Doubt (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Set at a Catholic school in the Bronx in 1964, 'Doubt', directed by John Patrick Shanley & adapted from his own stage play, centers on Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) who grows suspicious when a priest takes too much interest in the life of a young black student, Donald Miller. Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is the progressive priest in question; and he has been subtly trying to upend the school's strict customs (long overseen by 'the dragon', Principal Aloysius). She believes in the power of fear & discipline; they are part & parcel of each other. Sister James (Amy Adams) is the innocent, naive newcomer. And Mrs. Miller (Viola Davis) is the mother of the black boy who's central to the conflict at hand.
The winds of change are blowing through the community (literally & figuratively). And when SR James shares with SR Aloysius her guilt-induced suspicion that Father Flynn is spending too much time with Donald, the elder Sister embarks on a personal crusade to expel Flynn from the parish (for both professional & personal reasons). Matters change when SR James (who initially told SR Aloysius of her suspicions) reneges on her claims and, SR Aloysius is forced to make heads or tails of this man's innocence. There's no proof of his guilt. So to her, when in doubt ... go for the jugular. Brimming with themes of religion, morality & authority, 'Doubt' is an unsettling movie with complex, exceptional performances.
The nature of the controversy is muddled: SR James smells alcohol on Donald's breath. She notices odd behavior from him in class. And she sees Father Flynn plant something in Donald's school locker. But did Father Flynn do anything improper? With no actual proof, SR Aloysius is left to assume his guilt. Is she fighting for Donald's welfare? Or does she "just not like" Father Flynn? How will this impact SR James & her skewed outlook of religious life? Everything comes to a head when Flynn & Aloysius face off in the climactic scene. Having just heard a bombshell dropped by Donald Miller's mother, SR Aloysius is forced to make quick sense of it all. Is she certain that her belief is correct after all?
Did Father Flynn do it? Well, there IS evidence showing the 'possibility' for promiscuity; a gesture, a glance, his love of flowers, his long fingernails (slightly-bizarre traits for the common man). Not only would relations with a young boy be sinful, but being a homosexual IN the church is damning enough as it is. Does Father Flynn have homosexual tendencies? Or is he just a slightly-bizarre, yet compassionate, loving messenger for God? Perhaps the boy bonds with Father Flynn over something private. We never know for sure. It's all up for interpretation. And the entire film is built this way.
SR Aloysius is another puzzling creature. She is seen as 'cold' because of her unshakeable righteousness; her 'moral certainty'. But whether or not she has a personal vendetta against Father Flynn ... she is actually a caring, religious person who wants to instill discipline, wisdom & love in everyone she encounters. Evidence of her true nature comes & goes; especially in her final scene with Father Flynn. They go AT it ... getting each other to admit that they've not always done right by God. Is anyone ever 'absolutely' right? No ... and that leaves room for Doubt. The movie does not dictate a tidy conclusion for us. WE are in doubt through the entire film; examining our own assumptions every step of the way.
Streep is as good as ever; peeling back the layers that her character inhibits (sometimes monstrous, mainly caring, & hell bent on railing against a male-dominated Catholic Church). PS Hoffman lends something special to every role he's in. Through his interpretation of Father Flynn, it's nearly impossible to figure out what sins he has committed (if any). Amy Adams is quietly impressive as the young nun caught-in-the-middle of it all. And Viola Davis knocks us out in one fleet, heart-wrenching scene. 'Doubt' is a film that you'll discuss/think about for days. Its ambiguities are the heart of the movie. The setting is distinctly moody. And even though I wasn't blown away, I enjoyed being immersed in a high-caliber drama; one that keeps us looking & listening for clues that may or may not be present.
The winds of change are blowing through the community (literally & figuratively). And when SR James shares with SR Aloysius her guilt-induced suspicion that Father Flynn is spending too much time with Donald, the elder Sister embarks on a personal crusade to expel Flynn from the parish (for both professional & personal reasons). Matters change when SR James (who initially told SR Aloysius of her suspicions) reneges on her claims and, SR Aloysius is forced to make heads or tails of this man's innocence. There's no proof of his guilt. So to her, when in doubt ... go for the jugular. Brimming with themes of religion, morality & authority, 'Doubt' is an unsettling movie with complex, exceptional performances.
The nature of the controversy is muddled: SR James smells alcohol on Donald's breath. She notices odd behavior from him in class. And she sees Father Flynn plant something in Donald's school locker. But did Father Flynn do anything improper? With no actual proof, SR Aloysius is left to assume his guilt. Is she fighting for Donald's welfare? Or does she "just not like" Father Flynn? How will this impact SR James & her skewed outlook of religious life? Everything comes to a head when Flynn & Aloysius face off in the climactic scene. Having just heard a bombshell dropped by Donald Miller's mother, SR Aloysius is forced to make quick sense of it all. Is she certain that her belief is correct after all?
Did Father Flynn do it? Well, there IS evidence showing the 'possibility' for promiscuity; a gesture, a glance, his love of flowers, his long fingernails (slightly-bizarre traits for the common man). Not only would relations with a young boy be sinful, but being a homosexual IN the church is damning enough as it is. Does Father Flynn have homosexual tendencies? Or is he just a slightly-bizarre, yet compassionate, loving messenger for God? Perhaps the boy bonds with Father Flynn over something private. We never know for sure. It's all up for interpretation. And the entire film is built this way.
SR Aloysius is another puzzling creature. She is seen as 'cold' because of her unshakeable righteousness; her 'moral certainty'. But whether or not she has a personal vendetta against Father Flynn ... she is actually a caring, religious person who wants to instill discipline, wisdom & love in everyone she encounters. Evidence of her true nature comes & goes; especially in her final scene with Father Flynn. They go AT it ... getting each other to admit that they've not always done right by God. Is anyone ever 'absolutely' right? No ... and that leaves room for Doubt. The movie does not dictate a tidy conclusion for us. WE are in doubt through the entire film; examining our own assumptions every step of the way.
Streep is as good as ever; peeling back the layers that her character inhibits (sometimes monstrous, mainly caring, & hell bent on railing against a male-dominated Catholic Church). PS Hoffman lends something special to every role he's in. Through his interpretation of Father Flynn, it's nearly impossible to figure out what sins he has committed (if any). Amy Adams is quietly impressive as the young nun caught-in-the-middle of it all. And Viola Davis knocks us out in one fleet, heart-wrenching scene. 'Doubt' is a film that you'll discuss/think about for days. Its ambiguities are the heart of the movie. The setting is distinctly moody. And even though I wasn't blown away, I enjoyed being immersed in a high-caliber drama; one that keeps us looking & listening for clues that may or may not be present.