John Patrick Shanley directs his own script, based on his Pulitzer prize winning play about the rivalry between a nun and a priest at a Catholic school in the Bronx in 1964.
Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) grows suspicious of Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) when he takes a special interest in the life of a young black student. He denies her charges of molestation. A young nun, Sister James (Amy Adams), finds herself torn between the two authority figures, unsure of who to trust.
I apologise, we feel bad, but there's no trailer available. ~Ed.
Doubt is a film in which intellectual thought is prized over cinematic satisfaction. Its origin as a stage play is evident - few characters, limited locations, brevity and lots of talking. While this sort of translation can often make for involving drama, in this case the adaptation for the screen feels like something of a neutered theoretical exercise.
Meryl Streep’s scenery chewing is certainly memorable, at a stark contrast to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s more gentle work, but to praise a film solely for its performances is worthless when the end product doesn’t convince. That’s not to say that Doubt isn’t without a sense of polished professionalism. It looks good, with cinematographer Roger Deakins favouring autumnal browns and blacks. The setting of the church and school is barren, devoid of comfort or personality – just as it should be. And the film never extends the story for longer than it can sustain, wrapping up with a surprisingly satisfying and memorable conclusion.
So, as a study of guilt, blame and finger pointing, Doubt stirs up a few interesting ideas. But this remains a rather broad cinematic rendering of a subtle thought-provoking concept, and as such is more likely to bore than intrigue. It should have remained on the stage.
By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz
I really liked this movie It was amazing and so strong yet real and well acted
We saw the stage play and always thought this would film well. This production captivtes and never misses a beat
The assumed substance matter of this movie will have scared away many viewers. That is a shame because the movie gets its energy from what is not said or revealed. Hinted at. Guessed at. Speculated on barren poisoned minds. Gossiped about. But not "out there". "Doubt" is a gem.
Add a *spoiler alert* next time if you're going to give away any part of how a movie ends.
Wonderful dialogue as well as the acting, scenes where change depends on the character of people - a character which remains the same all the way through, just keeps on revealing itself more and more, for each of them. Sister James becomes tougher towards the end, it's true - but then she always had that in potential in her, she is a strong person. I thought it was very good,I sat rivetted all the way through - cinema mostly empty. Liked the use of light - who seeks it, who shuns it, it comes on, it goes off, it's almost obvious. - the use of the wind which gets in everywhere despite efforts, brings in dead leaves - The God's viewpoint and maybe sometimes the Devil's - the black boy seeing a dove trapped in the church - cannot go any higher, cannot escape. Complexity: the wonderful conversation between the mother and the nun - shifting emotionally in unexpected ways, showing how tricky it may be to work out where good lies, where evil. The cat and mouse a bit obvious. A rare thing, this - a film made in the US that dares not to end well...so I can't imagine it will do well there.
Doubt has exact and merciless writing, powerful performances and timeless relevance. It causes us to start thinking with the first shot, and we never stop. Think how rare that is in a film.
Exhausting yet invigorating, it's a drama one witnesses more than just views.
The film is nothing if not provocative.
Shanley seems to have lost a certain amount of faith in what he'd written. As a director he's ended up pushing the drama harder than he needs to. He hasn't done anything fatal, but he has tampered with and hampered it.
It's a triumph of production design - you can practically smell the floor polish and the starch on the linen - and Boston in winter never looked so bleak and cheerless. But in the end this is a film for people who like plays - in particular if they pronounce "theatre" as three syllables.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 15th Jan 2009.
Release date: January 15th 2009.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
