It’s always a risk when writers direct their own work, since some playwrights don’t travel well from stage to screen. Aided by Roger Deakins, of No Country for Old Men fame, who vividly captures the look of a blustery Bronx winter, Moonstruck’s John Patrick Shanley pulls it off. If Doubt makes for a dialogue-heavy experience, like The Crucible and 12 Angry Men, the words and ideas are never dull, and a consummate cast makes each one count. Set in 1964 and loosely inspired by actual events, Shanley focuses on St. Nicholas, a Catholic primary school that has accepted its first African-American student, Donald Miller (Joseph Foster), who serves as altar boy to the warm-hearted Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Donald may not have any friends, but that doesn’t worry his mother, Mrs. Miller (Viola Davis in a scene-stealing performance), since her sole concern is that her son gets a good education. When Sister James (Amy Adams) notices Flynn concentrating more of his attentions on Miller than the other boys, she mentions the matter to Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep), the school’s hard-nosed principal. Looking for any excuse to push the progressive priest out of her tradition-minded institution, Sister Aloysius sets out to destroy him, and if that means ruining Donald’s future in the process–so be it. Naturally, she’s the least sympathetic combatant in this battle, but Streep invests her disciplinarian with wit and unexpected flashes of empathy. Of all the characters she’s played, Sister Aloysius comes closest to caricature, but she never feels like a cartoon; just a sad woman willing to do anything to hold onto what little she has before the forces of change render her–and everything she represents–redundant. –Kathleen C. Fennessy
My Thoughts: This movie was very interesting I loved the character played by Amy Adams she in my opinion was more of a focus then Meryl Streeps Character or Philip Seymor Hoffman who was equally excellent. But watching that nun who was so innocent and giving turn contort herself into a stern and conflicted person at the hand of Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Streep) was an amazing thing. I can see how people from all aspects of Christianity can enjoy this but those people who are catholic and know the catholic faith well I am sure enjoyed this on a different level. Watching this film made me miss the sanctity, history and ceremonialism of the Catholic Church.
Things I didn’t like: I did not like the ending I thought it was lacking in closure which in a story such as this closure I think is one of the most imporant things in a movie like this. Philip Seymor Hoffman although he did a great job his character was weak. If I were in that position I would have fought harder.
Rating. A
Additional Note: If you are catholic whether active or astranged check this out
