Doubt (2008/I)

Director:

John Patrick Shanley

Writers (WGA):

John Patrick Shanley (screenplay)
John Patrick Shanley (play)

Release Date:

25 December 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

There is no evidence. There are no witnesses. But for one, there is no doubt.

Plot:

Set in 1964, Doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing a black student. He denies the charges, and much of the play's quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality, and authority.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Nun | Student | 1964 | Catholic

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 32 nominations

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Sister Aloysius Beauvier
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Father Brendan Flynn
Amy Adams	...	Sister James
Viola Davis	...	Mrs. Miller
Alice Drummond	...	Sister Veronica
Audrie J. Neenan	...	Sister Raymond (as Audrie Neenan)
Susan Blommaert	...	Mrs. Carson
Carrie Preston	...	Christine Hurley
John Costelloe	...	Warren Hurley
Lloyd Clay Brown	...	Jimmy Hurley
Joseph Foster	...	Donald Miller (as Joseph Foster II)
Mike Roukis	...	William London
Haklar Dezso	...	Zither Player
Frank Shanley	...	Kevin
Robert Ridgell	...	Organist

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #39360) | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Canada:G (British Columbia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Spain:13 | South Africa:13LS | Hong Kong:IIA | New Zealand:M | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:AL | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Czech Republic:12 | Sweden:7 | Mexico:B | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

College of Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Goodspeed Productions

Trivia:

The play won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A Wurlitzer electric piano model 200 or 200A appears in the dance class and the Christmas pageant rehearsal scenes. Neither the model 200 (1968) nor the 200A (1975) were in production in 1964.

Quotes:

Sister Aloysius Beauvier: [to Mrs. Miller] Years ago I used to listen to all the news reports, because my husband was in Italy, in the war.
Mrs. Miller: [Taken aback] You were a married woman?
Sister Aloysius Beauvier: [Offended] Yes, but then he was killed.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Come thou Redeemer of the Earth

New genre - the moral thriller

Normally we give too much credit to actors. They often work for short periods and force myriad takes. Directors manipulate and cajole them. Then the filmmakers spend months choosing the best shots, carving them and stringing them together to make the story (and the long-gone actors) look good.

"Doubt" is an exception, only in that the actors are especially marvelous. The many close-ups and the length of the shots attest to the trust John Patrick Shanley puts in them. Streep and Hoffman are superb. Adams and Davis are remarkable as well.

Still the most credit for this phenomenal effort must go to Shanley.

What a fascinating story, with layers and springbacks that will leave you thinking and rethinking.

Thank you very much to all involved with this fine film.