★★★★
(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.
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.
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