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Carter Ronca
Thursday, August 14, 2014
EN 111 Composition and Interpretation of Literature
Professor Robison
Drama/Final Paper
After reading the reviews of the film, Doubt, I found that the majority of the critics
agreed positively toward the film. Many of the reviews touched upon the same themes. My
opinion of the film was also in agreement with the critics. I was impressed by the same
attributes of the film that the critics were. The well-scripted film and amazing performances of
the actors is what made the critics agree that this film was superb.
Pulitzer Prize winning play, Doubt, written by John Patrick Shanley made its way to the
big screen. The sensitive topic of pedophilia in the Catholic Church is at the heart of the film.
The film is set in 1964 at a Bronx Catholic grammar school. The firm principal Sister Aloysius,
played by Meryl Streep, comes to suspect a poplar priest, Father Flynn, played by Philip
Seymour Hoffman, of having an inappropriate relationship with a 12 year-old black student.
The 1964 setting is a perfect backdrop to the film. The country is just recovering from
the unimaginable assignation of President Kennedy, the beginning of the Vietnam War and the
new doctrine of Vatican II. The normal security that people once felt is gone. The world no
longer is safe from change. We are entering a time when change is inevitable and we can no
longer dig our heels in and prevent it from happening. What are we sure of? What are the
motives behind what’s happening in the world? These questions bring about the underlining fear
of doubt and confusion.
The overall critics’ reviews for this film have been positive. Critics seem to like this film
and are very favorable of it. There is general agreement that the story is well written and that
actors Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman make an amazing performance in the film.
The critics also gave great reviews to play writer John Patrick Shanley for doing a superb job of
directing the film.
Like the critics I thought the film was outstanding. The film is brilliant at creating doubt
and empathy in the mind of the viewer. One minute you’re on the side of Sister Aloysius and
then doubt seeps in and you find yourself siding with Father Flynn. The power struggle between
the two main characters brings about the conflict in the movie. Once Sister Aloysius hears of
suspicious activity between Father Flynn and the black student she reacts like a cat and pounces
on the opportunity to bring Father Flynn down. Sister Aloysius represent the old strict ways of
the Catholic Church and Flynn is the model of the new progressive ways of Vatican II. Their
conflict is the conflict between the old and new, change and no change, and doubt and
trustworthiness.
The positive film reviews are attributed to the great acting skills of Streep and Hoffman.
I thought Streep was great at representing the stereotypical strict nun of that era with her black
habit and bonnet, and pale white complexion. Likewise, I thought Hoffman does an equally
great performance of representing the idealistic, progressive priest that models the changes of
Vatican II. Through out the film the two spear off and come face to face in very strong scenes
filled with intense dialog and dramatic acting.
As the critics agree Shanley is amazing at creating doubt and suspicion through out the
film. I think Shanley does a great job of showing how not everything is black and white, and
what seems to appear as something sometimes is not what it is. I was also impressed how
Shanley was able to leave you doubting your own conclusion even up to the very end. Rarely,
do films leave you questioning your own assumptions.
The bulk of critics had a positive reaction towards the film, Doubt, from the reviews
online. The same ideas were reiterated in most of the reviews. I was in agreement with the
majority of critics. The features captivated me the same way that the critics were. The critics
agreed that this film was outstanding because of its astonishing performances and thorough
script.
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