Doubt

★★★★
(Really Enjoyed It)

Director: John Patrick Shanley
Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 104 Minutes
Distributor: Miramax Films
Release: December 12, 2008 [Limited]
Notes: Academy Award Nominations for Meryl Streep (Best Actress), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Best Supporting Actor), Amy Adams (Best Supporting Actress), and Viola Davis (Best Supporting Actress)

Introduction

'Doubt' was a film that completely flew under my radar. I had hardly heard anything about it until after it's December 12 release date. A quick look under Rotten Tomatoes shows a 76% percent rating, and while Rotten Tomatoes can certainly be a misleading gauge for quality films, I figured I would view the film when I would get the chance. Just viewing the trailer alone made me unsure about the film, but with an open mind I went ahead and viewed 'Doubt'.

The Film

'Doubt' takes place in the 1964 at a Catholic Church located within the Bronx. The Church is headed by Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and in the first minutes of the film gives a speech about doubt. Flynn describes how feeling of doubt can be a unifying force as powerful as faith itself. This concerns Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) and warns fellow nuns including Sister James (Amy Adams) to be on guard of any suspicious behavior. The Catholic Church is also a full-time Catholic school, in which Sister Aloysius is principal. Here we learn just how strict and demanding Sister Aloysius really is. Sister Alyosius does not condone any progression for the school or the church, showing a great dislike for the radio and ballpoint pens, instead preferring the old pen and ink method for writing. Sister James quickly stumbles onto a situation involving Father Flynn and the only African American student Donald Miller. This situation is the primary focus of the film, pitting Father Flynn and Sister Aloysius against eachother.

The performances of Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis are spectacular. Each actor/actress has picked up an Academy Award nomination for their performances, and each are well deserved. Streep's character is intimadating, and at the end of the movie you are sure as hell glad that you never met her in real life. Streep certainly plays the "my way or the highway" character in the film, and while she is absolutely ruthless you no doubt (no pun intended) are rooting for her in her campaign against Hoffman. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives out another wonderful performance. Hoffman's character is definitely more sympathetic and light-hearted, and is certainly the more likeable character. However he plays a character that you ultimately feel like you can't trust, having a very sly feeling to his persona. Amy Adams certainly plays the simple life charater that does not want any confrontation. Easily gullible and afraid to take action for herself, Adams certainly finds herself in a position that she does not want to be in. The character with the biggest impact, is none other than Viola Davis. She plays a small role in the film, but her brief appearance certainly strikes close to the viewer. Every person has a part of Viola Davis' character inside them, which is why I feel like her role was extroadinary. It was simple, to the point, and highly effective. All around, the performances in the film are ultimately everything you could ask for.

While the story is very interesting and keeps the viewer engaged, I do feel like the story suffers a little bit. Certain points of the film certainly feel dull, and feel pointless. The very ending also left me pretty disappointed. My big complaint was that the situation between Father Flynn and Donald Miller was never straight straight up stated. It was ultimately the big white elephant in the room that nobody wanted to talk about. Only beat around the push and only keeping the viewer doubting themselves. Needless to say that was my biggest gripe about the movie. The film also tried to make race an important issue... but was never really expanded on or ultimately played a major part. It was simply something that was brought up as a serious point and then never mentioned again. These are the only things from holding the good experience from being great.

There's much to like about 'Doubt'. It has some fo the best performances you will see in 2008. A story, while with issues, keeps the viewer attached to the story. There could be many themes talked about in the movie, and I could type an entire essay about, but will refrain from doing so in this review. 'Doubt' contains some of the best performances of the year, and while it has an engaging story, it does feel palpable. I ultimately give 'Doubt' a recommendation.

The Wrestler

★★★★★
(Loved it)

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Rating: R
Runtime: 115 Minutes
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Academy Award Nominations: Mickey Rourke for Best Actor; Marisa Tomei for Best Supporting Actress

Introduction

When Fox Searchlight released the plot synopsis for 'The Wrestler' I would not have called myself excited. The good old cliche resurrection story is one that I have watched countless times, and pondered to myself if I even needed to watch another. Then it won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. As the holiday season approached, it started gaining much critical acclaim from critics alike. It was not until I saw the trailer that I quickly made it one of my must see films for the holiday season. I can gladly say that I was not in the least disappointed...

The Film

I do not in any way shape or form am a fan of professional wrestling. That said, The Wrestler is without a doubt one of the finest films of 2008. I feel like it's a damn shame that it's not nominated for Best Picture by the Academy; but is anyone really surprised?

Randy 'The Ram' Robinson is a professional wrestler who was a star in the 1980's, who finds himself twenty years later past his prime. Robinson now lives in a trailer home and drives an old beat up van in the ghetto of New Jersey. On the weekends he spends his time at independent wrestling events earning extra money. Robinson has a non-existant relationship with his daughter Stephanie Ramzinski (Evan Rachel Wood) and has deep affection for his favorite stripper Pam (Marisa Tomei). Mickey Rourke's character is one of the most like-able characters to hit the big screen. Rourke's fantastic performance is probably a once of a lifetime time endeavor. The performances of Rourke, Tomei, and Wood are what make this film so great. Everyone of them is a completely believable person who does not come across as hollow or gimmicky. Rourke and Tomei have both picked up Academy Award nominations for their performances. To be honest, as much as I liked Tomei's performance, I felt that Wood's performance had a bigger impact and was better. While I feel Wood should have been nominated instead of Tomei, I am completely content with the nomination of Tomei for Best Supporting Actress.



Darren Aronofsky isn't the Director you would expect to direct a film of this nature. Aronofsky's other ventures include Requim for A Dream, The Fountain, and Pi. I feel that this is by far Aronofsky's most approachable and watchable film that he's done. If you're a fan of Aronofsky's work, then you will find much to like. The most similarities to his past works include rough, erratic transitions from one scene to the next. Aronofsky's look into human emotions and relationships in no less effective in 'The Wrestler'. One aspect that is noticeable right at the very start is strong presence of film grain. While at first you certainly notice, I can't recall it every being a problem after the first ten minutes. It does add a nice touch to the film to show Rourke's gritty, outlandish lifestyle. Sound is once again no problem here, when Rourke is wrestling it's an engaging audio track. The ending left me absolutely mesmerized. I wont go into spoilers, but it was probably my favorite part of the film.

I'm sitting here trying to finish this review, and wondering to myself if I see any flaws. I am having hard time finding any, to be honest. I think the a prime complaint that the certain people may have is the rough transitions between certain scenes and alas, the ending. While I loved the ending and feel that most people will, I can see how some people may be upset. Once again, no spoilers but take from it what you will.

'The Wrestler' was without a doubt one of my favorite films of the year. If I had to rank, I would put it at number 2 for the year, ahead of The Dark Knight but just behind Slumdog Millionaire. While the sport of wrestling is something I do not like, and often make fun of it, 'The Wrestler' is a must see film for everyone. The performances are stunning across the board, the editing by Aronofsky is superb and Springsteen's song 'The Wrestler' is one of the better original songs I have heard in a motion picture. 'The Wrestler' earns a rare five stars, and I can give it my highest recommendation.