Doubt: A Film Review by Marlena
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
A compassionate priest. An alienated young boy. A secret meeting in the church rectory, wine, a mysterious boy’s undershirt… scandal? In a Catholic Church in Bronx, New York in 1964, a seemingly pleasant and untroubled church is riddled by secret transgressions, accusations, and most of all, doubt when priest Father Flynn is suspected of molestation by uptight and stern Sister Aloysius, headmaster of the church’s school.
Under Miramax Films with the direction of John Patrick Shanley, Doubt (rated PG-13) is orchestrated by a stellar cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis. This film adaptation of the original Tony award winning play by Shanley examines the difference between fiction and reality, fact and imagination that leaves many characters questioning the motives behind their actions, putting them in a state of doubt that ultimately tugs at their conscience throughout the film.
Doubt commences with Father Flynn (Hoffman) giving a sermon about the nature of doubt and it’s affects on people, videlicet the way it can become a unifying force amongst people – emphasizing the film’s main theme. This sermon raises Sister Aloysius’ (Streep) pre-existing suspicions of the Father’s possible misconduct and she requests that her fellow sisters be alert for this behavior from Father Flynn, specifically manipulating the innocent and meek Sister James (Adams), a teacher at the church, into sharing her qualms about Father Flynn. With heightened alert, Sister James witnesses subtle instances, which seem both legitimate and unreasonable, and could very well verify Sister Aloysius’ suspicions of Father Flynn, sending them into conflict riddled with doubt.
Under Miramax Films with the direction of John Patrick Shanley, Doubt (rated PG-13) is orchestrated by a stellar cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis. This film adaptation of the original Tony award winning play by Shanley examines the difference between fiction and reality, fact and imagination that leaves many characters questioning the motives behind their actions, putting them in a state of doubt that ultimately tugs at their conscience throughout the film.
Doubt commences with Father Flynn (Hoffman) giving a sermon about the nature of doubt and it’s affects on people, videlicet the way it can become a unifying force amongst people – emphasizing the film’s main theme. This sermon raises Sister Aloysius’ (Streep) pre-existing suspicions of the Father’s possible misconduct and she requests that her fellow sisters be alert for this behavior from Father Flynn, specifically manipulating the innocent and meek Sister James (Adams), a teacher at the church, into sharing her qualms about Father Flynn. With heightened alert, Sister James witnesses subtle instances, which seem both legitimate and unreasonable, and could very well verify Sister Aloysius’ suspicions of Father Flynn, sending them into conflict riddled with doubt.
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