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Released 6th February 2009
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As anyone who has been in doubt will tell you, it is one of the most uncomfortable feelings that can have ugly repercussions and change circumstances for the worst if the wrong conclusions are reached. Writer/director John Patrick Shanley’s powerful and utterly gripping film, set in a religious microcosm of never-ending intrigue and veiled secrecies, keeps all guessing and ‘in doubt’ until the very end — and that is its appeal and sheer triumph. There is no actual closure to the disturbing accusations made, short of certain characters having more power over others to impose their point of view. For that reason, the film makes for an unsettling experience and, naturally, provokes debate, long after its viewing.
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The dynamic ‘head-to-head’ scene between Meryl Streep as the iron-gloved school principal, Sister Aloysius Beauvier, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the accused priest, Father Flynn, is one of the most explosive and ‘verbally violent’, yet controlled, witnessed on screen for some time, and could not have had such the forceful and breathtaking impact that it has without recruiting the exceptional talents of both of these actors.
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Streep is astounding as Sister Aloysius, an enthralling character so complex and multi-dimensional, showing both staunch self-control and devilish wit, that because of her oath and position in the church and school is forever teetering on the brink of self-combustion, but far too wise and weary to lay all her emotions to bear at once. Amy Adams as the ever-hopeful, sweet and innocent Sister James reflects the turmoil that Sister Aloysius so desperately wants to release, and asks the questions of Father Flynn that need asking — for both the characters and the audience, but the answers still leave all in doubt and yearning for an end to the dilemma. Seymour Hoffman is absolutely brilliant as the charismatic and slightly unorthodox priest, and it is for this reason that Father Flynn does not ‘fit’ conventionality that plants the seeds of doubt.
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For an all-consuming and quite remarkable mystery drama, Doubt will leave you in no doubt whatsoever that all three lead actors wholeheartedly deserve their recognition in the Oscar nominations because the writing and acting are first-class.
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By Lisa Keddie
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Synopsis
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It’s 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. A vibrant, charismatic priest, Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), is trying to upend the school’s strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep), the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. The winds of political change are sweeping through the community and indeed, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James (Amy Adams), a hopeful innocent, shares with Sister Aloysius her guilt-inducing suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius sets off on a personal crusade to unearth the truth and to expunge Flynn from the school. Now, without a shard of proof besides her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius locks into a battle of wills with Father Flynn which threatens to tear apart the community with irrevocable consequence.
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Film Facts
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Official UK site: http://www.doubt-themovie.co.uk/
UK Release Date: 6th February 2009
Director: John Patrick Shanley
Writer: John Patrick Shanley
Cast: Meryl Streep (’Sister Aloysius Beauvier’), Philip Seymour Hoffman (’Father Brendan Flynn’), Amy Adams (’Sister James’), Viola Davis (’Mrs Miller’), Lloyd Clay Brown (’Jimmy Hurley’), Bridget Megan Clark (’Noreen Horan’), Joseph Foster, II (’Donald Miller’), Alice Drummond (’Sister Veronica’), Audrie Neenan (’Sister Raymond’), Susan Blommaert (’Mrs Carson’)
UK Distributor: Walt Disney Picture Studios UK
Certificate: 15
Run-time: 103 mins
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Video on Real.com
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Trailer:
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‘Frosty The Snowman’ CLIP:
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Insight:
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Film Gala with the Stars:
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UK Press Conference:
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