Doubt --Shell

Father Flynn stands, clothed in his robes, in the front of the church, giving a sermon. It is 1964, and President Kennedy had recently been assassinated. He is speaking to the group, sitting quietly in the seats, with an understanding, soft face. “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.”

One belligerent nun, who paces the side of the church, scolding children, looks upon him with a look different than all the others—suspicion. Meryl Streep and Amy Adams play the two nuns, who suspect Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of molesting a young black boy—coincidentally the only black boy at their school. Sister Beauvier (Streep) is the stern, rigid woman who is intent on proving that the Father did what she believes. Sister James (Adams) is the naïve young history teacher, who starts off believing the accusation, yet by the end, her mind has much changed. Over the course of John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt, the issues of religion, morality, trust, and certainty are brought up and targeted.

Based off the play, also written by John Patrick Shanley, it can be determined that Doubt makes a better play. Not much happens in the movie, which could only be pulled off on stage in this case. There were many symbols throughout the film, also, including a bird, an eye in the window of the church, and the wind. It can be noticed, also, that every time something new was introduced, and doubts were held, the winds would change. The symbolic elements would really be more beneficial on stage, where they can be better appreciated. The acting, however was superb. Meryl Streep did an outstanding job of not only being the intimidating nun that scares those around her in the film, but also those in the audience. Amy Adams plays the innocent nun nicely and Philip Seymour Hoffman portrays the priest with excellent talent.

Overall, I would recommend Doubt (PG-13) to anyone who is into theatre. It was a production of the work of a brilliant writer and the talents of brilliant actor. I give the movie four out of five stars, for it kept me engaged throughout the entire story of lies and doubts.