Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini came out for the premiere of Conclave at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York City. We spoke with the stars about preparing for their roles in the dramatic film and what it was like shooting in Rome.

Starring Ralph Fiennes and set within the private inner sanctum of the Vatican, the movie treats the papal balloting like a thriller.

Ralph Fiennes stars as a Catholic cardinal whose duty is to run a contentious election for a new pope in Edward Berger's thriller "Conclave."

It comes with a possibly career-best performance by Ralph Fiennes; a large, expert cast of cagey pros; the assured pace of a thriller; and a final twist that even those know-it-alls in heaven won’t see coming. Without a doubt, it’s one of the year’s top films.

With beautiful cinematography and solid performances, "Conclave" is a thrilling tale of a mysterious process, writes Moira Macdonald.