Doubt (R-2008)

Here is the formula for a great movie: Take the script of an award-winning play (NOT a musical), get some heavy-duty actors (not "big stars", there is a difference), film it and you have gold. This was the formula for "Doubt", which pits Philip Seymour Hoffman against Meryl Streep in a head-to-head battle for control of a local parish. The story is very reminiscent of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", where Randle Patrick McMurphy comes into Nurse Ratched's psych ward and pits himself against Nurse Ratched, who needs to take him down to assert her power. In "Doubt", you have an old-school nun in Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep), who runs her catholic school and parish with an iron fist ("No ball-point pens!!!") and Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a priest who is fairly new to the parish and is a more progressive thinker ("Why not add some secular songs to the Christmas pageant? "Frosty the Snowman"?). It is clear pretty early that Sister Aloysius does not like this kind of thinking. When a nun/teacher (Amy Adams) mentions to Sister Aloysius that she believes Father Flynn may have been "improper" with one of the young boys in her class, Sister Aloysius sees her opportunity and comes after him with all she's got. This conflict makes for some great confrontations and terrific dialogue exchanges, which makes this an acting seminar in itself. The script is carefully written so that you are not sure who to root for. The evidence of impropriety is so flimsy and circumstantial that you want to believe Father Flynn. Clearly, Sister Aloysius is the villain, right?? As much as you feel that way, you really can't commit because IF Father Flynn is guilty, then all is fair in taking him down. This movie has it all, well-written, amazing acting and crisp direction. If anything, it is completely dialogue-driven, so it is a little slow, but the dialogue is so good that it does not matter. I loved the movie, I LOVE Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep reminded me that she IS as great as you think she is!

Grade: A+

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