About 10 years ago this film may have been considered cutting edge. Certainly the subject matter is still considered a hot button in many sects of the country. The performances in Doubt are given by two of the best actors of our times. I can't help feel that the subject matter is just a little late and with that feeling comes a little heavy handed as well.
The film is set in a Catholic school, the Bronx and the year is 1964. Father Flynn (Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman), seems to be trying to bring the church and school's culture into a new age. Unfortunately for him Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Academy Award winner Meryl Streep) is holding onto her disciplines as closely as she can. The school has just accepted their first black student while Sister Aloysius begins to suspect the Father of inappropriate attention, in fact child molestation.
Though the original play came out a couple of years after the Catholic Church sex scandals, the time has been set in 1964. Rest assured there are some weighty issues that come with this film. There are no easy answers and many many undertones and ambiguity. The film looks and feels stage-like. The movie never clearly seems to make that necessary crossover into the film world and we are left feeling like an audience instead of a voyeur.
The performances are very good, the actors are top notch and try to work with the material. The writing is also good, without taking on the challenges of converting to the screen. The film always seems limited by the confines of the stage. Academy Award winning screenwriter John Patrick Shanley ("Moonstruck") adapted his own play for the screen and I think he was just too close to the material. Add to that Mr. Shanley directed his own script. There is some good, juicy work here on everyone's part, but it never quite clicks for me. There are many chances to make a social comment on the sex scandals but just when we get close Shanley takes us in another direction.
The film is set in a Catholic school, the Bronx and the year is 1964. Father Flynn (Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman), seems to be trying to bring the church and school's culture into a new age. Unfortunately for him Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Academy Award winner Meryl Streep) is holding onto her disciplines as closely as she can. The school has just accepted their first black student while Sister Aloysius begins to suspect the Father of inappropriate attention, in fact child molestation.
Though the original play came out a couple of years after the Catholic Church sex scandals, the time has been set in 1964. Rest assured there are some weighty issues that come with this film. There are no easy answers and many many undertones and ambiguity. The film looks and feels stage-like. The movie never clearly seems to make that necessary crossover into the film world and we are left feeling like an audience instead of a voyeur.
The performances are very good, the actors are top notch and try to work with the material. The writing is also good, without taking on the challenges of converting to the screen. The film always seems limited by the confines of the stage. Academy Award winning screenwriter John Patrick Shanley ("Moonstruck") adapted his own play for the screen and I think he was just too close to the material. Add to that Mr. Shanley directed his own script. There is some good, juicy work here on everyone's part, but it never quite clicks for me. There are many chances to make a social comment on the sex scandals but just when we get close Shanley takes us in another direction.