2 Movies Like Mary (2024)

It’s always refreshing to see people in esteemed positions let their guard down, not to mention smoke a vape or gossip feverishly, as we mere mortals do. But Conclave is more than just a candid look at what goes down in a process as elaborate as a papal election. It’s a portrait of man’s innate thirst for power. And since it has more to do with humanity than divinity, it’s also rightfully silly. Cardinals are scrambling for votes and fighting over politics. They can be peaceful and reasonable, but they can also be petty and spiteful, just like any person pressured to vote for their future (or just like any person, period). Conclave is far from perfect—its intentions are murky at times and the visuals, though beautiful, are oddly sparse—but it works because no one in the film, not even the protagonist, is infallible. It’s a welcome reminder of our limitations, regardless of faith.

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Actor: Balkissa Souley Maiga, Brian F. O'Byrne, Carlos Diehz, Garrick Hagon, Isabella Rossellini, Jacek Koman, John Lithgow, Joseph Mydell, Loris Loddi, Lucian Msamati, Madhav Sharma, Merab Ninidze, Ralph Fiennes, Roberto Citran, Romuald Kłos, Sergio Castellitto, Stanley Tucci, Thomas Loibl

Director: Edward Berger

Rating: PG

Juror #2 is the kind of film that doesn’t waste time: it’s immediately compelling as it throws questions about morality, guilt, and conscience straight to your face. There are familiar people in this stacked cast, including Chris Messina and J.K. Simmons, but it’s Nicholas Hoult as the titular second juror and Toni Collete as the ambitious prosecutor who stand out. The weight of the film’s heavy questions lies on their shoulders, and they convey every feeling—from doubt and remorse to exaltation and hope—with painful clarity. I only the film hadn’t taken the easy way out, and that the debate among the jury could have been thornier and trickier, but as it is, Juror #2 is a compelling addition to our book of excellent courtroom dramas.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Actor: Adrienne C. Moore, Amy Aquino, Bria Brimmer, Cedric Yarbrough, Chikako Fukuyama, Chris Messina, Drew Scheid, Francesca Eastwood, Gabriel Basso, Grant Roberts, Hedy Nasser, J.K. Simmons, Jason Coviello, Javier Vazquez Jr., KateLynn E. Newberry, Kellen Boyle, Kevin Saunders, Kiefer Sutherland, Kurt Yue, Leslie Bibb, Megan Mieduch, Nicholas Hoult, Phil Biedron, Rachel Walters, Rebecca Koon, Scott Alan Smith, Tom Thon, Toni Collette, Zele Avradopoulos, Zoey Deutch

Director: Clint Eastwood

Rating: PG-13