Doubt

If you go to a screening of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt, you will also be attending a Master Class in acting. When I was sitting in the theatre I was giddy. Having read the play in college, I knew I was about to watch a film about a priest who may or may not have committed inappropriate acts with an altar boy. Not the cheeriest of subjects, but I was giddy nonetheless. This is like the ideal Superbowl; the two best teams facing off under the best conditions, in the best arena. Here we have two Academy Award winners going head to head in a story that not only won the Tony for Best Play, but also the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Doubt tells the story of a charismatic priest played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, who reaches out to the first black student to be enrolled in a Catholic Parrish in 1964. This special attention is noticed by the young and idealistic Sister James played by Amy Adams, who dutifully reports her findings to the Parrish's iron-clad principal, Sister Aloysius. Needing nothing more than second-hand conjectures and her own moral certainty, Aloysius is determined to go to the ends of the Earth to prove her suspicions as truth regardless of the cost.

What both the film and play do so well is the same thing that I liked about 2006's Little Children. As soon as you find yourself feeling sympathy for one character, a change of perspective, a peculiar word choice, or even an eye flinch will turn your opinion upside down and back again.

What I loved about the play when I first read it was the attempt to challenge the audience in regards to our uncontrollable, involuntary snap judgements. Instead of making the priest a creepy deviant who spends his days lurking around corners, Shanley writes Father Flynn as a man from the working class Northeast who plays basketball, has a great sense of humor and wit, and an undeniable charisma. His adversary, the woman who is trying to convict a man of child molestation, isn't a young and beautiful, bright-eyed underdog but an aging, miserly tyrant. Cherry Jones, who originated the role on Broadway and won the Tony, went out for every performance with her eyebrows combed downward and without an ounce of make-up.

"When you take a step against wrongdoing, you are taking a step away from God, but in His service." That is the most revealing clue the audience will have into the character of Sister Aloysius. Her relentless and unforgiving determination drives her to do things that she admits takes her away from God's will in order to carry out his justice... But at what cost?

All four of the lead actors were nominated for Oscars including Tony Award winner, Viola Davis and previously nominated Amy Adams. Although I adore Amy Adams, her weakness definitely showed in the shadow of these powerhouses. She made the right choices but almost to a fault. There's only so many doe-eyed expressions an actress can give before you stop seeing the character and start seeing a one-note look.

And in regards to the Winslet vs. The Streeper Oscar race for Best Actress, I would be happy if either woman won. However, Streep's role was as my friend Derek calls it, "The Meat." I don't think there is a better actress in the world and if the Academy's decisions were completely objective, Steep would and should win every time. If somebody is going to beat her it will be because the writing in the other film is superior, not the performance.

Fun Doubt Facts:

John Patrick Shanley told Philip Seymour Hoffman in secret if Father Flynn really committed inappropriate acts. He also did this with the Broadway production.

Any scenes involving the children were added for the movie. Only Father Flynn, Sister Aloysius, Sister James, and Mrs. Muller appeared in the play.

Cherry Jones is in the current season of 24 playing Madam President Allison Taylor.

Although imdb.com claims Natalie Portman "turned down" the role of Sister James, it is rumored that she was already in talks to play the role until Amy Adams sought out John Patrick Shanley and convinced him she was the right woman for the role.