- S: There is a strange catastrophic event that sits oddly in the movie. It feels as though it is brushed off quickly for what it would have been in reality. Additionally, the ending is beautiful but is perhaps a bit insensible given the context.
- C: The costumes and sets are far and away the highlights of the film. The sartorial excess is a real treat. Some excellent shot choices throughout as well. Only negative is that there is an
explosion that feels oddly framed and a very strange transition away from a shot with a turtle.
- E: It's hard to make a movie that is mostly about rumors and closed-door conversations exciting but this movie nails it. Only a slight lull near the end during the transition to the new pope.
- N: Excellent story that falls apart due to some predictability and the strange catastrophic event which feels unnecessary due to the lack of attention the narrative and characters give it.
- T: The film received four bonus points on my most recent watch: one for an excellent shot with some white staircases that reminded me of an M.C. Escher painting, a shot of some umbrellas, an excellently written and
well spoken homily by the dean, played by Ralph Fiennes, that sets the tone for the film early on, and the detail and finesse on costuming.
Quite good, but has some narrative flaws that drag it down. Costuming and sets alone are worth the watch.
Number of Watches: 1
