Project-Blu Doubt, by M. Enois Duarte

Doubt

By: M. Enois Duarte, 4.10.2009

The Movie Itself:
Growing up, nuns always embodied a certain kind of ominous stature that demanded fear and reverence, all at once. There was something weirdly terrifying about an older women in flowing black robes with bonnets that cast dark shadows over their eyes. As the threatening, anally retentive Sister Aloysius Beauvier, Meryl Streep actualizes those childhood nightmares in a woman that strikes terror even in the minds of her fellow nuns. With one single line ("So it's happened.") and a chilling stare, she makes clear that the Sister is an unyielding and relentless adversary, setting into motion a powerful drama about denying a basic human condition: doubt.

Considered the greatest living film actress, Streep's portrayal of a nun with an unruly certainty provides her with a hidden sense of humanity that is both pathetic and tragic. One moment, we see her help a nun with poor eyesight find a spoon, and the next instant turn to Sister James (Amy Adams) with harsh, judgmental eyes for not chewing and swallowing the fat of her meat dinner. Her unjustified pursuit of a priest's condemnation is frighteningly real and merciless, where it is easier to give in to her certitude than fight it. When asked, "Where is your compassion?" her answer is an absolutely vicious, "Nowhere you can get at it."

Facing off against one of the most virulent characters ever depicted on screen is also one of the finest actors today, the only one capable of matching wits with Meryl Streep's stony barricade. Philip Seymour Hoffman turns in an astonishing effort as the young, kind-hearted Father Flynn, whose close regard of the first and only African-American student, Donald Miller (Joseph Foster), is the cause of much suspicion. He plays him with such fascinating ambiguity that we're always speculating his innocence, and yet wanting to believe his every word. This will be the true measure of his craft.

Balancing the two sides of this coin is Sister James, serving as our guide through this bitter clash of generational wills and performed marvelously by Adams. The young, enthusiastic 8th grade teacher is a spirited idealist, still untouched by the cold realities of the world, but quickly thrown into the middle of more than she can chew. Countering her wholesomeness is Donald's world-weary mother, Mrs. Miller, and heart-wrenchingly rendered by Viola Davis. As a woman weighed down by a constant climate of intolerance, in her home as in society, Davis pulls off a miracle with a 10-minute screen performance that surpasses Streep's already outstanding portrayal.

I can't think of any other film where the entire cast is so uniformally perfect that they are partly the reason for turning a film into greatness. But with four acting nominations by the main cast of characters from various awards ceremonies, Doubt is a film that can proudly gloat such rarity with some of the best performances of the year. The entire ensemble of actors absorb us into the cloistered world of its religious inhabitants and expose a restrained relationship imbued with personal politics and an atmosphere of distrust.

Writer/director John Patrick Shanley's adaptation of his Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play is a well-structured film, richly complex and deeply layered with philosophical implications over the meaning of its title word. His direction can be a bit intrusive with odd angles and an all-too-obvious "the winds of change" metaphor, but displays a more mature and patient eye than his first attempt, Joe Versus the Volcano. It's all easily forgivable in light of such a superb parable that unfolds into a substantially dense narrative. The penetrating dialogue not only thickens the air with tension, but challenges viewers to question their perception of Truth.

Doubt is not simply a drama about possible sexual abuse between a parish priest and an altar boy. That's only the catalyst for moving the story forward. Set in 1964, after the assassination of John F. Kennedy and McCarthyism, during Cold War tensions and the emergence of war in Vietnam, and at the height of social and civil unrest, this tale over what did or did not happen is a power struggle between the old and the new. It's a reflection of the waning faith of America's certainty, when change was moving at a terrifying and instantaneous pace.

As representative of opposing viewpoints, the conflict between Father Flynn and Sister Aloysius reaches the idealogical and pedagogical level. He's a progressive follower of the reforms of Vatican II, who only wishes to make the church more accessible to people with different backgrounds. She's a doctrine-wielding conservative which despises any form of change (like the use of ballpoint pens), one who will enter war on pure speculation with no physical evidence. Their interactions and debates are very subversive, exploring different aspects of thought, belief, action, certainty, and motive.

Showcasing excellent performances by the cast, especially Streep and Davis, the compelling film ends with a lasting impression of uncertainty, of being unable to fully resolve the questions it provokes, and the better for it. While Doubt intrigues us with a suspenseful mystery and the battle it ensues, it comes ripe with an emotional and intellectual narrative that cuts deep into our social consciousness. It's an intense, somber film that stays with you and demands further analysis.
Rating: 10/10

The Presentation:
Disney Home Entertainment debuts Doubt with a splendid and highly detailed AVC-encoded transfer that will surely please fans. Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the film-like picture is pristine and maintains the artistic intentions of the filmmakers with excellent clarity and resolution. Exterior scenes expose the architectural nuances of the weathered buildings and the lifeless private courtyard of the church with a wonderfully crisp contrast level and solid whites. Interior sequences are equally revealing with a rich and punchy black level that distinguishes between foreground and background objects with ease, providing a great deal of depth to the image. The color palette is slightly and purposely muted for generating a cold and tension-filled atmosphere, but rendered consistently accurate throughout. Facial complexions are deliberately pale in the nuns, especially Sister Aloysius, but the rest of cast appears warm and natural with life-like texture. This is a terrific-looking Blu-ray presentation.
Rating: 8.6/10

Originally intended for the stage, Doubt is driven by its dialogue and not the sort of film one would imagine to greatly benefit from high-resolution audio. Surprisingly, the DTS-HD Master Audio track provides a strikingly dramatic presentation, with an understated but nicely refined front soundstage. It perfectly captures the unique vocal inflections of each actor, conveying internal conflict with touching precision. Although the film's sound design places careful attention on the conversations and interactions of characters, atmospheric effects widen the soundscape into the background with the sounds of howling winds and rainstorms, and well supported by a weighty bass response. Especially noteworthy is the realistic echoes of Father Flynn's sermons, which gives the impression of being there. The musical score by Howard Shore is wonderfully balanced in the front with subtle bleeds in the rears for a very impressive lossless soundtrack.
Rating: 8.2/10

Overall Presentation: 8/10

** 9-10 = Reference / 8 = Excellent / 7 = Good /
6 = Satisfactory / 5 = Average / 4 & under = Below Average **

The Extras:
The supplemental package of this Blu-ray edition of Doubt is nothing that really digs deep into the film, but offers a slight insight into its production and all presented in hi-def.

Audio Commentary
Writer-director John Patrick Shanley provides a revealing commentary, from historical events to changes made in the original stage play and from character development to casting.
From Stage to Screen (19 min)
Cast and crew discuss their thoughts on the genesis of the play and the making of the film.
The Cast of Doubt (14 min)
Hosted by Entertainment Weekly's Dave Karger, the cast sits down for a series of questions with some thoughtful responses by Streep and Hoffman.
Scoring Doubt (4 min)
Composer Howard Shore offer his thoughts on how the music functions in the film.
Sister's of Charity (6 min)
Four nuns take us on a tour of their daily routine, express their thoughts of the film, and give their impression of the effects made by Vatican II.
Theatrical Trailers
Previews include The Proposal and Lost.

Rating: 4/10

Final Thoughts:
One of the year's best films, Doubt is an immensely provocative and compelling film, entertaining audiences with a mystery of possible sexual abuse and a battle of generational wills. It's intellectual appeal is fascinating and expressed with such understated beauty by the magnificent performances of the cast, in particular Streep and Davis. Sealing the deal is an excellent video and audio presentation, making this Blu-ray package the perfect addition to your collection.
Rating: 8/10