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Doubt (2008)
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John Patrick Shanley here writes and directs a chilly, austere adaptation of his own Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Set in a Catholic boys' school in the Bronx in 1964, it's essentially a claustrophobic three-hander in which a priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is suspected of misconduct with the establishment's only black pupil. His chief accuser is the principal, Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep), whose cast-iron religious certainty sets her on a collision course with Hoffman's modernising tendencies. Completing this powerhouse trio is an innocent young nun (played by Amy Adams), whose doubts fuel Streep's crusade. Remaining buttoned-up in both garb and morals, Streep's dragon-like inquisitor dominates proceedings, with her wrath sometimes threatening to turn into pantomime villainy. Hoffman brings necessary warmth to the priest — such that we can never be sure of his guilt — while Adams replays the innocence of her princess in Enchanted, except wrapped in a habit. Shanley's dialogue is honed and articulate, but in only his second outing as a director (after Joe versus the Volcano), he is never quite able to overcome the piece's theatricality — despite over-literal use of gathering storm clouds. AC
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Tell us what you think
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Running time
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99min
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Country of origin
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US
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Genre
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Period Drama
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Original language
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English
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Screenplay
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John Patrick Shanley, from his play
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Theatrical distributor
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Disney
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UK cinema certificate
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15
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UK cinema release date
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February 2009
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| awards information |
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Award |
Category |
Name |
Nominee/Winner |
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| Academy 2008 |
Actor in a Supporting Role |
Philip Seymour Hoffman |
Nominee |
| Academy 2008 |
Actress in a Leading Role |
Meryl Streep |
Nominee |
| Academy 2008 |
Actress in a Supporting Role |
Amy Adams |
Nominee |
| Academy 2008 |
Actress in a Supporting Role |
Viola Davis |
Nominee |
| Academy 2008 |
Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published) |
John Patrick Shanley |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2008 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role |
Philip Seymour Hoffman |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2008 |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role |
Meryl Streep |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2008 |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role |
Amy Adams |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2008 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Motion Picture |
Philip Seymour Hoffman |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2008 |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama |
Meryl Streep |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2008 |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Motion Picture |
Amy Adams |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2008 |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Motion Picture |
Viola Davis |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2008 |
Best Screenplay Motion Picture |
John Patrick Shanley |
Nominee |
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Film certification logos reproduced by kind permission of BBFC |
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