We are accustomed to making decisions on the basis of incomplete information; it's a part of life. And if we have doubts, we can acknowledge them and move on rather than be paralyzed by fear. In a court of law, we must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt before depriving a fellow citizen of his liberty. But how much harder it must be to deal with doubt in a community of faith, where doubts can undermine the very meaning of one's life - dedication, vocation, salvation. Or do you embrace doubt and make that another bond of the believers? Such are the questions that are raised in "Doubt," whose story deals with the suspicions, nay, "certainties" that a Catholic high-school principal (Meryl Streep) has in 1964 New York about a popular priest (Philip Syemour Hoffman) who may have an improper relationship with an altar boy. Expanded a bit for the screen from the award-winning Broadway play by the playwright himself, John Patrick Shanley also directs, with locations in the old neighborhood where he grew up. But still, "Doubt" raises more questions than it answers.
Given the revelations about pedophile priests in the last ten years, and the pattern of cover-up that perpetuated the abuse, Sister Aloysius' zeal for her charges seems prescient, and the difficulty, or impossibility she faces trying to go through (all-male) channels, is an indictment of the system. Yet what is her evidence? There are plausible explanations for everything, and no one is complaining except her. Why does she insist on pursuing her crusade against all evidence? Clearly, it seems, doubt is not in her vocabulary
These two titans, Streep and Hoffman, are joined by two worthy actors who round out the original four-character cast of the play: Amy Adams as Sister James, who does not doubt Father Flynn, and Viola Davis as the mother of the boy in question, who brings a totally unexpected perspective to the situation. This is an actor's movie, and all acquit themselves with high honors. It's a pleasure to watch, to admire, and to talk about afterwards.
Rated PG-13. 104 minutes. John Patrick Shanley - Director / Writer (screenplay) (play), Scott Rudin - Producer, Roger Deakins - Cinematographer, Howard Shore - Composer, David Gropman - Production Designer, Dylan Tichenor - Editor. Produced by Scott Rudin Productions. Distributed by Miramax Films
Principal actors: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis.
Given the revelations about pedophile priests in the last ten years, and the pattern of cover-up that perpetuated the abuse, Sister Aloysius' zeal for her charges seems prescient, and the difficulty, or impossibility she faces trying to go through (all-male) channels, is an indictment of the system. Yet what is her evidence? There are plausible explanations for everything, and no one is complaining except her. Why does she insist on pursuing her crusade against all evidence? Clearly, it seems, doubt is not in her vocabulary
These two titans, Streep and Hoffman, are joined by two worthy actors who round out the original four-character cast of the play: Amy Adams as Sister James, who does not doubt Father Flynn, and Viola Davis as the mother of the boy in question, who brings a totally unexpected perspective to the situation. This is an actor's movie, and all acquit themselves with high honors. It's a pleasure to watch, to admire, and to talk about afterwards.
Rated PG-13. 104 minutes. John Patrick Shanley - Director / Writer (screenplay) (play), Scott Rudin - Producer, Roger Deakins - Cinematographer, Howard Shore - Composer, David Gropman - Production Designer, Dylan Tichenor - Editor. Produced by Scott Rudin Productions. Distributed by Miramax Films
Principal actors: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis.
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