There is no evidence. There are no witnesses. But for one, there is no doubt.
It's 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. A charismatic priest, Father Flynn, is trying to upend the schools' strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, 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, 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.
Genre(s): Drama, Mystery
Runtime: 104 minutes
Rating: 7.8/10 (27,781 votes)
Release Date: 30 October 2008
Country: USA
Languages: English
Company: Goodspeed Productions
Sound: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for thematic material.
Director(s): John Patrick Shanley
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Producer(s):
Celia D. Costas - executive producer (as Celia Costas)
Mark Roybal - producer
Scott Rudin - producer
Nora Skinner - associate producer
Writer(s):
John Patrick Shanley - (screenplay)
John Patrick Shanley - (play)
Cast:
Meryl Streep - Sister Aloysius Beauvier
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Father Brendan Flynn
Amy Adams - Sister James
Viola Davis - Mrs. Miller
Alice Drummond - Sister Veronica
Audrie J. Neenan - Sister Raymond (as Audrie Neenan)
Susan Blommaert - Mrs. Carson
Carrie Preston - Christine Hurley
John Costelloe - Warren Hurley
Lloyd Clay Brown - Jimmy Hurley
Music: Howard Shore
Celia D. Costas - executive producer (as Celia Costas)
Mark Roybal - producer
Scott Rudin - producer
Nora Skinner - associate producer
Writer(s):
John Patrick Shanley - (screenplay)
John Patrick Shanley - (play)
Cast:
Meryl Streep - Sister Aloysius Beauvier
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Father Brendan Flynn
Amy Adams - Sister James
Viola Davis - Mrs. Miller
Alice Drummond - Sister Veronica
Audrie J. Neenan - Sister Raymond (as Audrie Neenan)
Susan Blommaert - Mrs. Carson
Carrie Preston - Christine Hurley
John Costelloe - Warren Hurley
Lloyd Clay Brown - Jimmy Hurley
Music: Howard Shore
Posted on: December 21, 2008
July 12th, 2009
To the pantheon of voices that Meryl Streep has employed on screen wecan now add New York. In John Patrick Shanley's* "Doubt", Streep playsthe stern, pallid Sister Aloysius Bouvier, head of a catholic school in1964 New York. The arrival of a new priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) hasinvigorated the parish. But when a young nun (Amy Adams) suspectswrongdoing on the priest's part, it challenges the faith of both women.
Everyone in the movie did a very good job. Sister Aloysius** is thetype who always behaves as though she's about to physically harm you,but it's understood that all her actions are for the good of the schooland the people in her inner circle. Father Flynn is not just the newpriest in this specific school, but wants to be a new KIND of priest:the type who appeals to the younger generation. Sister James*** is justtrying to do her job, trying as hard as possible not to rock the boat,but feels tormented at the events unfolding around her. Mrs. Miller(Viola Davis) only her son to be able to graduate, regardless of theseedy occurrences in the school.
Aside from the cast, the setting is perfect. This dowdy institution inautumn-winter gives a feeling of grimness as much as the events takingplace inside. And Sister Aloysius's line at the end not only refers towhat the movie depicts, but should serve as a wake-up call to anyoneexcessively entrenched in any religion.
Criticism that I read of the film is that it emphasizes shoutingbetween Aloysius and Flynn, and that the redeeming character is thebeautiful young woman. I understand this criticism, but it's necessaryto understand the overall point of the movie. Aside from looking at theissue of sexual molestation committed by priests, there's also thequestion of absolute truth. I think that the movie does a very good joblooking at both of these, and I definitely recommend it.
Also starring Joseph Foster and Alice Drummond (the "Ghostbusters"librarian).
PS: This is the third movie in which Amy Adams plays a woman whosefaith in her lifestyle gets challenged. In "Junebug", she befriends awoman but subsequent events damage their friendship. In "Enchanted",she plays a fairy tale princess who gets transferred to New York.
*Shanley also directed "The January Man" and "Joe Versus the Volcano"before creating "Doubt" for the stage.
**Why do nuns have male names?
***The tension between Sisters Aloysius and James reminded me a littlebit of "The Flying Nun", but the events here are definitely no laughingmatter.
July 12th, 2009
"Doubt" is a great movie, in which two talented actors (Meryl Streepand Philip Seymour Hoffman) reward the spectator with outstandingperformances. It is impossible not to spend a lot of time thinkingabout what happens in this story after having seen the film.
Someone put me an interesting question about what would really behappening there: Could Father Flynn be mainly seen as a disturbingoutsider trying to change a rather stable culture? May we see the storyas the confrontation of an established social system by someone whopersistently doesn't agree to follow its rules? In my opinion such adescription is not the best one – and I have a very simple conjectureto put in making my point: should Sister Aloysius leave her position asthe school's principal (instead of Father Flynn leaving his, as apriest in that parish), and soon the school's internal social climatewould radically change. In other words, in Sister Aloysius' absence,the behaviors of fearful caution and secrecy that nuns and pupils havebeen showing will very quickly fade out, to everyone's relief. Thestrong impression that such a change would effectively happen is enoughto show that we are not at the presence of a main cultural trait in asocial system, but only of a pattern of response from everyone in theorganization to the principal's attitudes: typically, her sick rigidityand obstinate righteousness. So, what we have here is just a terriblesocial climate created by a leadership style marked by a ratherpathological severity.
Therefore, he who eventually decides to use this film as an educationalresource in a workshop about organizational behavior will probably notteach much about corporate culture, but will certainly teach a lotabout leadership styles: Aloysius is an exceptional example ofautocratic and coercive leadership, marked by rigidity and prejudiceand eliciting in everybody deep feelings of fear and reserve. In hertortuous mind, she sees licentiousness where there is love, perversionwhere there is joy, and anarchy where there is pleasure. She representsan archaic and vicious kind of leadership that the Holy Churchexperimented for many and many years in the past, grounded on thepunishing God of the Old Testament much more than on the Gospel'sloving God.
July 15th, 2009
Although I always read the immature minds here whining away a filmdidn't have enough kick or action for them, I can only say stick withthe B movies.
The acting start to finish in the play made film was beyond excellent.Today most flicks are for kids or a kid's mind. This film was executedwith much passion, yet restraint.
It involves a nun who perceives a child predator priest moving fromvictim to victim. No one believes a priest could be guilty of suchevil. The plot is made complicated by a black mother who has a gay son.The problem of course, the kid is only 12 years old on the radar screenof Father Flynn, a pedophile.
The drama is excellent and the doubt is not that the good Father hasviolated a boy, rather that the Church disbelieves the messenger. Thisin fact could make one doubt the Church and God herself.
Over all an excellent drama that is well worth watching !
July 21st, 2009
I was disappointed, not in the acting, but in just about everythingelse. I read some encouraging reviews, and as the movie started MerylStreep took me back to my teacher, Sister J. . As Streep wandered theaisles of Church and school, I said to myself, "Yes, this is anaccurate scene. This is just how it happened." However, what was thepurpose of this movie, and what is it's message? This is where I amdeflated, let down and discouraged. I thought perhaps that the writersdon't really have the insight into the real world of the CatholicChurch just the periphery. Sure, recent years have uncovered a plethoraof pedophiles, and if more was said of the movie in this, perhaps maybethe better, but little was said, just inferred. It seems that themessage of this movie is it's title, and as the not so good Fathertells us in the opening sermon, we can all find unity in having thesame flaw. WHAT!!!??? This is a secular pile of dung. If priests andnuns wrote this movie they would write and act of doubt's antithesis,the all important credo in unity, which is Faith. Now, writers andaudience alike may criticize my viewpoint, saying it is I who don'tunderstand, but that is what I think is all wrong…with the worldviewpoint and with this movie. I hate to spoil it for anyone who hasn'tseen the movie, but the end says it all. In the end, Streep becomes abad person. The movie tells us Father Flynn's next residence is largerand therefore puts more boys at greater risk, not to mention thatStreep…. Well, I don't have to tell you if you want to watch it.
I have another problem with the movie as to how it handled the Millerboy. The movie let's us believe one thing, but the boy never shows anysigns of being of a certain orientation, only the word of his mother inclose conversation. Was the movie's point that gay boys attract thepedophiles? That whole line was confusing, and arguably underdeveloped.Point is if you're going to divulge the conversation with the Motherthan something more has to be done with the subject matter, even ifit's closed off quickly.
I can't recommend this movie except for the individual performances ofAdams, Seymour and Streep (order by alpha or ind. rating, take yourpick). They were all fantastic. I just wish they had a better scriptwith which to work.
July 28th, 2009
This movie is definitely one of the best movies of 2008.
The acting was amazing: Meryl Streep was amazing as sister Aloysius,but of course she is always great. Philip Seymour Hoffman does a greatjob as Father Flynn, he is so into his role that in the whole moviethere's not a single moment when you can say… i got you! you abusedthe kid! or you didn't! I was really surprised about Amy Adams. Ialways saw the perky Enchanted Amy Amdams until i saw this movie. Hernatural sweetness fits just fine in sister James character, I mean, Idon't think she deserved to be nominated for an Oscar but she didpretty good! Who came to me as a big surprise was Viola Davis. She'sjust in one scene, and her amazing performance nominates her for anOscar, not that i agree that much with the Oscars. But she made me cry!She made us really understand how much the kid suffered at home! Theplot was great. I really liked the end because it kinds of reveals thatFather Flynn abused Donald, but in the other hand, you are not sure atall. I was never bored during the whole movie and i was really into thestory.
The directing, the shots, the dialogs, everything was great! I reallyliked the movie and i would definitely recommend it for people whoalways enjoy a good acting.
July 31st, 2009
The doubt is on two levels. One, there is the doubt that Father Flynn(Philip Seymour Hoffman) molested the boy. The deeper doubt is that ifhe did, did he do anything wrong? Or on an even deeper level, did thewrong that he did outweigh the good that he did? This last question isat the very heart of the relationship between priests and boys in thenear contemporary American society depicted in this film.
Personally I don't believe that the ephemeral culture in which we livecan answer that question. Perhaps it is true that people like FatherFlynn are compelled to do good in this world for just those boys whomost need them because of their "nature" (as Meryl Streep's characterSister Aloysius puts it). Science has a lot of trouble accounting forhomosexuality, and understandably most scientists aren't interested inexploring why some men are sexually attracted to boys. The truth froman evolutionary point of view must be that in some sense thatattraction leads to, paradoxically, a better fit for not only the boy,which is obvious in some circumstances, but also for the man. How canthis be? Most theories about homosexuality invoke male bonding as theevolutionary force that makes the behavior adaptive. Homosexual malesbond with other males (homosexual or not) and thereby increase theiraccess to females. So great is the advantage that accrues to such malesthat even the homosexual males (who mate only to have offspring) havean adaptive advantage over outsider males.
But what is the adaptive advantage to males who are sexually attractedonly to boys? In a way this film (and the direction by John PatrickShanley based on his play) actually addresses this question. The answercomes from the scene in which Sister Aloysius and the boy's mother(Viola Davis as Mrs. Miller) talk and walk. The mother clearly seesthat whether her boy is getting molested by the priest or not issecondary to the fact that the priest cares about him more than hisfather. In other words (and most specifically in other circumstances)the priest would become the ally of the mother and they would bond. Ina world far removed from ours, in the prehistory, they might become asone. Or in a world removed from the celibacy of the priesthood he wouldlove the boy and the mother and she would love him and sex wouldhappen, although perhaps not as frequently as it would if the man wereheterosexual. Certainly he is a better man for the boy and for anyfurther boys than a father who would beat his son.
Meryl Streep who has given us so many brilliant performances gives yetanother one here. And Hoffman ditto. I have said it before and I'llrepeat it, Meryl Streep is nearly flawless in everything she does.Philip Seymour Hoffman ditto. To see two of the greatest actors of ourtime in the same film is quite a treat. To give them such indeliblecharacters to work with and such a compelling story to act out isreally wonderful. And I must say that Amy Adams who played Sister Jameswas also excellent and was not noticeably overshadowed by Streep andHoffman. Viola Davis who played the one scene as the boy's mother wasalso excellent.
The movie starts slowly as in a play, which it is. This is allowablesince the play-going audience has an investment and won't get up evenif the first act goes slowly. After a few minutes the story picks upand gathers power until, with a not entirely discernible suddenness, weare enthralled. In the end we realize how quickly the story wasactually told.
Do not give up on this after the first ten or fifteen minutes. It is astory about an issue for our times not to be missed, told with dignityand compassion for all concerned, and with a deep appreciation for thesubtleties and paradoxes of human nature and the complexities of ourworld.