Doubt (2008)
Number 1 - 2008
John Patrick Shanley adapts his Pulitzer Award winning play to the big screen with success, selecting a fine cast, that enable the film to become the magnificent motion picture that it is. This is one of the very best pictures of the year and I am hugely disappointed that the Academy has not nominated this powerful, morally inquisitive film for Best Picture. The reasons lie in the fact that the film is 'small' and does not have the material or vast scope of other Best Picture nominees to catapult it into that category, although it deservedly should be there.
The film's story is simple, but its message unyielding and eternally applicable - Doubt - and the problems that can result from uncertainty. The film takes place in Saint Nicholas High School in the Bronx in 1964. It centres around the possible misconduct and sexual improprieties of Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) towards the only African-American student in the school, Donald Miller. Father Flynn is shown in the film to show an apparent liking to the unfortunate boy, who had no friends or support in an era where schools in America very much had de facto segregation. Sister James (Amy Adams), a young and naive teacher, observes the closeness between Father Flynn and Donald Miller. One day during Sister James' class, she receives a call in her class asking for Donald Miller to meet Father Flynn in the rectory. When he returns, Donald is distraught and Sister James notices the smell of alcohol on his breath. Later, while her students are learning a dance, she notices Father Flynn placing a white shirt in Donald's locker. On guard for unusual behavior, Sister James reveals her suspicions to Sister Aloysius, the school's strict, old-fashioned head mistress (Meryl Streep).
Aloysius becomes convinced that Miller was abused by Father Flynn and set upon destroying Flynn for his unforgivable sins. The film revolves around this issue.
Many will not see a point to Doubt and consider it a superbly acted film with little substance. However, this film has much more than might appear. It is a parable about life, mistakes, stubbornness and a nod to the rapidly changing nature of the church during the 1960s. This is a great film, an incredible picture that deserves more recognition than it has gained.
Masterpiece. Full stop.
10/10
Number 1 - 2008
John Patrick Shanley adapts his Pulitzer Award winning play to the big screen with success, selecting a fine cast, that enable the film to become the magnificent motion picture that it is. This is one of the very best pictures of the year and I am hugely disappointed that the Academy has not nominated this powerful, morally inquisitive film for Best Picture. The reasons lie in the fact that the film is 'small' and does not have the material or vast scope of other Best Picture nominees to catapult it into that category, although it deservedly should be there.
The film's story is simple, but its message unyielding and eternally applicable - Doubt - and the problems that can result from uncertainty. The film takes place in Saint Nicholas High School in the Bronx in 1964. It centres around the possible misconduct and sexual improprieties of Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) towards the only African-American student in the school, Donald Miller. Father Flynn is shown in the film to show an apparent liking to the unfortunate boy, who had no friends or support in an era where schools in America very much had de facto segregation. Sister James (Amy Adams), a young and naive teacher, observes the closeness between Father Flynn and Donald Miller. One day during Sister James' class, she receives a call in her class asking for Donald Miller to meet Father Flynn in the rectory. When he returns, Donald is distraught and Sister James notices the smell of alcohol on his breath. Later, while her students are learning a dance, she notices Father Flynn placing a white shirt in Donald's locker. On guard for unusual behavior, Sister James reveals her suspicions to Sister Aloysius, the school's strict, old-fashioned head mistress (Meryl Streep).
Aloysius becomes convinced that Miller was abused by Father Flynn and set upon destroying Flynn for his unforgivable sins. The film revolves around this issue.
Many will not see a point to Doubt and consider it a superbly acted film with little substance. However, this film has much more than might appear. It is a parable about life, mistakes, stubbornness and a nod to the rapidly changing nature of the church during the 1960s. This is a great film, an incredible picture that deserves more recognition than it has gained.
Masterpiece. Full stop.
10/10