The greatest movie ever made..!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

I highly-highly recommend this movie. Saw it originally when it came out and I've since watched it several times on DVD. I will admit that the ending left me a little disappointed (because it seemed unrealistic based on the character's intensive demeanor and conviction throughout the earlier part of the movie) but I think it was incorporated to continue the "doubt theme" from the title. Thought provoking story and superb acting - both Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman were outstanding as was the supporting cast of Amy Adams and Viola Davis.

What can one expect from the film with a title "Doubt"? Mystery is a central plot mechanism. It paints a rather different picture. There are many possibilities of how the action may develop and the film provides evidence to support nearly every one of them. The picture is based on Pulitzer Prize-winning play and directed by John Patrick Shanley. The events take place at the Catholic school in the Bronx in 1964, a year after the assassination of President Kennedy. The progressive Father Flynn wants the school to catch the wind of change, which is much to the disproof of the school's principal Sister Aloysius. The children of the school are terrified of the harsh Sister, who hates ballpoint pens, prohibits sugar and finds a pagan symbolism in the Frosty the Snowman song. Father Flynn however has built a genuine relationship with his students, and has even taken young Donald Miller, the school's first black student, under his wing.The director does an admirable job in enhancing the scenes with suspense and provocation. Every single monologue and action is calculated to achieve the maximum effect. The mystery is added by symbolism of the wind, rain, thunder, a cat catching a mouse and a burning bulb. At the center of modest setting is a duet play of two outstanding actors Meryl Streep and Philip Hoffman. They are capable of creating persuasive characters with no make-up and unchanging clothes. The scenes between them are thrilling and catching from start to finish. It's mainly an emotional struggle of two atlantes. Their acting is shaded by a sweet and naive Sister James by Amy Adams. Like an audience she reflects our own misgivings and flounces from one strong figure to another. And Viola Davis as a mother of a trouble boy performs a powerful and painful monologue which sheds some light on the matter but still doesn't offer an easy solution. The term "spoiler" seems to be inappropriate for this film as the twist plot doesn't get a definite resolution. The moral decision is left to the audience as jury. As good oaky wine the film leaves a long aftertaste which draws our thoughts back to the film again and again and every time plunges deeper in doubt.

Recently I have watched the religious drama directed by John Patrick Shanley that is called "Doubt". It is a movie that depicts psychological condition of a person when he or she doubts and doesn't know whose side to take and whom to believe. Moreover, the plot is based on several themes as inequality, racism and so called changing of times, trends and relations. The drama presents the times of reformation and changing, generally speaking, these changes of time cause the change of behavior and relations may be viewed by means of 2 main characters, the principal of a Bronx Catholic High School, Meryl Steep, who is a presenter of old traditions and habitual way of life, and a popular priest (Father Flynn), Philip Seymour Hoffman, who realizes that time hasn't stopped and it is going on as a normal process of development. In terms of their struggle, the principle accuses the priest in pedophilia with his unique in his skin color student (Donald). The actors, who play in this movie, know how to do their works. They have managed to depict the atmosphere of those times, to express the conservative style changed by the modern society that is characterized, first of all, by equal relations. Philip Seymour Hoffman, as a priest, has an image of a kind man, who is ready to help giving a piece of advice or just to sympathize with heart-words, who can't help but give a hand. His play is awesome, his mimes, gestures and his capability of being able to remain calm when the situation is against him.The young nurse (Sister James), Amy Adams, has the same character's peculiarity as the priest. She is kind and helpful, but is one who is between two fires and under the influence of both. By the way, she has managed to express all those emotions that you feel when you really doubt, when you feel very deep insight the right answer, but some facts, gossips and influences of others are an example of how it may us confuse. Finally, I love the ending of the movie. Everything and everyone takes its or their own places that I liked most of all after being on the edge of my seat guessing how the priest will solve the problem as well as if the principal estimates the real harm of her actions and the future of Afro-American boy who is suffered by racism of his classmates.Overall, the best thing that is about the movie is that it is still relevant nowadays. Even these days the situations of racism, doubts, hesitation occur in daily life of everyone that underlines the value of this drama. If you are looking for something that makes you rethink some moments of life and analyze your psychological condition, this movie is undoubtedly for you.

How good is Doubt? To my mind the film is pretty good. But to be honest, I don't like such films where church is taken as a whole scene. I have no connections to the Catholic Church and the plot is too slow developed. The film takes place in a St. Nicholas school led by Sister Aloysius. At the very beginning of the film Father Brendan Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) preaches a sermon to his congregation in which he asks the question, "What do you do when you're not sure?" There are two answers to this question. You could acknowledge doubt, exploring it as best you can, accept that there may be things we can never know, and live with the ambiguity that so often is a characteristic of human life. Or you could retreat into a dogmatic certainty, suppressing any doubts, and act forcefully to live as though your understanding is the absolute truth - sometimes wreaking great evil in the process. This choice between certainty and doubt is a central theme of the film. At the center of modest setting is a duet play of two outstanding actors Meryl Streep and Philip Hoffman. They are capable of creating persuasive characters with no make-up and unchanging clothes. The scenes between them are thrilling and catching from start to finish. Philip Seymour Hoffman is always good and he is in the centre of the events which are happened in the film. He looks like an ordinary priest; however Sister Aloysius accuses him in having strange relationships with one of the students. Their acting is shaded by a sweet and naive Sister James by Amy Adams. Like an audience she reflects our own misgivings from one strong figure to another. Her love and need for simplicity is heartbreaking. And Viola Davis as a mother of a trouble boy performs a powerful and painful monologue which sheds some light on the matter but still doesn't offer an easy solution. I consider if there is more than one setting (church), the film will be more interesting and eye-catching. The actors are quite good but the plot is rather strange. There are no actions, dynamics, only annoying jump from loud music and conversations to silence. I think I should watch it again to get the whole picture and understand it thoroughly. When you watch a film several times, you always find something new. I recommend this film to grown up people.