Phil Mercer

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Doubt (Cert 15)

 

Shanley takes this critically acclaimed off-broadway production on to cellulite with an all star oscar nominated cast.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is Father Flynn Catholic Priest in the Bronx. It is 1964 and times are changing. His school has just taken on its first black student Donald Miller and father Flynn is trying to change the very strict life that the principle Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep) has created and enforced through fear and discipline.

Father Flynn introduces us to theme of Doubt early on. A sermon suggests that even as troubling as it is, it can also be unifying. However it seems that doubt is riddled throughout the staff of St Nicholas and soon Sister James (Amy Adams) is consulting her boss on a concern that Father Flynn has been paying the young Donald Miller a bit to much attention.

Sister Aloysius begins a crusade, without a shred of evidence, so find out the truth behind Father Flynn and have him removed from the school.

Meryl Streep deserves her Oscar nomination for Best Actress as she shows her incredible ability to take on a roll. Sister Aloysius is a light year away from the bubbly character we witnessed in Mama Mia. She terrorises her way around the school, although not without a few witty lines and hilarious 'hard stares!' For me personally, Seymour Hoffman is also excellent as the challenged Father Flynn.

If there is one thing you are guaranteed to feel as you leave the cinema, its an overwhelming feeling of Doubt.
Excellent. 5/5

Directed by John Patrick Shanley Produced by Scott Rudin
Written by John Patrick Shanley
Starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis
Music by Howard Shore, Distributed by Miramax Films

http://www.doubt-themovie.com/

Labels: Film Movie, oscar 2009

# posted by Phil @ 12:28 am

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