Woopee. Who's in that one? Jim Carrey?
No. In fact it's Big Phil 'Serious Face' Hoffman and Meryl 'Give Me Any Role' Streep. Two big names, and the expectations of their performances are high. It's with little surprise and much annoyance that the release of this film coincides with Oscar season. But then again - given the subject matter - I would hardly expect a June release - summertime movie this ain't.
So what's the scoop? Does it deliver? It doesn't i'm afraid.
It has a very strong feel of small-time about it. The scale of the drama and the setting (the camera hardly steps outside three or four locations in the school) restrict this film from producing any truly engaging and worthwhile emotional reaction. There are a few scenes of considerable length which clearly are devoted to the actor's talents as performers. But this is an adaptation from an original stage production - and it feels very much as if that is where it should have remained.
This is very much an actor's film, with Hoffman and Streep (and to a lesser extent Amy Adams) commanding all our attention. And when they make their appearances, the film begins to feel bulky and the story is apprehended at the precise moments it should be moving forward. This is a feature of the stage play, where the time and space is given to the actor to stop the action for a few minutes to marvel us with his airs and graces. It is not, unfortunately, a luxury of the cinema.
And this is my main problem with 'Doubt'. And it was my main problem with 'Capote' also. I can admire and applaud the skill and profession of the screen actor, but I hold some reservations about whether or not the film works.
Plus, "Priest accused of molesting a small child, Nun takes offense, big shouting match occurs" - is this not an episode of Eastenders?
To Do:
2 comments:
i think you are totally right in identifying that this movie is probably at its best as a play. that being said, the performances were quite good, and i dont think mrs. miller (the boy's mom) should be ignored amidst talk of hoffman & streep. she freakin rocked it. for someone who doesnt have the opportunity to see the play, the movie is definitely worth seeing just because of the interesting and multifaceted way the theme of "doubt" is explored. I was pretty into it.
I agree, the boy's mum was good - in her only shining moment - a 2 minute section. My problem was that apart from the central three characters (played by Hoffman, Streep and Adams) - there were no others susbstantive enough to appear as actual characters. The background of this film was not rich enough for me - it felt like a three man play. And by that, I mean a three 'person' play.
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