Review of Doubt (2008) by Imilhofer — 29 Dec 2013
Doubt is a very slick film, being atmospheric and very good-looking, as well as masterfully written and then manipulated by John Patrick Shanley. Everything seems perfectly in place, apart from, of course, whodunit? This film is so cleverly layered that every viewer comes out with a different interpretation, which makes this a thought-provoking movie.
However, the subtlety and impressively stark realism of the writing suggests that this film is 'not inviting a guessing game'. This film is more complex than 'who do you think did it', and has more to say, as shown by the morals preached at us by Philip Seymour Hoffman and the questions raised by Meryl Streep's remarkably acted character Sister Aloysius Beauvier.
On the surface, everything about this film is slick, attractive, atmospheric and almost conventional, but underlying is a great sense of tension, meaning and dimension. This film makes us doubt our doubts? What are we supposed to be doubting? Who knows, but all I know is that I doubt you'll find a more thought-provoking film from that year.
This review of Doubt (2008) was written by Imilhofer on 29 Dec 2013.
Doubt has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
