Doubt (2008)

As a warm-up to Oscar night, the wife and I went out to the theater to see the heavily acting nominated film, "Doubt" (Meryl Streep - Best Actress, Philip Seymour Hoffman - Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Amy Adams and Viola Davis - Best Actress in a Supporting Role). Surprisingly, we were the only ones in the audience for the showing, and as I began watching the film, I began to wonder why.
The film revolves around a solid, yet too tightly wound plot in which Father Flynn (Hoffman), a Catholic priest is accused of showing too much attention to a young, African- American student. Sister Aloysius (Streep) is a stern and old-fashioned disciplinarian who is quick to become suspicious of Flynn's motives and presses him to confess without sufficient proof. The film teeter-totters on Flynn's pleas of innocence and Aloysius' constant pressure to seek out the truth. Sister James (Adams), whose assuredness is tested by both parties, acts as the film's fulcrum and it is her innocence and inexperience, which ultimately preys upon the audience's own indecisiveness.
Though the plot of the film is a little thin, "Doubt" is very well acted and unsuspectingly deceitful. The nominated actresses capture the true essence of each of their characters and bring out the very best in this film. Streep's extremely stern, yet loving nature, Adams' innocence and worldly ignorance, and Davis' reluctance and unconditional love, all act as catalysts, which first draw in the viewer and keep the film interesting throughout. Though nominated for an Oscar, I felt that Hoffman's performance was a bit lackluster; a nomination for "Synecdoche, New York" would have seemed much more appropriate. In all, "Doubt" was a fairly entertaining "actors film" -- worth a rent, but not the price of admission.

2.5 out of 4