Doubt

Year: 2008
Director: John Patrick Shanley
Cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis


Oscar season is long over, but my reviews on Oscar films continue, and this week it's Doubt. Doubt is based on the play of the same name by John Patrick Shanley, who also directs this film.

Set in 1964, a year after Kennedy was assassinated, Doubt focuses on the goings-on in St. Nicholas school, which is connected to the local church. The school is run by Sister Aloysius, a nun who is headstrong, old-fashioned and very dictator-like in her actions.

The church is overseen by Father Flynn, who is in contrast a kind and open minded man, though seemingly mysterious as he is gregarious. His methods are not always parallel to Sister Aloysius', but they run things well enough with the other nuns.

Then one day, a black student, Donald Miller, who by the way is the only black student in the school, returns to his class in tears after a visit to Father Flynn's chambers. His teacher, Sister James suspects something amiss and mentions it to Sister Aloysius, who in turn decides to take it up with Father Flynn. Flynn denies anything out of the ordinary happening at first, but after much persuasion by Aloysius, relents and gives his explanation, much to his displeasure.

The problem is, Aloysius isn't satisfied. She isn't at all convinced that Flynn spoke the truth and makes it her mission to remove him from his position. Despite not having any evidence to support her suspicions, she presses on, even to the point of meeting Donald's mother to tell her about the whole thing, and still moving forward even when Donald's mother doesn't share her theory.

This film is primarily reliant on the cast's performance, due to the fact that it's based on a play, and it succeeds. Shanley successfully transfers his play to film and makes a very watchable and believable picture to behold. But most of the credit should be given to the actors who make it work so well.

Meryl Streep is outstanding as Sister Aloysius. I stepped into the hall thinking that she would just rehash the same type of performance she has perfected over the years in The Devil Wears Prada, Rendition and The Manchurian Candidate. But Streep takes her acting up a few notches and demonstrates what a person driven by ultimate unforgiving doubt of someone's honesty really looks like. Philip Seymour Hoffman matches her splendidly as the wise and more level-headed Father Flynn. I also perticularly enjoyed watching Amy Adams as Sister James, who is torn between supporting her superior Aloysius and trusting Flynn's claims. Her feelings of uneasiness of being dragged into the whole mess is well depicted by Adams.

All I can say is that this film was better than I expected. I expected heavy drama but I got a lot more than that. If you enjoy great actors giving wonderful performances, Doubt is for you to enjoy. (4/5)