Doubt [Blu-ray] | DVD Review

One of those rare cinematic treats that also works as a self-reflective exercise probing the viewer to question their own set of principles, the strength of John Patrick Shanley’s well-designed Doubt is its ability to play with the viewer’s own assumptions by making the fine line between who and what is right and wrong not visible.

Perhaps by the Academy Awards’ standards it wasn’t heavy or sweeping enough to walk away with a win, but it was handsomely rewarded with five nominations (four for acting and one for the great adaption of material) and fairly-well supported by critics.

Almost two decades since his directorial debut in Joe Versus the Volcano, the American playwright
obviously benefited from a superb cast but it is Roger Deakins’ stout photography that makes this one of the better Broadway to silver-screen translations. It’s upon a second viewing on the crisp Blu-ray, that one gets to appreciate the playful use of god’s eye angle shots matched with low angle shots that further add to the film’s strength – the joost of who has the upper hand. The exercise that is Doubt – is a rarity in film, viewer’s beliefs and pre-conceived feelings about the guilty and innocence change on the flip of a coin, get challenged or remain firm over the progression of the just under 2 hour feature. This is perhaps the reason why it was so well received by critics, and I believe this is what made the film a profitable Fall release for Miramax.

Among my top 20 films of 2008, Doubt ranks high because of the craftsmanship in the screenplay, the look of the film, the memorable performances and some savoury exchanges between titan characters.


From Stage to Screen
Running about 20 mins long, including on set stills and footage and an on camera interview where John Patrick Shanley presents the back-story to the back-story. The first doc piece is a great set up to the construction of the film and the play. Filmed in his own backyard, the production went to the actual location of where Shanley grew up in, and his reference point was one of Shanley’s former teachers in Margaret McEntee, who would become a consultant on the film. We learn about the ascension of packed mini theaters and into a stint on Broadway and how it was not obvious for Shanley to take the play and make into a screenplay. The more savoury portion is when he sits down with his lead for a one on one. After the brief intro, Meryl Streep lets us know how she first learned of the play that none of her entourage wanted to discuss in detail. She has an eloquence in her understanding of the material – it reminds us of how lucky the director was to have her on board. Meryl describes her co-star Amy Adams – as innocence incarnated.

The Cast of Doubt
Ent Weekly’s Dave Karger sits down with the foursome of Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. He poses an excellent set of questions, beginning with the ice breaker question of – if they saw the play before joining the project (yes for everyone with the exception of Davis), and the how the mechanics of the screenplay and the play and the public’s reaction to both in an exercise in itself. As Streep says we make “snap judgements and then the filmmaker undermines them”. As usual Streep glows – great interview.

Scoring Doubt
Shanley got one of the best in the biz in Howard Shore to compose the film’s score. This short doc shows the pair working in the recording studio with a grouping of musicians mostly working with violins. We witness select scenes being worked on and how the strategy was to score the sequences with a tone that keeps things neutral and non judgemental. Short and sweet, this is perhaps the more insightful doc on the process.

The Sisters of Charity
To better detail the regiment of being a sister, Shanley interviewed a foursome of nuns including the sister James in question who at the age of 21 was a redhead and freckled. Shanley mounts a short docu here during tea time where the nuns divulge details on how their system parallel to those of the priests was less free and more rigid.

Feature Commentary with John Patrick Shanley
Shanley offers your standard commentary track and it is here where we find out how certain plot devices are directly related to his own experiences as a school boy – from giving himself a bloody nose to skip school, to drinking the alter wine and getting kicked out.

Doubt is the film that stimulates discussion and deserves an empty space on the DVD shelf – as it may be one of those titles in the personal home entertainment library that end up being loaned out the most.

Movie rating – 4

Disc Rating – 3