Doubt

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Rating:★★★★★
Category:Movies
Genre: Drama
When the play was staged locally, I really meant to watch it. Especially when I heard that Sister Aloysius was gonna be played by no other than Cherie Gil. But much as I wanted to, work got in the way and I regretted not seeing it. Then something better came along. Meryl Streep.

Streep stars as Sister Aloysius, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Flynn, Amy Adams as Sister James and Viola Davis as Mrs. Muller. Playwright John Patrick Shanley directed the movie version of his award-winning play.

Having Streep and Hoffman in a film is a casting coup in itself and you know you are in for a treat. The confrontation scene was intense that you wish these people can do it on stage instead of on film. Superb acting from everyone and Viola Davis was a revelation! Streep is truly a brilliant thespian. Her transformation from a fun mom (Mamma Mia!) to a stern nun is a total turnabout. Her breakdown scene towards the end of the movie was very, very compelling.

Lines that stuck:

"Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty." - Father Flynn

"You just want things to be resolved so you can have simplicity back." - Sister Aloysius

(Incidentally, this movie reminded me of the movie version of Agnes of God where Academy Award winners Anne Bancroft and Jane Fonda displayed their acting chops onscreen. Another must-watch, imho. And I am happy to say that I was able to watch the play starring Pilar Pilapil--another great actress, essaying the role which Jane Fonda played onscreen.)

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