Writer: John Patrick Shanley (Screenplay) John Patrick Shanley (Play)
Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis, Alice Drummond, Audrie Neenan, Susan Blommaert, Carrie Preston, John Costello, Lloyd Clay Brown
Plot: A Catholic school principal questions a priest’s ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Intense Thriller
Story: Doubt starts in 1964 where Father Flynn (Hoffman) is still trying to lift his followers in the catholic church. We meet the strict Sister Beauvier (Streep) who strikes fear in all the student in the school while the perky Sister James (Adams) tries her own way to get through to the students.
When Sister James starts to question what Father Flynn has been up to she goes to Sister Beauvier with her suspicious about what he has been doing with the kids well one in particular. We watch as the three clash as they look for what is the truth in a world before all the catholic child molesting was being reported.
Doubt gives us one of the questions that is always good to leave the film with, which side do you believe? This really helps because we do see both sides of the situation and we are also left without a true answer leaving us with the important word doubt. The film does touch on subjects that we have come to see in life with catholic church being involved with child molesting.
Actor Review
Meryl Streep: Sister Aloysius Beauvier is the strict Sister on the catholic school that all the other Sisters have to turn answer to if they have any issues. When Sister James suspects Father Flynn she leads the charge against him because of her old school ways of beliefs. Meryl is brilliant in this role as we see her character going in a direction way before her time.
Philip Seymour Hoffman: Father Brendan Flynn is the head of the parish where he picks the altar boys and works with the sisters to make the best decisions. When he gets closes to one of the boy’s heads start to turn and we are left to wonder if he is being a good man or taking advantage of this boy. Philip shows just how good he really was with this performance.
Amy Adams: Sister James is the innocent naïve Sister that teaches a class, she starts to piece together being the first person to suspect Father Flynn. She finds herself jumping between the sides never really knowing what to believe is true. Amy is great in this role almost being the character we are being able to relate to through the situation.
Viola Davis: Mrs Miller is the mother of the suspected victim of Father Flynn, she knows how difficult life is going to be for her son knowing that getting through this school will help any future he wants to have but the truth coming out could harm his future. Viola is brilliant in here few scenes supporting scenes.
Support Cast: Doubt has a supporting cast which includes the kids and the rest of the church who are only involved in the moments needed.
Director Review: John Patrick Shanley – John gives us one of the most intense films out there with how this subject.
Mystery: Doubt does keep us wondering just what is the truth out in the story.
Settings: Doubt keeps everything in the correct locations to make us believe we are in the right time period.
Suggestion: Doubt is one I think people should see at least once but I can see why it might be hard to see more than once. (Watch)
Best Part: Story.
Worst Part: Not one for re-watching.
Believability: This story might be fictional but the events are similar to certain moments.
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: Nominated for 5 Oscars
Budget: $20 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes
Tagline: There is no evidence. There are no witnesses. But for one, there is no doubt.
Overall: Very interesting and intense film with great subject matter.
Rating