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Doubt (2008/I)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
25 December 2008 (USA) morePlot:
Set in 1964, Doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing a black student. He denies the charges, and much of the play's quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality, and authority. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 32 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(585 articles)
John Turturro on The Big Lebowski Spin-Off (From Worst Previews. 1 July 2009, 8:00 AM, PDT)
134 New Names Invited to Join the Academy
(From Rope Of Silicon. 1 July 2009, 1:08 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
American Film's heavyweight acting champs square off. moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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 | |
| Joseph Foster | ... | Donald Miller (as Joseph Foster II) | |
| Mike Roukis | ... | William London | |
| Haklar Dezso | ... | Zither Player | |
| Frank Shanley | ... | Kevin | |
| Robert Ridgell | ... | Organist |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for thematic material.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
104 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreCertification:
USA:PG-13 (certificate #39360) | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Canada:G (British Columbia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Spain:13 | South Africa:13LS | Hong Kong:IIA | New Zealand:M | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:AL | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Czech Republic:12 | Sweden:7 | Mexico:B | Iceland:LFilming Locations:
College of Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA moreFun Stuff
Trivia:
In the scenes in church when Fr. Flynn is wearing green vestments, he wears the stole over his chasuble. Although this fad became popular after Vatican 2, in 1964 the priest would have definitely worn the stole under the chasuble where it belongs. moreGoofs:
Factual errors: In the sacristy before mass, at the beginning of the film one of the altar servers is seen "firing up" the thurible (incense burner). Incense would have been used only at a solemn high mass, which the mass we see was not. moreQuotes:
Father Brendan Flynn: A woman was gossiping with her friend about a man whom they hardly knew - I know none of you have ever done this. That night, she had a dream: a great hand appeared over her and pointed down on her. She was immediately seized with an overwhelming sense of guilt... moreSoundtrack:
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear moreFAQ
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?The story takes place in 1964, so why is there an MP3 player in it?
What religion are they supposed to be?
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There are no better actors working in American film today than Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Streep has been on top for some time now and Hoffman has an unmatched resume of fine performances over the past five years. Pairing off as adversaries in John Patrick Shanley's stage play brought to screen they parry and prod throughout with each landing hay makers along the way.
Change is in the wind in 1964 for both the world and the Catholic Church (Second Vatican Council) as the country moves from conservatism to liberal thought. Sister Aloysius (Streep)is the principal of an inner city Catholic school who rules with an iron fist. Lamenting the loss of tradition (she thinks Frosty the Snowman is a song about worshiping false idols) she crosses swords with the popular and laid back Father Flynn who takes a more liberal view seeing the need to keep up with the times. His progressive ways gnaw at Sister Aloysius and she is soon suspecting Father Flynn of inappropriate relationship with altar boys even though she is without concrete proof.
The scenes between Streep and Hoffman are riveting from start to finish. Both attempt at first to be civil with each other but eventually they end up at each others throat bullying and threatening. It is a titanic emotional struggle that makes for a gripping drama flawlessly acted. I'm no big fan of Streep, finding the adopted accents she employs in some of her films false and hollow, but as the self righteous Nunzilla her pugnacious style and inflection rates with her Sophie's Choice performance. Hoffman has his work cut out for him to keep up with the formidable legend but he holds his own with equal footing.
In supporting roles Amy Adams is very effective as the unintended go between Sister James. Seized with doubt she like the audience mirrors our own misgivings as conflicted objective observers. Viola Davis as a troubled boy's mother has one lengthy powerful and painful scene that begins to tie loose ends together but offers no easy solution.
Writer director John Patrick Shanley does an admirable job in keeping the plot nebulous with ambivalent scenes and peripheral characters that purposefully enhance the suspense. Scenes are tightly edited with sparse but effective dialog giving the film its steady pace. Other than some jarring oblique angle shots the camera compositions and set design provide a somber ambiance for the drama and an arena for the perfectly measured performances by two masters of the craft in this fight to the finish that remains absorbing from beginning to end.