Doubt Review

Meryl Streep stars as Sister Beauvier--a strict, uncompromising nun in a movie set in 1960s New York.  Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Father Flynn, whom Sister Beauvier suspects of spiritual--and criminal--wrongdoing in her school.  Amy Adams shines as an idealistic nun who questions everything, but is tormented by her very uncertainty.  On the surface, the film is a cat and mouse game between the two powerful personalities.  However, layered throughout the film are larger questions that beg contemplation but are never fully answered by the movie.  The viewer becomes a part of the experience because we are forced to face the questions raised, but left to draw our own conclusions.

What I love about the film--aside from the excellent ensemble cast--is that it kept true to the theme of the story and didn't provide a forced happy ending.  It left me feeling unsettled, but richer for the experience. If you prefer movies that are action-packed or follow a Hollywood formula, then you'll definitely want to skip this.  But if you're in the mood for a well-acted, thematic, and engaging film, I would highly recommend Doubt.