Doubt (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Film C

  
  " I Have Doubts, Such Strong Doubts!" What a powerful ending, i loved the way it ended, i love that the Nun was questioning everything she believed in. Just fantastic! A fantastic cast, which then led to fantastic ending which deserved each of them a Golden Globe. Its a… More
  " I Have Doubts, Such Strong Doubts!" What a powerful ending, i loved the way it ended, i love that the Nun was questioning everything she believed in. Just fantastic! A fantastic cast, which then led to fantastic ending which deserved each of them a Golden Globe. Its a powerful movie about a catholic priest and a black boy that get a bit to 'close', throughout the movie you never hear the words 'Molestered' or 'pedeophile' but from the way the story is being told and from Meryl Streeps character your lead to believe that, that is whats going, however this may not be the case hence the title 'Doubt', you aren't given a proper answer to the accusations which in all honestly could be false. Throughout the movie your given clues which i guess your ment to pick up on and deduce and come to your own decision, a couple of clues your given is that the priest played by seymore-hoffman has long nails which is very much emphasized throughout the movie which could suggest that the priest is gay which of course in his job and at that era that would be unexceptable! The second clue is that when Streep is speaking to the young black boys mother she's saying that the boy gets beaten by his father for it, and would be beaten and picked on in school usually. It doesnt say specifics into what she is talking about but again you are left thinking that shes knows about the supposedly 'abuse'; this movie is fantastic and is written very well and is mesmerizing! I'll leave it to your own mind as to what you think! Enjoy! :)

• Jeff "

  
  Doubt was a very good film, but also I didn't think it was the greatest either. Despite my mixed feeling on Doubt, the cast for this film is excellent. I thought that the film was good, entertaining and very well directed. However I also thought that something was missing to… More
  Doubt was a very good film, but also I didn't think it was the greatest either. Despite my mixed feeling on Doubt, the cast for this film is excellent. I thought that the film was good, entertaining and very well directed. However I also thought that something was missing to really make it a memorable film. I enjoyed the film, but it wasn't the film that everyone says it was. The film certainly had good elements to make a good story, but lacked something to really make it memorable. I've seen much better films than Doubt. But for what it is, this is still a pretty good drama film and the cast here make it worthwhile. Doubt is a good film that entertaining, but is far from perfect. Director John Patrick Shanley does a pretty good job at helming this film, and he directs a very good cast here. However, in the end, I thought Doubt, though good was slightly disappointing. The film is hard to watch at times. The key performance here is of course Philip Seymour Hoffman who delivers the best performance of the film. The rest of the cast are great too. But the film does lack in some areas. Overall this is a good film to watch with good performances, and good directing. I enjoyed the film for what it was, but in the end, it was hard to watch at times, and for me, is not a film I would rewatch again and again.

• Brad W

  
  Wow, what an intense film, I found this to be a genius movie with a great plot, acting, and setting. Not only was this an intriguing and cool plot, it questions the nortions of a Catholic Church, and the troubles of people who have faith, and the ones who have to question theres.… More
  Wow, what an intense film, I found this to be a genius movie with a great plot, acting, and setting. Not only was this an intriguing and cool plot, it questions the nortions of a Catholic Church, and the troubles of people who have faith, and the ones who have to question theres. The acting is the best part about the movie, because I didn't fiind one bad performance in this film. It was such abeautiful film that I didn't feel right giving it anything lower than 5 stars, which it deserves.

• Daniel P

  
  It's painfully obvious that Doubt is based on a stage play, and in the worst ways: wordplay, for example, scenes that are occasionally agonizingly long, and a "famous last words"-type ending, where stern music and panning away will never quite compete with a falling… More
  It's painfully obvious that Doubt is based on a stage play, and in the worst ways: wordplay, for example, scenes that are occasionally agonizingly long, and a "famous last words"-type ending, where stern music and panning away will never quite compete with a falling curtain. What the film has going for it, though, is fantastic acting: of five Oscar nominations, four were for acting. Two long scenes near the end, involving (1) Meryl Streep and Viola Davis, and (2) Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, were breathtaking chess games, incredibly well played, perhaps most meaningfully by Davis. Otherwise, the film is a topical drama-by-numbers. That doesn't mean it's not worth seeing: it occasionally wows with bristling dialogue, but otherwise it drags you through a laborious and somewhat predictable story. A good movie, but not a great one, largely because the adaptation wasn't fully tailored to the big screen.

• Michael S

  
  A simple story with great performances, but with this premise and subject matter I expected greater tension and emotional weight. Unfortunately I didn't really care for any character all that much and the lack of payoff Left me unsatisfied and cold. See it for the performances.

• Robert C

  
  I enjoyed this much more then I thought I would. It's a simple film (on the surface), but it's very deep if you take the time to really think about it. If you enjoy good writing and acting, you will enjoy this film but don't expect a tidy ending...it will leave… More
  I enjoyed this much more then I thought I would. It's a simple film (on the surface), but it's very deep if you take the time to really think about it. If you enjoy good writing and acting, you will enjoy this film but don't expect a tidy ending...it will leave you with "doubts".

• Jameson W

  
  Great performances by Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. Throughout the film, I found myself anxious for the next scene where the 3 would be together; they worked wonderfully together. Also, mention must go to Viola Davis. She is only in a ten minute scene but she… More
  Great performances by Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. Throughout the film, I found myself anxious for the next scene where the 3 would be together; they worked wonderfully together. Also, mention must go to Viola Davis. She is only in a ten minute scene but she delivers a strong performance that got her an Oscar nomination. For me though, it was Amy Adams that steals the show. From her brilliant facial expressions, to her innocent yet powerful dialoque, to her simple hand movements, she gives a great performance. She is one of the most versatile actesses of our time, and my favorite. Definitely one of the best films of 2008! Nominated for 5 Academy Awards, 4 of which came from the acting, you must check this film out!

• Saskia D

  
  That woman Streep and Viola Davis gave me goosebumps. Hoffman was also perfect for his part. It's originally based on a play, which I'm definitely going to see if it's ever adapted in Holland. I won't say anything about the movie, because that would ruin the… More
  That woman Streep and Viola Davis gave me goosebumps. Hoffman was also perfect for his part. It's originally based on a play, which I'm definitely going to see if it's ever adapted in Holland. I won't say anything about the movie, because that would ruin the effect. It's very captivating, and the media coverage on the subject in the last couple of months really gives this movie an extra intensity.

• Megan S

  
  Very true to the play (or at least the version that we saw). It was very enjoyable.

• Sanjaya &

  
  Well, it was a great and powerful drama from John Patrick Shanley... He wrote a really great story from a simple word : Doubt... Joining an Academy Award class actors like Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman with a young talent from Amy Adams and a great short performance from the… More
  Well, it was a great and powerful drama from John Patrick Shanley... He wrote a really great story from a simple word : Doubt... Joining an Academy Award class actors like Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman with a young talent from Amy Adams and a great short performance from the newcomers Viola Davis, this movie has it all... A powerful story, a great performance from the cast, and a great ending... Even that, I was a little boring in the middle of this movie because the power of this movie really was in the conversation between the actors... But overall, I was

• James A

  
  When a movie ends by repeating the title over and over again you know I'm going to stand up and clap.

• Candy R

  
  Drama set in 1960s in a school run by nuns. The principal suspects the priest of abusing one of the altar boys. Great cast.

• Tony G

  
  The all-star cast carries this compelling movie with powerhouse performances; but theater-like 2-dimensional direction minimizes the potential for electrifying tension.

• ♥Robyn

  
  Set in 1964, Doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing a black student. i couldnt get into this movie!

• Anthony L

  
  I can't say I care too much for the subject matter that is unfortunately and unfairly becoming cliched. I feel that catholic priests have had an unfair, malicious and quite viscous stereotype thrust upon them. There is no denying or defending the incidents (of which there are… More
  I can't say I care too much for the subject matter that is unfortunately and unfairly becoming cliched. I feel that catholic priests have had an unfair, malicious and quite viscous stereotype thrust upon them. There is no denying or defending the incidents (of which there are many but still by the minority) that have occurred but I do feel the majority have been unfairly tarnished. That said, this is a brilliant portrayal of one such incident that has been very tastefully handled with some very impressive performances. The scene with Streep and Davis is astounding, one of the best in recent years. Powerful and thought-provoking, especially in a society that seems to harp on so much about faith, a word so very often twinned with blind.

• Lady D

  
  Whilst the acting was of a high standard and of course Meryl Streep gave a performance much more suitable to her talents, the story itself (although a controversial plot) was a little too straight forward to me. I say that only because this kind of topic has been used in a number of… More
  Whilst the acting was of a high standard and of course Meryl Streep gave a performance much more suitable to her talents, the story itself (although a controversial plot) was a little too straight forward to me. I say that only because this kind of topic has been used in a number of films over the last few years, where there has been further shockability, they have had ways of really getting under your skin and generally have been a lot more suspenseful, this seemed to lack in emotion somewhat. The film is still a very worthy watch, but perhaps didn't quite live up to my high expectations.

• familiar s

  
  While the performances were exceptionally remarkable (especially Meryl Streep), the movie itself was quite okay. The "left open for interpretation" kind of movie fans may find it (the movie) incredible, though.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Viola Davis, Joseph Foster, Lloyd Clay Brown DIRECTED BY: John Patrick Shanley Set in 1964, this film, based on Director John Patrick Shanley's play of the same name, centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting… More
  Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Viola Davis, Joseph Foster, Lloyd Clay Brown DIRECTED BY: John Patrick Shanley Set in 1964, this film, based on Director John Patrick Shanley's play of the same name, centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing a black student. He denies the charges, and much of the quick-fire dialogue that follows tackles themes of religion, morality, and authority. The title definitely fits the movie. Doubt is exactly what this movie leaves you with at the end. There is no clear answer to what the priest is being accused of is true or false. The movie leaves it to the audience to decide. Like the title of the film I have doubts that it is true and yet doubts that it is a lie. This is one of those movie's that will have you discussing it for awhile after seeing it. Going over the pro's and con's. What evidence there was, and how little evidence there was. I guess I will continue to be conflicted on what I think is and isn't the truth in this film. Kinda frustrating not knowing, but again I liked that they didn't give it all away. Great performances from the three leads. Hoffman and Streep always deliver great performances. They never disappoint.

• Chris W

  
  Man, what a movie! Despite not much happening, and, due to being an adaptation of a play, the whole film takes place in and around a single location, this is one gripping, riveting, and powerful work. Written and directed by the author of the source material, Doubt is a… More
  Man, what a movie! Despite not much happening, and, due to being an adaptation of a play, the whole film takes place in and around a single location, this is one gripping, riveting, and powerful work. Written and directed by the author of the source material, Doubt is a thought-provoking and unnerving tale of uncertainty, and beliefs. The subject matter is controversial, but completely relevant and important. This is a film that needs to be seen, regardless of one's beliefs, because it is a challenging work that really forces the viewer to engage with the material. As a bonus, the cast, and their performances are absolutely brilliant. I really don't think I need to say much else about the acting. I mean, come on: Streep, Davis, Hoffman, and Adams all got Oscar nominations in a film that is essentially all dialogue. Because this film is is an adaptation of a play, it does have the feel of a play, and isn't too "cinematic", but there are some touches here and there. It all looks excellent though, thanks to the superb work of Roger Deakins. This film is challenging, and will divide audiences, but that's the whole point. The fact that this film is also entertaining as well as heavy is proof that it is worth seeing.

• paul s

  
  What a lovely double twist in the title. As you are watching a film taking place in the early 60's, you are couched in all the headline grabbing news of today, where the church has been under fire for the pedophilia of several priests. This is the doubt you think the film is… More
  What a lovely double twist in the title. As you are watching a film taking place in the early 60's, you are couched in all the headline grabbing news of today, where the church has been under fire for the pedophilia of several priests. This is the doubt you think the film is about - is Hoffman a bit too close to the black alter boy? Streep seems to think so, as does a young nun/teacher, who witnesses certain actions and starts to doubt. Streep's headmistress is a traditionalist whose faith is firmly inbedded in the traditions, and pomp and circumstance of the church. She dislikes Hoffman's reformist attitudes, so immediatly jumps on the idea that she can take him down with these pedophillic allegations. When Hoffman is "exposed", he ends up getting transferred by the Church to being headmaster at a much larger school, giving him more access to young boys. It is in the final scene where Streep, her faith in God shaken by the actions of her Church, weeps that she now has doubt - a doubt in not only the church, but in God for allowing such transgressions to transpire. Excellent performances abound here, from Hoffman's enthusiastic, electric performance as the priest, to Streep, who looks truly creepy sans makeup - the stern taskmaster. Hoffman quips when a child is summoned to her office that "the dragon is hungry". I for one sure wouldn't want to cross paths with her! Though only on screen for about 10 minutes, Viola Davis is riveting as the mother of the church's only black student. What a wonderfully well rounded charactor, and Viola gives the part such breath and passion! The film is shot very dark, about the only color are Hoffman's priest robes - symbolic of the reform he is trying to bring into the church - transforming it from the old testiment god to a much more enlightened and forgiving church (new testiment). The winds of change are blowing - and it is the obvious use of swirling leaves and wind coming through open windows (metaphors are us!!), that are the film's only missteps.

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