Post by BIGFANBOY on Dec 25, 2008 7:19:29 GMT -5
DOUBT
Review by Gary Dean Murray
Doubt is one of those plays that must be a powerhouse to watch. The story of doubt and accusations set in the world of the 1960s Catholic Church must come across as strong-armed battle of wills, with a modern priest confronting a old world nun. But sometimes what works on stage doesn't translate to a different venue.
Set in the time after the assassination of JFK, Doubt is the world of the Catholic School. Sister Beauvier (Meryl Streep) runs the school with an iron fist. She tolerates nothing and punishes everyone, from the students to her fellow sisters. She is old school and very 'by the book' as a taskmaster. Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) is much more modern in his thoughts and tone. He sees the church as a partner in the community and not something to be feared. Theirs is an epic clash of two diametrically opposed wills.
Caught in the middle between these two is Sister James (Amy Adams). She is new to the school and new to the ways of the habit. More naive than simple, this young woman believes in the best of everyone and everything, never casting aspersions on any other person. But Sister Beauvier feels that something is amiss. The school has taken in the first black student, Donald Miller, and it seems that Father Flynn has become the protector for the young man. The Elder Sister Beauvier feels that something just isn't right between the two. Sister James reports her doubts to Sister Beauvier which causes a confrontation between the sister and the priest.
We find that Sister Beauvier was once married and that she lost her husband in the war, which helps explain her bitter attitude. Her distrust for everything explains her distrust of the male dominated church. As she tries to instruct Sister James in the ways of teaching and distrust, it comes across more as indoctrination. The confrontation between Sister Beauvier and Donald Miller's mother becomes a joust for information. It is these tarries and dodges that drives the giant confrontation that is Doubt.
My biggest problem with this film is in the screenplay. While the interplay between the actors works on the stage, on the Silver Screen it falls a bit flat. But the biggest part that didn't work was the reaction of the mother. Where the telling of the information should deliver a shocked reaction, the audience reaction was more of “What?” And the final scene just didn't fit the tone of the previous ninety minutes, almost as if it were a rewritten ending. What works on a live stage and a cut together bit of film are sometimes not in the same league.
But, The three actors of this piece have Oscar buzz all over their roles. Amy Adams especially holds her own against the powerhouse forces that are Mrs. Streep and Mr. Hoffman. This younger performer never loses a moment to either more seasoned performer. She is the audience's eyes and ears, making the same judgments that everyone makes as the two mighty forces have their moral battle. What can be said about both Mrs. Streep and Mr. Hoffman that hasn't been said so many times before? These two are very deserved Oscar winners who are working at the top of their game, giving a thought out and thorough reading of a terse script.
Director John Patrick Shanley does a good job of capturing both the time and place of Doubt. It rings both strong and true in both character and content. But, it never really becomes anything more than a filmed stage play. A better re-write with more cinematic liberties would have done wonders for Doubt. Whether intended or not, the final exercise of the film is a bit claustrophobic. For those looking for some fine acting with a bit of a weak screenplay, this is one to check out. It is better than about 90% of the films releases during the year, though by no means a perfect film.
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