, Ralph, what would you say to audience members sitting down now to see this movie in a theater to prepare them for the theatrical experience they are about to have?
RF: Well, you’re going to get a wonderful insight into the workings of The Vatican. You have a central set which is incredibly cinematic, which is a recreation of the Sistine Chapel, and it looks phenomenal. It’s a set. We can’t shoot in the real Sistine Chapel. It’s one of the great wonders of the world. It’s been recreated brilliantly by the people who’ve made the set and by the visual effects crew to finish it on film. But that sort of scale is extraordinary to have. You will fail to appreciate it on a small screen. There’s something about The Vatican and other big locations. We shot in the Palace at Caserta outside Naples, various locations in and around Rome, where Edward found other locations to create this sense of scale. It’s huge, The Vatican. I mean, you look across at St. Peter’s, this huge church, and all the buildings around it. That’s what’s great about film, isn’t it? You have shots that give a sense of the epic, which are juxtaposed against the intimate, and the constrained, and the enclosed, and the close-ups. That equation of the epic scale, visual shots that hold a great sense of space and depth against the human face in close-up. That tension is best experienced in the cinema, and you get it massively in the way Edward has made this film.
kjbXv8V9Myulq9x7kKclr1
What is the plot of ‘Conclave’?
Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), tasked with organizing the election of the successor to the deceased pope, discovers the former pope had a secret that must be uncovered, concerning one or more of the candidates to succeed to the papacy.
Moviefone has compiled a list of the most anticipated movies opening in theaters and/or streaming from September to December of 2024, which not only includes major studio releases but also smaller independent films that you won’t want to miss.
After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), Lydia’s (Winona Ryder) life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.
Emotions run high when three estranged sisters (Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon and Elizabeth Olsen) reunite in a cramped New York City apartment to watch over their ailing father during his final days.
A former Marine (Aaron Pierre) confronts corruption in a small town when local law enforcement unjustly seizes the bag of cash he needs to post his cousin’s bail.
(L to R) Peter Dinklage in ‘The Thicket’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
An innocent young man, Jack (Levon Hawke), goes on an epic quest to rescue his sister Lula (Esme Creed-Miles) after she has been kidnapped by the violent killer Cut Throat Bill (Juliette Lewis) and her gang. To save her, Jack enlists the help of a crafty bounty hunter named Reginald Jones (Peter Dinklage), a grave-digging alcoholic son of an ex-slave (Gbenga Akinnagbe), and a street-smart prostitute (Leslie Grace). The gang tracks Cut Throat Bill into the deadly no-man’s land known as The Big Thicket — a place where blood and chaos reign.
A girl (Nadine Crocker) suffering from depression is forced to get her life together when she is taken involuntarily to a mental institution after trying to follow in her fathers footsteps, but failing in her suicide attempt. She finds unlikely friends, unwavering love, and a life she never imagined possible for a girl like her. All to find out some decisions can’t be undone.
(L to R) Kayli Carter, Edie Falco, and Jeannie Berlin in ‘I’ll Be Right There.’ Photo: Brainstorm Media.
Wanda (Edie Falco), a single mother with a pregnant daughter (Kayli Carter), a wayward son, a mother (Jeannie Berlin) who believes is dying. Barely having time for herself and living to take care of her family but everyone around her doesn’t seem to accept it, why isn’t that enough?
Everything goes to hell for newly-pregnant Belinda (Brandy Norwood) after her mother-in-law moves in. As the diabolical guest tries to get her claws on the child, Belinda must draw the line somewhere…
Dave Bautista in ‘The Killer’s Game’. Photo: Lionsgate.
In the new action-comedy ‘The Killer’s Game’, when top hitman Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands – by taking a hit out on himself. But when the very hitmen he hired also target his ex-girlfriend (Sofia Boutella) , he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it’s too late.
James McAvoy in ‘Speak No Evil.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
When an American family (Scott McNairy and Mackenzie Davis) is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British (James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi) family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.
(L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.
Writer-director Kevin Smith presents his most personal film to date with this coming-of-age story — set in the summer of 1986 — that follows three sixteen-year-old friends who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local cineplex. When one of the guys invites the girl of his dreams to see an R-rated film, all hilarity breaks loose, as a self-important theater manager (Ken Jeong) and teen rivalries interfere with his best-laid plans.
(L to R) Megan Fox as “Alice” in the Sci-Fi/Thriller, ‘Subservience’, an XYZ Films release. Photo courtesy of XYZ Films.
Megan Fox stars as Alice, a lifelike artificially intelligent android, who has the ability to take care of any family and home. Looking for help with the housework, a struggling father (Michele Morrone) purchases Alice after his wife becomes sick. Alice suddenly becomes self-aware and wants everything her new family has to offer, starting with the affection of her owner – and she’ll kill to get it.
Director Susanna Fogel’s ‘Winner’. Photo: Vertical.
Winner is a brilliant young misfit from Texas who finds her morals challenged while serving in the U.S. Air Force and working as an NSA contractor. A fresh take on the traditional whistleblower thriller, the coming-of-age story follows an idealistic young woman persecuted for standing by her principles.
Transformers One is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry), better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.
Halle Berry as Momma in ‘Never Let Go’. Photo Credit: Liane Hentscher.
In this new psychological thriller/horror, as an Evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, the only protection for a mother, played by Oscar-winner Halle Berry, and her twin sons is their house and their family’s protective bond. Needing to stay connected at all times – even tethering themselves with ropes – they cling to one another, urging each other to never let go. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.
A fading celebrity (Demi Moore) decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
(L to R) Mary-Louise Parker and Ayo Edebiri in ‘Omni Loop’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.
Diagnosed with a black hole growing inside her chest and stuck in a loop reliving the last five days of her life, a 55-year-old wife and mother (Mary-Louise Parker) from Miami, Florida decides to solve time travel in order to go back and be the person she always intended to be.
(L to R) Brad Pitt and George Clooney in ‘Wolfs’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
A professional fixer (George Clooney) is hired to cover up a high profile crime. But when a second fixer (Brad Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected.
Frank Grillo, Robert Patrick and Rhona Mitra star in ‘Hounds of War’ about the best military mercenaries money can buy. Known as ‘The Hounds’, they are sent on a final mission by their creator: a carefully planned trap set up to destroy them.
Never-before-seen home movies and extraordinary personal archives reveal how Christopher Reeve went from unknown actor to iconic movie star as the ultimate screen superhero. He learned the true meaning of heroism as an activist after suffering a tragic accident that left him quadriplegic and dependent on a ventilator to breathe.
(L to R) Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel in ‘Megalopolis’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Genius artist Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver) seeks to leap the City of New Rome into a utopian, idealistic future, while his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.
(from back center) Roz (Lupita N’yongo), and Brightbill (Kit Connor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Wild Robot,’ directed by Chris Sanders.
A robot — ROZZUM unit 7134 (Lupita Nyong’o), “Roz” for short — is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.
Kate Winslet ‘Lee’. Photo: Roadside Attractions & Vertical.
Miller (Kate Winslet) had a profound understanding and empathy for women and the voiceless victims of war. Her images display both the fragility and ferocity of the human experience. Above all, the film shows how Miller lived her life at full throttle in pursuit of truth, for which she paid a huge personal price, forcing her to confront a traumatic and deeply buried secret from her childhood.
Director Thordur Palsson’s ‘The Damned’. Photo: Vertical.
A 19th-century widow is tasked with making an impossible choice when, during an especially cruel winter, a ship sinks off the coast of her impoverished Icelandic fishing village. Any attempt to rescue survivors risks further depleting the starving villagers’ supplies.
Sam Claflin as Patrick McKee in ‘Bagman’. Photo Credit: Vladislav Lepoev.
In the dark horror film ‘Bagman’, a family finds themselves ensnared in a nightmare as they are hunted by a malevolent, mythical creature. For centuries and across cultures, parents have warned their children of the legendary Bagman, who snatches innocent children and stuffs them into his vile, rotting bag—never to be seen again. Patrick McKee (Sam Claflin) narrowly escaped such an encounter as a boy, which left him with lasting scars throughout his adulthood. Now, Patrick’s childhood tormentor has returned, threatening the safety of his wife Karina (Antonia Thomas) and son Jake (Caréll Rhoden).
Sarah Paulson in ‘Hold Your Breath’. Photo: Searchlight Pictures.
A young mother in 1930s Oklahoma who is haunted by her past and trapped in horrifying dust storms. She becomes convinced that her family is threatened by a mysterious presence and takes extraordinary measures to protect them.
(L to R) Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck / Joker and Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’ Photo: Todd Phillips’ Instagram Account.
While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that’s always been inside him.
(L to R) Adam David Thompson as “Joseph” and Riley Dandy as “Sidney” in the Sci-Fi/Thriller, ‘Things Will Be Different’, a Magnet release. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing.
In order to escape the police after a robbery, two estranged siblings lay low in a metaphysical farmhouse that hides them away in a different time. There they reckon with a mysterious force that pushes their familial bonds to unnatural breaking points.
(L to R) Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt), Jane Curtain (Kim Matula), Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman), Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott), Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris), Alan Zweibel (Josh Brener) and Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) in ‘Saturday Night’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of ‘Saturday Night Live‘.
(L to R) Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield in ‘We Live in Time’. Photo: A24.
Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken, in filmmaker John Crowley’s decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.
Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) unleashes chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve.
Heather Graham in ‘Chosen Family’. Photo: Bleeker Street.
Ann (Heather Graham) is a yoga teacher struggling to achieve inner peace despite the fact her family is driving her crazy and her dating life is miserable. She doesn’t know how to say no and wants to fix everyone’s problems.
‘Piece By Piece’ is a unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. Told through the lens of LEGO® animation, turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music’s most innovative minds.
Naomi Scott stars in Paramount Pictures Presents a Temple Hill Production of a Parker Finn Film ‘Smile 2’.
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.
Mikey Madison as Ani in ‘Anora’. Courtesy of Neon.
Anora (Mikey Madison), a young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
(L to R) André Holland and Andra Day in ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
Utilizing his paintings to find freedom from his past, a Black artist on the path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. Together, they learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving.
(L to R) Elijah Wood and Nell Fisher in ‘Bookworm’. Photo: Rialto Distribution.
Eleven-year-old Mildred’s (Nell Fisher) life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood), comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding – a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.
(L to R) Carrie-Anne Moss and Douglas Smith in ‘Die Alone’. Photo: Filmoption.
Lost in a world reclaimed by nature and overrun by mysterious creatures, a young man with amnesia teams up with an eccentric survivalist to find his missing girlfriend.
Eddie (Tom Hardy) and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance.
From director Edward Berger (‘All Quiet on the Western Front’) ‘Conclave’ follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church.
(L to R) Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in ‘Red One.’ Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
After a villain kidnaps Santa (J.K. Simmons) from the North Pole, an E.L.F (Extremely Large and Formidable) operative (Dwayne Johnson) must partner with the world’s most accomplished tracker (Chris Evans) to find Santa and save Christmas.
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.
Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the hands of his uncle (Joaquin Phoenix), Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), an ostracized but defiant girl born with green skin, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), a privileged aristocrat born popular, become extremely unlikely friends in the magical Land of Oz. As the two girls struggle with their opposing personalities, their friendship is tested as both begin to fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and The Wicked Witch of the West. The first of a two-part film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical ‘Moana 2’ takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.
183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy, a sudden attack by Wulf (Luke Pasqualino), a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox) and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Héra (Gaia Wise), the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff / Kraven the Hunter in ‘Kraven the Hunter.’
Kraven the Hunter is the visceral, action-packed origin story of how and why one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Kraven, a man whose complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Knuckles (Idris Elba), and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow (Keanu Reeves), a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.
Rafiki (John Kani) relays the legend of Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) to lion cub Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), daughter of Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé). Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) —the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion a journey of misfits searching for their destiny and working together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.
Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.
