Wonderful performances in riveting ‘Doubt’

Cert 15

99 mins, Drama

In the hermetically-sealed world of a 1960s Catholic school, Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) rules with an iron fist.

Trouble erupts when painfully naive Sister James (Amy Adams) confides to her ferocious superior that resident holy man Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) appears to have “taken an interest” in one of the boys, Donald.

When the head nun learns that Father Flynn spent time alone in the rectory with Donald, she draws unsavoury conclusions, despite protestations from Sister James.

Flynn pleads innocence but the situation gradually spirals out of control.

Adapted by writer-director John Patrick Shanley from his own Tony award-winning stage play, ‘Doubt’ is a riveting drama about the shades of grey between perception and reality.

The film version is distinguished by tour-de-force performances from the Oscar-nominated cast.

Streep devours the screen, eyes burning with indignation as she pursues her vendetta, engaging in some terrific verbal skirmishes with Hoffman’s besieged priest.

Adams provides the meek voice of reason, while Viola Davis is stunning in just 10 minutes of screen time, the balance of power shifts, our loyalties are torn, and — like Sister James — we try to remain unbiased in the eye of the storm.

Star Rating: 4/5