Doubt [Blu-ray]
![Doubt [Blu-ray]](/images/Doubt-Blu-ray-B001PA0FF4-L.jpg)
List Price:
Our Price: $11.22
You Save: $15.28 (58%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $7.73 (click here)
Category: Blu-ray
See more Blu-ray details
Buy this Blu-ray movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Blu-ray details
Actor: Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour HoffmanBrand: Buena Vista Home Video
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 104 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2009-04-07
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Miramax
Blu-ray Reviews of Doubt [Blu-ray]
Blu-ray Review: Doubt: A Review.
Summary: 4 Stars
THE FILM
The acclaimed Broadway play "Doubt" was developed at a time when the authority of religion and the notion of its infallibility were being seriously challenged in the light of instances of indiscretions by priests against children and philosophies that seemed outdated, even irrelevant. The play itself is indeed about both issues but, more central to its concerns, to judge from its new cinematic counterpart, are people's perceptions of certain events and of one another, their convictions that those perceptions are factually accurate, how they act upon those convictions (whether they are correct or misguided), and the consequences of those actions. (And, yes, one issue does beget the next.) It is about people believing what they want to believe, even if to do so they must turn the other cheek.
It could not have been an easy task to incorporate so many essential human conditions into one story, and develop them as well they have been here, but John Patrick Shanley, who both directed the film and adapted his own play from stage to screen, has succeeded in what is easily one of the best-written films of the year.
These themes could occur in any place or at any time, but it makes sense that Shanley chooses to set it in a Catholic church and school located in the Bronx in the mid 1960s, a year after President Kennedy's assassination. It is, arguably, a time when people within the country have doubts about the world and theirselves and, perhaps, looks to their religion and faith to find some hint of reassurance. Yet, over a relatively short time, that stability and certainty is challenged for the small group of nuns, clergy, parishioners, teachers and parents at the center of this story.
Despite the fact the movie is about events that could lend themselves to easy sensationalism, it wisely avoids such a show in favor of a simple, no-nonsense, almost minimalist style of storytelling and character study. It's this style that helps us to immerse ourselves without distraction in our scrutiny of the people on-screen, even as they scrutinize each other and themselves. That, along with the writing that never fails to be intriguing, even for a minute.
Sister James (played with a kind, almost childlike, innocence by Amy Adams) is a nun and teacher at the Catholic grade school adjacent to the church who notices some peculiar behavior in one of her students after the priest calls him to the rectory for a private meeting. Her suspicions heighten when she later spies the priest discreetly place an article of clothing into the boy's locker. She eventually confesses what she knows and suspects to her superior, Sister Aloysius Beauvier (the wonderful Meryl Streep, late of "Lions for Lambs" "Redacted" and "The Devil Wears Prada," excellent at thoroughly becoming her character, here and as always), the head nun at the church as well as the school's principal. Sister Beauvier favors an old-fashioned brand of morals and sensibility, enforcing them with a stern demeanor toward her students and even her colleagues. Father Brendan Flynn (the gifted, hardworking Philip Seymour Hoffman, who's made a career of richly, memorably portraying characters--"Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," "Synecdoche, New York," "Capote"--who are some combination of troubled, vulnerable, and ethically- or morally-challenged) is the priest in question.
He is soon to be at the center of Sister Beauvier's consciousness and the focus of her campaign to force him out of their church. It is no easy task, considering the fact that, under the church's rigid hierarchy, official complaints by nuns are to be made solely to other priests; Father Flynn is, officially, the sister's own superior in an organization that reveres men of his ilk; and he is in better-than-good graces with his own superiors--often seen chatting and dining with them as the best of buddies.
When she questions him about the issue, nervous at first, assertive at last, Sister James as a witness, he begrudgingly provides reasons that nonetheless seem valid, to the junior nun's satisfaction and immense relief. Yet, Sister Beauvier remains highly skeptical, thoroughly convinced of her belief that Father Flynn has committed a breach of the most serious sort, not by any concrete evidence or supporting testimony, but by her own indefinable hunch. With it, she embarks on a mission to oust him, first by speaking to the boy's mother, Mrs Miller (Viola Davis), from whom she learns a surprising revelation about the nature of people in difficult circumstances, then by threatening him directly in a fiery confrontation.
In his own defense, Father Flynn remains quite credible: he pays special attention to the boy because he is the only African-American in a school of often-hostile Whites; the nuns have no proof of their allegations; and Sister Beauvier's concerns could easily stem from a conflict of generations and ideologies, Father Flynn being determined to connect with his parishioners in ways that are more personable and than the senior nun's strictly traditional methods. Both profess, convincingly, their desire to protect their congregation, and the children.
Shanley has clearly taken pains to ensure that neither appears more guilty, more free from ethical questions or, indeed, more doubtful than the other, until right past the very end. Though it offers no easy, black and white solutions, the conclusion fits the story just fine and is satisfactory if not happy. Given the context of the picture, any overtly happy ending would seem unjustifiable.
This is one of the better stage-to-screen adaptations in recent memory despite the fact that it was directed by the same person who wrote the original play. I don't mean that as an automatic criticism of all such movies; it's just that many such films, in their execution, are sometimes too "stagey"--mere replicas of the shows they were based on, rather than assured transformations from one medium to another. ("The History Boys" and the newer, musical version of "The Producers" are good examples of good stage shows turned into poor movies because their basic cinematic requirements were ignored.) An oft-overlooked fact is that each medium has its own distinct conventions and opportunities to be taken advantage of.
"Doubt" does not entirely overcome this transitional problem. The entire production still feels rather theatrical, which is not necessarily a criticism in and of itself. However, some scenes do look a bit overly-staged here and there, especially when the sole action on the screen--and from the speakers--consists of characters standing and talking to one another. Of course, this story is told much more through dialogue than physical action, so it is expected that most of the running time would be devoted to characters speaking. Notwithstanding this, little cinematic touches could have been introduced to make the whole affair seem more cinematic without sacrificing the simplicity that works so much to the film's benefit. One obvious touch would be the addition of a bit more music to the soundtrack. It's ironic that Howard Shore, one of the most revered film score composers working today, was hired for this movie, yet his work is only infrequently used.
The somewhat static quality brought on by the occasional staginess, in any case, is a relatively small criticism, which the writing--the meat and potatoes of the film--easily overcomes. Shanley clearly is an expert at the art of metaphor, a talent which abounds in his script, sometimes a little too often or too humorously, but never so much as to be a true distraction; it's usually just enough to make things more interesting. Some of the more memorable uses an overhead light bulb above Sister Beauvier in her office blows itself out when Sister James first expresses her doubts about the priest (Sister Beauvier, with a tone that is both lightly humorous and sly: "Look. You blew out my light."). Later, Father Flynn joins them both in the same room, and the same bulb blows itself out again. As suspicions continue to rise in the nuns' minds about their priest, he is shown in the midst of dinner with his fellow men of the cloth: a loud, jovial, almost rambunctious feast complete with wine and, on each plate, a slab of beef, thick and very bloody. Cut to dinner with the nuns: they sit orderly, quietly around their table, eating veggies and drinking tall glasses of milk. The sinful priests; the wholesome nuns. The devastating final scene takes place in a cold garden, the leaves blowing in the wind, having left the bare branches of the trees behind.
The cold, blowing wind plays a metaphor in other scenes, too, generally reflective of an unease that lingers in the air and within oneself. Another, somewhat more old-fashioned indicator of the unease characters feel at certain moments are the oddly-canted camera angles that appear on occasion, in which characters are diagonally oriented, usually when when perceived by another character. Such simple metaphoric techniques have been done in cinema for generations, but remain powerful in this film, nevertheless.
If you were not able to see the theatrical play (even if you did see it) go see this film. You may wish you had seen the play. If you're not religious, don't let the church setting, and presence of nuns and priests scare you away, as it's about something more fundamental and universal than religion. No matter what your persuasion, it merits a close viewing.
Description of Doubt [Blu-ray]
From Miramax Films comes one of the most honored and acclaimed motion pictures of the year, Doubt. Based on the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, Doubt is a mesmerizing, suspense-filled drama with four riveting performances from Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis that will have you pinned to the edge of your seat. Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Streep), the rigid and fear-inspiring principal of the Saint Nicholas Church School, suffers an extreme dislike for the progressive and popular parish priest Father Flynn (Hoffman). Looking for wrongdoing in every corner, Sister Aloysius believes she's uncovered the ultimate sin when she hears Father Flynn has taken a special interest in a troubled boy. But without proof, the only thing certain is doubt. Nominated for 5 Golden Globes and 6 Critics' Choice awards, there is no Doubt it is "One of the best pictures of the year," (USA Today, Rolling Stone, New York Post, San Francisco Examiner, Roger Ebert).Bonus Features include From Stage To Screen, Scoring Doubt, The Sisters Of Charity
Stills from Doubt (Click for larger image)
 | |  |
 |  | |
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
CapoteSony; Release date: 2006-03-21; Published: 2006-03-01; DVD
Best price: $2.69
Price in other shops:
Angels in AmericaPACINO,AL; Release date: 2004-09-14; DVD
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops:
![Julie & Julia [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Julie-Julia-Blu-ray-B002RSDW8A-X.jpg)
Julie & Julia [Blu-ray]Sony; Release date: 2009-12-08; Blu-ray
Best price: $9.56
Price in other shops:
A Cry in the DarkSTREEP,MERYL; Release date: 1999-12-21; DVD
Best price: $1.95
Price in other shops:
The French Lieutenant's WomanRelease date: 2010-12-03; Amazon Instant Video; Movie
Best price: $2.99
Postcards from the EdgeSTREEP,MERYL; Release date: 2001-05-01; DVD
Best price: $3.90
Price in other shops:
PlentyLions Gate; Release date: 2010-03-02; DVD
Best price: $4.41
Price in other shops:
Sophie's ChoiceLION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 1998-04-21; DVD
Best price: $4.21
Price in other shops:
Kramer vs. KramerHOFFMAN,DUSTIN; Release date: 2001-08-28; DVD
Best price: $7.73
Price in other shops:
SilkwoodRelease date: 2003-10-07; DVD
Best price: $7.76
Price in other shops: