Doubt

written and directed by: John Patrick Stanely (also the playwright)



In 1964 a Catholic school gets their first black student Michael Miller. The school is run by Sister Aloysius (Merly Streep) a hard, rule following, devout nun. Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) is the church's priest. He's a little trendier (as far as priests go). Sister James is a young nun who teaches at the school and has a soft spot in her heart for the students. It's clear from the beginning that Sr. Aloysius isn't too keen on Father Flynn. His first sermon that we see is on doubt and she wonders what he's up to that made him pick that topic. She tells the other nuns to be on the look out for any odd behavior. Sure enough Sr. James notices the close friendship between Father Flynn and Michael Miller. They have a private conversation one day and afterwards the boy came back to class a little...odd. Sr. Aloysius takes this info and runs with it because her certainty has convinced her Flynn has done something horrible and decides to take him down.

It's a very simple plot. Doubt vs. Certainty. Sr. Aloysius is incredibly certain the entire movie that Father Flynn is guilty. Sr. James goes back and forth on the issue depending on who she just spoke to. We never fully know if Father Flynn is guilty so you must weigh your own doubt and certainty to come to your own conclusions.

The movie itself was paced pretty slow to me. I'm sure that was a method by the director, but since I knew the movie was originally a play, it felt like a play to me. There are a lot of subtle devices used that you end up thinking about later. And the movie is very dialouge driven. But with people like Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep you don't necessarily get bored because they are awesome actors.

There was a lot of buzz going around about Viola Davis. She plays Michael Millers mother. She was good because her character's stance on the accusastions is definetly not what you think it would be, but she's only on screen about 10 minutes. Hoffman does is standard job of delivering everything needed to pull off the role. And Streep has to be nominated for an Oscar for this one. She plays such a good bitch. You have really hate Sr. Aloysius but then again she's so convincing you want to be on her side.

It's a damn fine movie if a little slow at times. I don't think its one I would watch over and over but its guaranteed to make you think about things and discuss them with whoever you go see it with. Yesterday on Oprah (don't ask why I was watching) this dude was saying how your perception is used to confirm your beliefs. Your mind turns whatever you see to make whatever you believe true. It was crazy that I saw that right after i saw the movie. And its definetly true. I'm sure everyone came out of this movie with a different outcome. Good stuff. Really sticks with you.