If you ever doubted that bunch of old men could engage in drama catty enough to intimidate even the nastiest teenage girl, enter Conclave: a film that lifts the veil on one of the most sacred and secretive traditions in the Roman Catholic Church.

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In Edward Berger’s captivating and surprisingly funny film, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with participating in the selection of a new Pope. His friends within the church prefer Lawrence inherit the sacred title, but he resists. In a more memorable moment, Cardinal Bellini (played by a beautifully cast Stanley Tucci) explains that’s exactly why Lawrence should take it – because only dangerous men actively seek out that type of power.

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It’s a sentiment that is relevant to so many worldly events, is it not? The deeper into Conclave I got, the more comparisons I was drawing between the fictitious battle for the papacy and modern governmental elections, making it strikingly powerful on a metaphorical level.

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Adding to the discomfort between the men is the 11th-hour addition of a new member, Cardinal Benitez of Kabul (Carlos Diehz). His entrance is met with scrutiny by many of the men, but Cardinal Lawrence’s good nature is a saving grace for Benitez – acting as a buffer between the hard edges of the more cynical members.

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Conclave is filled to the brim with excellent performances, but it's Fiennes’ earnest and kind-eyed portrayal that brings warmth and comfortability to a situation that otherwise feels cold. Diehz, a newcomer to the acting biz, also gives a standout performance with an earnestness made increasingly apparent as his character’s colorful past is revealed.

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The Church is no stranger to scandal, and Conclave smartly avoids the obvious accusations that have dogged it for decades. Instead, it plays off a different kind of tension – one fraught with lies, illicit affairs and innuendo. Ultimately, Conclave crafts an incredibly entertaining drama that I cannot wait to watch again. If the walls of the Vatican could talk, they would have a lot to say, and after watching this film I am all ears.