Conclave (aka The Crying Game Part II)

I'm going to do this review in reverse, because it wouldn't be fair to you the reader, to put you through the same bait/switch routine that the filmmakers pulled on me.  The last 5 minutes of this movie are  outrageously disingenuous, and completely undermine the serious and thoughtful tone established in the rest of the movie.  For approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes, Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow spar over subjects as serious as determining the will of God, and whether it is ever acceptable to choose the lesser of two evils.  The setting of a Conclave, wherein the Roman Catholic Bishops must vote for the new Pope, is a compelling backdrop for discussions on faith, politics, and man's fallen state.  And then, just like Tyler Durden splicing a single frame into a children's movie, it's revealed that the new Pope has a uterus.  It's the "please return your seat backs to their full upright and locked position" scene, without the satisfying payoff.

So, what did I like?  I did like the first 1 hour and 55 minutes, as I took the movie at face value, and honestly enjoyed the various subjects that were explored.  I like the look and feel of the film; the Vatican is clearly a rich and historic location, and I found it interesting how the filmmakers were able to create a warm and intimate feeling within such an imposing setting.  At the risk of mentioning a third element that I liked, I was intrigued by the combination of genres, there were elements reminiscent of the mystery genre, à la Agatha Christie, as Ralph Fiennes' character was attempting to investigate the backgrounds of the candidates.  That being said, sometimes finding out how someone's garden grows isn't as satisfying as you hoped.