Robin PottratzStinging Performances Keep Uneven "Doubt" Afloat *** stars out of 4
December 29th 2008 21:08
When Doubt debuted on New York stages in 2005, the world was consumed with scandal surrounding pedophilia within the supposed sacred institution of the catholic church and more specifically, the priesthood. John Patrick Shanley's play was more of a forum for the investigation of wrongdoing by the church as well as uncertainty of what direction that the Catholic Church was heading. Now in 2008, the debate is still raging on and Shanley has adapted his play into a powerful...if frustratingly paced film.
Meryl Streep stars as Sister Alyosius Beauvier, a cold, venom spewing headmisstress at a Bronx catholic school in 1964. She runs the school with a philsophy of fear and intimidation despite the objections of other nuns, namely the young Sister James (Amy Adams) who wishes that things could be run less like a prison, to which Alyosius retorts: "That's how it works." The objections of her fellow nuns doesn't get under the skin of Alyosius nearly as much as her nemesis Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) who promotes new ideas of the church such as more secular themes as well as the idea of uncertainty and doubt within the paragon of religion.
Alyosius despises Flynn, she hates his new secular ideas (like Frosty the Snowman) and his camaraderie with the Msgr. and other higher ups within the catholic church who find great humor in degrading women behind closed doors.
The war between Alyosius and Flynn explodes when she suspects that he has sexually molested a student named Donald Muller (Joseph Foster II) who is also the sole black student at the school. The evidence comes when Sister James sends Donald to Flynn's office and he returns visibly upset and smelling of altar wine. The issue is eventually raised by Alyosius to Flynn and to Donald's mother (Viola Davis)...all of which leads to fireworks and a haunting conclusion.
Alright, that's enough plot, let's get to the good stuff. I will tell you this...you will not see a better acted movie in 2008. Meryl Streep seems to be in line for her third oscar. She is able to let the emotion out of Alyosius behind her cold exterior. Her rough scenes with Hoffman as well as her intimate scenes with Amy Adams are something to behold. The final scene of the film with Streep and Adams alone in a courtyard where they come to haunting an unsettling conclusions is one for the time capsule
Hoffman continues to show why he may be the best actor on the planet. His scenes with Streep will pin you to your seat. Watch Hoffman's eyes as he attempts to challenge Alyosius or deliver a sermon on gossip. This is an extremely difficult role and Hoffman nails it with nuance and grace.
Amy Adams is solid as the Naive Sister James who has no idea of where to turn when this crisis of conscience begins to take over her. However, it is hard to shake the performance of Viola Davis as Mrs. Muller. She only has one scene and I hope that the academy won't hold that against her. Her one scene with Streep in a park is a knockout scene as she reveals things about her son and her desire for his advancement at any cost. Davis is a wonder and delivers a scene that will be talked about in acting classes for years.
The problem with Doubt is that John Patrick Shanley is clearly unsure of his filmmaking. Scenes end abruptly, there are many odd and unecessary angles and there are cutaways where none should exist. His uncertainty with a camera hampers Doubt by distracting us from what gives the film life...the actors.
The narrative also hits lulls. For every scene knocked out of the park by the actors, there is another scene that is unecessary and forgettable. This all goes back to Shanley's uncertainty with film adaptation and his unwillingness to just let the actors be actors. It is funny that his uncertainty is what hampers the film because it is the focal point of the narrative.
All that aside, this movie belongs to Streep and Hoffman. These are two of the finest actors to ever grace the silver screen and both bring their A-game. The passion and nuance that is exhibited in Doubt is what prevents this film from being exploitation and makes in something real and alive. No matter what your feelings are about Doubt I recommend to just stay with Hoffman and Streep, their passion is worth the price of admission
Meryl Streep stars as Sister Alyosius Beauvier, a cold, venom spewing headmisstress at a Bronx catholic school in 1964. She runs the school with a philsophy of fear and intimidation despite the objections of other nuns, namely the young Sister James (Amy Adams) who wishes that things could be run less like a prison, to which Alyosius retorts: "That's how it works." The objections of her fellow nuns doesn't get under the skin of Alyosius nearly as much as her nemesis Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) who promotes new ideas of the church such as more secular themes as well as the idea of uncertainty and doubt within the paragon of religion.
Alyosius despises Flynn, she hates his new secular ideas (like Frosty the Snowman) and his camaraderie with the Msgr. and other higher ups within the catholic church who find great humor in degrading women behind closed doors.
Great Performances lift "Doubt"
The war between Alyosius and Flynn explodes when she suspects that he has sexually molested a student named Donald Muller (Joseph Foster II) who is also the sole black student at the school. The evidence comes when Sister James sends Donald to Flynn's office and he returns visibly upset and smelling of altar wine. The issue is eventually raised by Alyosius to Flynn and to Donald's mother (Viola Davis)...all of which leads to fireworks and a haunting conclusion.
Alright, that's enough plot, let's get to the good stuff. I will tell you this...you will not see a better acted movie in 2008. Meryl Streep seems to be in line for her third oscar. She is able to let the emotion out of Alyosius behind her cold exterior. Her rough scenes with Hoffman as well as her intimate scenes with Amy Adams are something to behold. The final scene of the film with Streep and Adams alone in a courtyard where they come to haunting an unsettling conclusions is one for the time capsule
Hoffman continues to show why he may be the best actor on the planet. His scenes with Streep will pin you to your seat. Watch Hoffman's eyes as he attempts to challenge Alyosius or deliver a sermon on gossip. This is an extremely difficult role and Hoffman nails it with nuance and grace.
Amy Adams is solid as the Naive Sister James who has no idea of where to turn when this crisis of conscience begins to take over her. However, it is hard to shake the performance of Viola Davis as Mrs. Muller. She only has one scene and I hope that the academy won't hold that against her. Her one scene with Streep in a park is a knockout scene as she reveals things about her son and her desire for his advancement at any cost. Davis is a wonder and delivers a scene that will be talked about in acting classes for years.
The problem with Doubt is that John Patrick Shanley is clearly unsure of his filmmaking. Scenes end abruptly, there are many odd and unecessary angles and there are cutaways where none should exist. His uncertainty with a camera hampers Doubt by distracting us from what gives the film life...the actors.
The narrative also hits lulls. For every scene knocked out of the park by the actors, there is another scene that is unecessary and forgettable. This all goes back to Shanley's uncertainty with film adaptation and his unwillingness to just let the actors be actors. It is funny that his uncertainty is what hampers the film because it is the focal point of the narrative.
All that aside, this movie belongs to Streep and Hoffman. These are two of the finest actors to ever grace the silver screen and both bring their A-game. The passion and nuance that is exhibited in Doubt is what prevents this film from being exploitation and makes in something real and alive. No matter what your feelings are about Doubt I recommend to just stay with Hoffman and Streep, their passion is worth the price of admission
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