Based on John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, Doubt focuses on a group of three people of the cloth (two nuns and a priest) who become entwined in a culture of suspicion and distrust. Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) is a school principal in the Bronx who exercises a strict, ironclad grip on her students. A traditionalist, she lives by a code stating that the easy way will always leads to consequences and shuns any form of progression, be it the beliefs of the Church or ballpoint pens. Her beliefs bring her into direct conflict with Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a priest with an easy-going, progressive view on the Church and the state of the world.
After a peculiarly themed sermon and odd reaction from a student to Flynn's touch, Aloysius becomes distrustful of Flynn and asks the other nuns to watch for any suspicious behavior. Almost immediately, Sister James (Amy Adams), a young, impressionable nun, notices Flynn taking a special interest in a young African-American altar boy, leading Aloysius to embark on a mission to expose Flynn's secret.
Sister James' report and Aloysius' resulting crusade make up the central question throughout the movie, though it is only one piece of a larger discovery waiting for viewers. Themes like resistance to change, doubt and guilt run throughout the movie, creating a layered story that challenges the viewer to interpret the resolution and look at their own code of ethics for closure - ultimately leading to the question of, "What are we willing to lose to find the truth?"
Doubt is by no means a flashy movie - making the Blu-ray transfer more of a luxury than a necessity - but is still able to convey a lot of strength. Much of this can be credited to its principal stars. Hoffman is a chameleon throughout the film; portraying both an innocence and guilt that always keeps the viewer guessing about his true nature, while Streep is able to create a character that is both cold-heartedly judgmental, but still incredibly vulnerable. Then there's Amy Adams, whose brings a believable sense of innocence to the screen.
Doubt's extras are few, but worthwhile. "From Stage to Screen" follows the story's path from conception to stage to screen while "The Cast of Doubt" features interviews with the cast. These are complimented by "Sisters of Charity," a surprisingly engaging roundtable discussion featuring nuns. The group talks about their order (which is featured in the film), touching on their daily lives and changes imposed by the Second Vatican Council.
Doubt is a film that you'll want to watch, and re-watch as you comb for even the subtlest of clues in search of an answer. It's something that few films are able to do effectively, but Doubt does it with a quiet, endearing grace.
