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Wow! This film was bloody amazing! Doubt is a story that brings light familiarity to 2006's Notes On A Scandal. The only difference is that it involves nuns and priests instead of teachers. Doubt turned out rather similar to the 81st Academy Awards like Notes On A Scandal did at the 79th what with the nominations. Doubt is probably one of the most powerful films of 2008 alongside Changeling, Revolutionary Road, The Wrestler and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. Because I couldn't find any showings at the cinema and the Oscar ceremony is less than a month away, I had no choice but to watch it online. Doubt is a film that really grabs your attention and holds you while you're watching it. Doubt is an amazing film but it is a very predictable film. The story had a very motivating and moving tone but it is quite delayed within the first 20 minutes because it is only until Sister Beauvier begins to suspect Father Flynn of child abuse within the school on a young black boy. It takes a very light twist but not a really shocking one though. The cast of Doubt is really well ensemble with all four actors earning Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
Meryl Streep delivers her best performance in years as Sister Aloysius Beauvier. Meryl looked really grumpy, bitter and strict for that character's personality. Personally, it was about time Meryl played this type of character. Sister Beauvier is the principal of the attached school of the Bronx Catholic Church. I was blown away by how powerful she made every single scene be in this film. Sister Beauvier is very bitter and very firm with her students. She behaves a lot like Barbara in Notes On A Scandal. Phillip Seymour Hoffman in my honest opinion gives the performance of his career thus far as Father Brendan Flynn. Yes, better than palying Truman Capote. He was an amazing choice because Phillip does seem like that scheming and slimy type to play this sort of character. Also, he seems that typical type of actor to play a priest. Father Flynn is a priest in the Catholic church but is a sports teacher in the school. His career changes around when both Sister Beauvier and Sister James accuse him of child abuse. After seeing Enchanted, Amy Adams performance looked very good in Doubt and when I did see Doubt, her performance in my opinion is the best female supporting performance of 2008 so far. I really admire Amy even more as a person now as well as an actress. In the past 2 years she has portrayed characters that are totally different: a beautiful, charming and bright princess in 2007 and a young nun who is a teacher in 2008. Even at her young age, Amy revealed she is an actress to be reckoned with and is not to be underestimated. Viola Davis' performance was really amazing as Mrs. Miller who is the mother of accused victim Donald Miller. Mrs. Miller is a very mysterious woman and is questioned about what sort of mother she really is by Sister Beauvier of all people. Viola wasn't in the film for very long but she was really powerful and emotional in every single second of her two only scenes she was involved in. This film is the one film of 2008 that features the best performances from the entire cast.
John Patrick Shanley directs this film from his own novel and he certainly didn't disappoint at all. There have been some novels that have been made into films that were directed and published by the same person that have been bad but this is absolutely awesome. Writing a script can be rather easy from a novel but it is harder from a true life story in which I stated in one of my reviews. I think it was my Zodiac review.
Doubt is my favourite Phillip Seymour Hoffman film so far. Doubt is Meryl Streep's best performance since Sophie's Choice. It is Amy Adam's best performance so far. She has been in two masterpieces as far as I'm concerned. Doubt is a very powerful film but Changeling is the most powerful film of 2008. I liked Doubt more than Changeling. Doubt is another snub for Best Picture with The Dark Knight, Revolutionary Road, Changeling, WALL-E and The Wrestler.
8/10
