Without a DOUBT

Very few films I've seen (made in the last decade or so, at least) rightly deserve the adjective compelling. So many deliver either a skillfully-crafted plot or singular performances by a certain actor or an ensemble cast, but seldom does the combination of both cinematic aspects meld to form a truly amazing movie. Doubt, written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, delivers the exception to the rule, and the result is a miracle to behold.

I won't divulge many specifics because Doubt is a creature that must be experienced without much foreknowledge in order to be fully appreciated. The setting is a Roman Catholic grade school, St. Nicholas, located in the Bronx; the year is 1964. The protagonist is a Sister of Charity, S. Aloysius, who is the school's principal as well as the superior of the convent. Rev. Brendan Flynn is the curate (assistant priest) of St. Nicholas Church.

Suffice it to say the two are at odds over most everything--but usually in a subdued, intellectual manner. Sister Aloysius is stern and old-fashioned; Father Flynn is relaxed and progressive. Meryl Streep is unforgettable as the principal; one can scarcely imagine any other actress breathing such forceful life into the role. Ms. Streep can infuse the tiniest act--the raising of an eyebrow, a murmured "hmm"--with oceans of disdain and derision as no other actress today. Philip Seymour Hoffman, a character actor who has justifiably garnered a reputation for his considerable talent, delivers a nuanced performance as the priest.

Another great talent is the fresh-faced Amy Adams, who plays Sister James, a young nun who is neatly--and regrettably--thrust between the two leads and their duelling philosophies of education and spirituality.

This is a thinking film. Based on the play which Shanley wrote, it is incredibly dialogue-driven, but the pacing is impeccable. From the first syllable of Father Flynn's homily at the outset of the storyline the viewer is drawn in as the leads contend inexorably with one another until one of them proves victorious.

One of the many questions the viewer will come away with after watching is: Who won? And at what cost?

Anyone who has seen this movie will tell you: "I believed X"; the crux of the drama evolves from suspicion and self-defense on the part of the nun and the priest toward one another. The polarization of opinion should lead to intense discussion among viewers. Be assured this film will appeal to a wide audience; it is not solely fixated on the Catholic Church, although those familiar with Catholicism will perhaps comprehend more fully some of the themes and issues raised in the plot. At its core Doubt speaks to sweeping concepts applicable to everyone: faith and faithlessness, optimism and pessimism, mercy and justice, right and wrong.

A gross travesty of the 2009 Oscars was that this phenomenal piece didn't receive a single gold statue (it was, however, nominated for five of them).

The Main Library has added two copies of this DVD (released by Miramax on April 7) and I invite the reader to borrow a copy and examine the credibility of Doubt.