A+Z Movie Review Podcast · Alex Long and Zach Cavanagh

Episode 38 - Conclave - 2025 Best Picture Nominee

·40 min·2 clips

Conclave is framed as "the real Housewives of the Vatican" and a room full of ambitious cardinals.

1. A Plus Z Movie Review Podcast covers Conclave, the 2025 Best Picture nominee about a papal election inside the Vatican. 2. Alex and Zach host the show, and both matter because Alex leads the film verdicts while Zach pushes the Oscar and craft debate. 3. The episode asks whether Conclave works as a political drama, a character study, and an awards contender at the same time. 4. Alex says he went in knowing “literally nothing” beyond cardinals and the pope, then says he “really enjoyed it.” 5. Zach explains that the movie begins after a pope dies and the College of Cardinals gathers to vote on a new pope. 6. They compare the process to “The Traitors,” because cardinals accuse one another while trying to protect their own blocs. 7. Alex describes the movie as “the real Housewives of the Vatican” and says it is “catty” and “a little bitchy.” 8. Zach says the film shows old-school church trappings, from the Sistine Chapel to “what’s the wi-fi password” and the copy machine. 9. Alex says the writing avoids empty monologues and sounds elevated without becoming “hoity-toity” or untouchable. 10. They discuss the movie’s plot mechanics, including secret love children, hidden documents, and the arrival of a late candidate. 11. Alex calls Ralph Fiennes “incredible” and says he sympathized with his character’s exhaustion and responsibility. 12. Zach says Fiennes feels like “a real person,” because his reactions are subtle rather than showy. 13. They say the film has “twists and turns” and mention three voting-process shocks plus a bigger late reveal. 14. Alex says the movie stays grounded even when a bomb blows out a window, which could have made it ridiculous. 15. Zach argues the story is a strong fit for ranked-choice Oscar voting because it may be a second- or third-favorite film for many voters. 16. They discuss Isabella Rossellini’s supporting actress nomination and say she has only about “two and a half” speaking scenes. 17. The tone is conversational, opinionated, and detail-heavy, with both hosts interrupting each other and circling back to craft notes. 18. The format moves from review, to concessions, to Oscar-category comparisons, so the episode feels like a structured awards-season conversation. 19. Fans of Vatican intrigue, Oscar chatter, and ensemble acting will likely enjoy this episode. 20. Viewers who want spoiler-free discussion or dislike awards-season deep dives may skip it.

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