Conclave (2024)

For some reason I was drawn to this movie. From the first time I watched the trailer, I just knew I had to watch it. While it does sit outside my normal genre search, I decided to finally head out to the NARO and check out Conclave (2024)

Plot: When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.

I really didn’t know much about this heading into it, in fact, I originally thought it was going to dive into the Pope’s death back in the 1970s. I remember that as a kid and thought it was somewhat mysterious. What I found with this one was much better than that and likely more entertaining. The storyline in this one is good, although in retrospect after watching it, it is somewhat predictable. That doesn’t matter though because the performances, atmosphere, tension, and overall storyline work together quite well, making the movie seamlessly fly by. It honestly didn’t feel like a 2hr movie. The political intrigue and conspiracy aspects work to add a sense of realism as well. I am sure there will be many that will not like the ending, but I feel like it perfectly underscored the entirety of the movie. That might not have been clear at the exact moment, but in looking back, it was obvious. In the end, this conspiracy drama thriller might be the best movie I have seen in 2024 and is well deserving of all the accolades it receives. Plus, it has a message that should permeate through society, “the only sin in certainty” and too many people are certain about their beliefs and will not step outside their comfort zone.

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

I have taken a few days off from the blog researching into a couple of topics (conspiracies) over the past week. While I did not find any new revelations, I did find a few tidbits that may prove interesting. During this period, I did catch a couple movies. One of the first was the 2007 entry Charlie Wilson’s War.

Plot/ A drama based on a Texas congressional representative Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.

I sat down to watch this one because I wanted to see how Hollywood portrayed this time in history. Of course, what they created was a one-sided piece of propaganda that does not provide a clear narrative on the aspects of this period that still haunts us today. The overall depiction of the Russian army is quite atrocious. While I am not saying they were great or saints, they were also not quite the bloodthirsty rapists that were depicted. Plus, the movie never truly reveals the truth about the Mujahedin (or gives even a hint that they would become al Qaeda). With the way paragraphs can be added to the visual effects, Being loosely based on a true story and book, Hollywood should have informed viewers of this fact before the end credits (but, I understand that does not meet the propaganda aspects I am sure Hollywood was going for). Yes, the acting, cast, and scripting was solid (especially Phillip Seymour Hoffman), but overall the movie fails to take advantage of those elements by creating a one-sided and inaccurate account of history and a film that should be considered demeaning to women. In the end, like many films that deal with history, the liberties taken to create a singularly focused narrative distort reality. Sure, it has its moments, but it should not be taken seriously in any way.

Zeitgeist (2007)

After being somewhat disappointed in Conspiracy of Lies, I needed something to quench my craving for an interesting documentary. After some thought, I decided to revisit one of my favorites (plus informative): 2007s conspiracy themed documentary Zeitgeist.

Plot/ This film gathers information from many sources and puts it together in a way that shows it is possible for people to be manipulated by large institutions, governments and economic powers.

After watching Conspiracy of Lies, I could not shake the need for a solid documentary. That is exactly what this movie is. Zeitgeist is one of the most thought provoking and entertaining documentaries, I have seen, and it does a great job at tying what many see as unrelated topics into a coherent conspiracy driven documentary. There is a lot to like in this one, with solid production values, strong research, and enough material to make the viewer want to dive in and research it one their own. As a fan of conspiracies, I have dug into some if these elements and have come out with some similar beliefs. The 911 section is extremely eye opening and is a section that everyone should watch with an open mind, as there are a tremendous amount of flaws in the official investigation report and there are still major unanswered questions about the attack that opened the door for the 1984 style police state that we now live in. On the downside, there are some moments where the pacing seems a touch off. Plus, there is so much information brought out in this documentary that it is hard to wrap your head around it if you aren’t a semi-informed viewer. For me, I loved it, but it could turn some viewers off. In the end, this movie does a great job of presenting information and challenging the viewer to become more informed about the topics. While some may blow it off as just another set of conspiracies, if you are awake, you know how real the deception is and how important it is for us to get involved and help expose the truth. As President Reagan said, “Ask Questions and Demand Answers!” Check this movie out; it is well worth watching for anyone.

All the President's Men (1976)

There are times where messages in movies are important. However, nothing can replace true stories that tackle some of the most important events in history without steering it to match a narrative or agenda. Unfortunately, that is an art form that seems to have been bypassed in recent years, replaced by storylines that seem to mirror the agendas of the ruling classes of the establishment. This plague has not only overtaken Hollywood, but it has overwhelmed the main stream media and majority of newsprint outlets, which act more like propaganda arms than actual news outlets. One movie that shows the importance of clear journalism is the 1976 classic All the President’s Men.

Plot/ Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that leads to President Richard Nixon's resignation.

Every once in a while I have to sprinkle in a classic on the sight. While there is really nothing more that I can add to a review, this is a movie that must be kept in the spotlight, and actually in some ways still has tremendous relevance today. In this era of subpar journalism, where the mainstream media acts more like a propaganda wing for the establishment, this movie demonstrates the true power of the press. Based on the true story of reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein and their tenacious investigation of the Watergate scandal, this movie succeeds even though the events are known. Between the Oscar-winning script, the amazing performances, and the natural tension everything works to perfection. In the end, this is a movie that is fact, and a movie that journalists or those interested in journalism watch and digest in its entirety. There is no agenda or hidden messages; it is just a tremendous reminder of when politics mattered less than the truth.