Doubt

The movie’s title describes both its storyline and the mental state of the audience when the credits roll. This is no fortuitous coincidence but intentional cleverness on the part of award-winning author-director, John Patrick Shanley, who filmed on location in the same parochial school he had attended as a Catholic youth in the early 1960’s (the setting of the film).

The movie is an adaptation of his original play “Doubt, A Parable” for which he received the Pulitzer Prize. This award winning play-turned-film is cast with award-winning actors, and the result is a quality piece that addresses many issues at once while providing few answers of any certainty. Slice-of-life, we might call it, but that with contemporary concerns projected back and added to the author’s perceptions of his childhood experience.

The story confines itself to an institution where differences are apparent, and where conflict may arise as it does anywhere. Thankfully, opposition is in-house, and the representatives of God are not pitted against morally superior outsiders, as is so common a theme these days. No, in “Doubt,” there is an old-school disposition championed by the head nun, and a more progressive one exemplified by the new parish priest, and when the two collide there is no doubt going to be trouble.

Actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, plays the kindly and forward thinking Father Flynn, a role that is a far cry from the lascivious and profane Reverend Veasey he portrayed in the movie “Cold Mountain.” Despite the obvious difference in those two characters, doubt soon arises concerning the true nature of the Catholic priest, also, and this is part of what makes a lot of Christians cringe—that ostensible leaders of Christian faith should have their virtue doubted whenever they appear on the scene in every Hollywood production.

Father Flynn’s jovial and unfettered character is juxtaposed with Sister Aloysius’ (Meryl Streep) cold and disciplined austerity, but one doubts whether either has all their crosses teed. The audience will like the priest and will want to side with him, but questions concerning his past bring the viewer fast into the twenty first century, as unsavory thoughts of Catholic pedophile cases come to mind. Has he really done anything or is it all in the imagination of the witch-hunting nun? Doubt.

Issues that the movie invokes include: gossip, sexuality, love, compassion and, of course, doubt. There may be others, but the above described situation is primary, and the “natural” inclination of the boy that factors into the story is raised by his own mother who implies her young son is gay. More doubt. Still, there appears to be only expressions of goodness coming from the priest, and nothing but conniving and unchristian nastiness on the part of the habited Principal. Sister Aloysius even justifies her actions with, “when you take a step to address wrongdoing you are taking a step away from God, but in his service.” Is this just her ends-justifies-the-means philosophy, or is it more revealing of her looming crisis of faith? By the end she breaks down over her own doubts.

The priests in the movie are smoking, drinking, social types, whereas the nuns are quiet, strict, and frown upon such frivolities as adding sugar to tea or using ball point pens instead of the traditional fountain variety.

Some minor vulgarity is uttered by both groups, as Hell is said to be beaten out of a boy, and the whole mess is damned to go there according to Aloysius. BS is also uttered by one, but overall, the questionable language is held to a minimum.

While the kids are not shown smoking or drinking, it is implied in a couple of instances, and there is no violence to speak of except perhaps when the nuns occasionally slap the back of the heads of distracted students.

While audiences will doubt that this is a Christmas movie, the setting is at that time of the year, and carols are practiced, snow is on the ground, and questions about including secular numbers in the church play are discussed between the two opponents and the middle player in the film who is the one most likely to represent the viewer.

Actress Amy Adams plays Sister James, who believes in Father Flynn but lives under the tutelage of Sister Aloysius. Through her eyes the audience hears both sides, but in the end remains as she, full of doubt. “Doubt” is an interesting film, a period piece with timeless subjects. Good and bad are portrayed, and thinking is encouraged. It is not a movie for the whole family, but one that I could recommend to adults.

Violence: Minor / Profanity: Mild / Sex/Nudity: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Young people