Doubt (2008 99min.) [Film4 1.40am tuesday &+1]
Period drama starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. In a New York Catholic school in the 1960s, a progressive, charismatic priest clashes with the principal, a strict, old-fashioned nun. When suspicions arise about the priest's relationship with the school's only black student, the principal becomes obsessed with learning the truth.
What this film has that seperates it from a TV Movie of the Week melodrama is assured direction and two top quality character actors in fine form.
Director John Patrick Shanley (adapting his own stage play) creates a real sense of place with the claustrophobic opening scenes which establish the prescribed world of the school - as the film unfolds he then uses the camera to emphasise the atmosphere of suspicion, and indeed doubt, that ensnares both of the central characters.
There is a lingering element of the theatrical origins of the piece - especially in some of the more dialogue laden scenes - but Hoffman and Streep are both very good at this sort of thing : Amy Adams adds some very fine work among the supporting cast.
No comments:
Post a Comment