Doubt

Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman

The film Doubt isn’t really about doubt; it’s more about unwavering certainty despite a lack of proof. You may think this refers to the faith of the characters involved (the film is set in a seminary school), but in reality faith has very little to do with it. This could have been set in another situation and the dilemma would still be the same. If certainty is “an emotion, not a fact”, how can one be convinced otherwise?

Director John Patrick Shanley adapts his own stage play for the screen, and manages to secure some heavyweight acting talent to bring his characters to life. Meryl Streep plays the overly strict principal of the school, and Philip Seymour Hoffman is the priest whom she suspects of having improper relations with one of the pupils. The stage is set for a titanic battle of wills as Sister Aloysius (Streep) and Father Flynn (Hoffman) lock horns, both refusing to back down. Stuck in the middle is the kind-natured Sister James (Amy Adams), full of wide-eyed innocence and ingenuity that has become Adams’ trademark.

And yet it is Sister James that first throws the light of suspicion on Fr. Flynn after he calls one of the pupils to the rectory during a class. Once this has been put before Sister Aloysius, the principal grabs hold of it and won’t let it go, despite eventual protestations from Sister James that she believes Fr. Flynn to be innocent. Although the principal initially says that she is “perhaps needlessly” concerned, the seeds of doubt as to Fr. Flynn’s character have been planted, and it is this that will cause trouble.

Doubt is like a mystery without the mystery. Shanley doesn’t seem concerned with whether or not the priest did anything wrong, but with the destructive force of Sister Aloysius’ suspicion. The principal is first introduced to us cloaked in her black habit, almost like the grim reaper, with her face concealed. She is meant to be scary, and yet sometimes comes across as almost too evil, a caricature of a nun such as you might see in a satirical cartoon. The first hint of a smile comes only when she is plotting to expose Fr. Flynn’s supposed crime, and an attempt at a joke falls disastrously flat. However, Streep manages to convey some of the humanity behind this ghoulish mask, especially in the final scene.

While the acting is superb, the film has its faults. While the screenplay is intelligent, it still feels like it would be more at home on the stage. There are long scenes in which we are confined within the principal’s office, and the pace of the film is slow. But it is the performances that lift this film above the average. The Oscar® nominations for all the main players were richly deserved, particularly for Viola Davis who secured her nomination for her appearance in only one scene. So, if you want to see an acting master class by two of the best actors of our time, then go see this. Otherwise, if you’re looking for something a little more light-hearted, this might not be the film for you.

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