Review of Doubt (2003) by Sean K — 06 Nov 2012

A riveting and provocative piece of film making that truly leaves you on the border of doubt by the ending. The film's pacing is marvelous, the suspense air tight, the performances electrifying, and the director shows a beautiful skill with his came work (the shots of Hoffman's rant on gossip is gorgeous).

The film is the story of a popular priest (Hoffman) who befriends a young black child who seems lost in the highly disciplined St. Nicholas, a school run by a frighteningly strict nun (Streep) who seems to be holding her school in the dark ages. As Hoffman enters the scene as the new priest of the school, we already sense that there is going to be tension between the two higher orders, the other being Streep's character who prowls her school like Voldemort in the Hogwarts. Stuck in the middle of all this straining accusations the come from Streep is non other than Amy Adams who plays a younger nun who tries to sympathise and see the good in all, a hard task when being pulled in every direction by the ever growing powers that be. What sets off the bang eventually to unfathomable lengths comes from the suspicious activity of the black boy who returns to Adams class with a somber look and what is said to possibly be the smell of alcohol on his breath. As Adams confronts Streep for a hopeful explanation, she soon realizes that she has not solved the problem, but seemingly brought it to deeper grounds as Hoffman is the reported individual who summoned a meeting with the boy moments before his return to class. What proceeds on is a building of statements in our church, our well beings, and above all how doubt can lead us into either destruction or a greater revelation. I won't go into anymore detail of the film from here, but I will say that Streep and Hoffman set off scenes in a dynamite way that can only be described as truly powerful and riveting.

Doubt is a timely masterpiece that ranks among 08's best films for it's standing social message, top of the line acting, gripping suspense, and overall impact that leaves the viewers questioning what happened under many levels. Did the standing and most important figure of the church really act on the child? Seeing as churches have been accused of such actions before, the audience would undoubtedly think so. But this is not the case with this film, as Streep's character seems a little too offstandish and harsh on the elements that Hoffman seems to bring in enlightening the school's dark mannerisms. "I have great Doubt," announces Streep at the end of the film to Adams. By the end of the film, so will the audience, doubt in the events and accusations that preceded from both sides of the film. And this is the beauty that I found in this film, not only did it grasp me, but it left me with no clear solution, the filmmaker refusing to give any clear notations that will ultimately satisfy to the fullest. The interpretations can be simple, but they are deeply rooted and with all the power that this film holds, it's hard to shake off...