Doubt
Rated PG-13
Running time:
1 hr 44 mins
Cast:
Meryl Streep
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Amy Adams
Viola Davis
Critical Consensus:
***1/2 out of *****
(73% Fresh Rating!)
Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:
***** out of *****
The Premise:
Set in 1964, Doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him abusing a black student. He denies the charges, and much of the play's quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality and authority.
MY REVIEW
In the film 'Doubt' the word doubt is probably said 10-15 times. Some would think that would be a over use of the film's title. But the title is appropriately named, seeing as how the film centers around characters who truly aren't certain about any of their finger pointing. Even the stern Sister Aloysious who's accusing Father Flynn of some serious wrong doing towards an alter boy shows moments of uncertainty in her actions. But one minuscule moments. The movie, if you don't know, is about a head nun/principal at a Catholic school who adamantly tries to get the new priest to confess he "made wrongful advances" on a young black alter boy. He denies it with every ounce of his power. She seems one hundred percent sure he did something very bad. In the middle of this is Sister James who originally told the principal she suspected some wrong doing. However she ends up caught in the middle, and attempts to be the voice of reason. Of a main cast of 3 or 4, Sister James really is the only good person with truly good, God like intentions.
Doubt is one of very best films of 2008, there is simply no question about that. This is a movie I had been looking forward to since the day I saw the preview and I have recently been afraid I would be dissapointed by the outcome. I had been hyping myself up with all the award talk surrounding the film. I am very happy to say that 'Doubt' was just as amazing as I originally expected it to be. The film is based off a play that has won a few Tony Awards. The movie comes to screen with the same feel of a stage play. Some critics were bothered by that, but I thought it worked perfectly. The literal setting never really left the Church. So we weren't bothered by too many sets (which were perfect in the film). It also made the setting very simplistic, and the story never wandered to far out of it's reach where the audience would get distracted. This film stuck to it's story, and we were offered nothing else. No major backgrounds of any of the characters and no elaborate set-up. The story kicked off almost immediately and never once let go of you. This made for an incredibly tense story. It was a great story.
The entire time you honestly have no idea who's side you are on, at least I didn't. The two main characters are both right in their own ways, and also both wrong. Both of them are also not all that lovable. You really don't feel for any of them so it's difficult to take a side when you don't have proof from any of them for their cases. Which makes the title even more perfect, because I too felt this level of uncertainty the entire running of the film. That to me makes for a very suspenseful character drama. A lot of people may wonder how on Earth a drama about a Catholic nun and priest could have any remote levels of excitement. Well then see 'Doubt' and you will know exactly how that could be. Do you ever find out the truth? I'm not going to tell you, but the movie in my opinion concluded absolutely perfectly for the message it was ultimately trying to give to us.
The man who created the play, also brought this film to screen life. He did such a fantastic job with this task. Like I said above, it all looks very simplistic and nothing no set or costume is to elaborate. I don't think it will win any costuming or set design awards, but the movie wasn't supposed to be flashy. Why get distracted by over the top visuals, when the story never calls for it even though it takes place in the 60's. It would be silly. But really this had perfect craftsmanship nonetheless. The camera focused on these characters and their verbal battles which really just got you into what we were watching unfold. Oh and also, an excellent score by Oscar winning composer Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings)!
This may be one of the smallest ensemble casts of the year, but it may very well be one of the best. Oscar winner Meryl Streep (Sophie's Choice, Kramer Vs. Kramer) was brilliant! This may actually be one of my favorite Streep performances. Her performance here was incredibly powerful and terrifying. Her character was down-right nasty and scary, and she did a phenomenal job playing a cold hearted you know what! She deserves to WIN an Oscar for this turn! Oscar winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Capote, Charlie Wilson's War) was not to shabby himself. Actually he was incredible and worked perfectly with Streep. He plays his character so creepily, and you never really feel bad for him. When he goes toe to toe with Streep in verbal wars, he is simply amazing and makes you feel so tense! He was excellent!
Oscar nominee Amy Adams (Junebug, Enchanted) was the only character you felt true compassion for. You know what, she may not have been as fierce as the two main characters, but that didn't stop her from delivering one of her best performances to date. She had to play that voice of reason, and in a way she was the character the audience relates to, because we are in the same boat as her. She had her moments of snapping though, and she really shined in this film. I of course have to talk about Viola Davis (Disturbia, Nights in Rodanthe), seeing as how she is garnering a ton of awards and attention for her role in this film. She has but one scene in the entire film, and really she's just a cameo. But her scene may very well be one of the most memorable in the film. She really takes the film and flips it in her one ten minute scene. I won't say what goes down, but her emotional talk with Streep does not go down how you expect it to. You want her to be the victim and the voice of reason, but it's really not what you get. It's actually quite shocking where she takes the film. Her performance for me was incredibly moving and one of the best parts of a brilliant film. For the first time, an actress who went head to head with Meryl Streep out-shined the Oscar winner! She owned that scene, no question. While all the other characters scream at each other, Viola Davis uses a more calmed anger to voice her place in all this. Superbly acted scene in an incredibly well acted film.
This review has gone on a long time, I'm sorry about that. But in time full of colorful and flashy movies garnering all these awards, it's actually quite refreshing to have a film like 'Doubt'. You would think a movie like this, with a cast like this would just be screaming for Oscar, but I never once thought it was just going for awards. I really think this film was made to simply be a great film, and that's exactly what it was.
To view this film's theatrical trailer, click this link:
Doubt
*This is the 177th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.
