Bob ROARman!
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I know it's kinda late to the party with this movie, but I just recently saw it and I have to say, not being a fan of Meryl Streep, she was amazing in this movie. As was pretty much everyone else. And I know being released the same year as The Dark Knight that it's almost blasphemy to say this, but to me this was the best movie of the year, just barely edging out WALL-E which was an amazing, amazing achievement in it's own right.
But for me, Doubt kinda punches you in the gut. Review contains massive spoilers.
Why this movie wasn't nominated for Best Picture, I have no idea, but it deserved it.
But for me, Doubt kinda punches you in the gut. Review contains massive spoilers.
The movie sets you up. They used the same formula as we all know from present real life examples: Priest is accused, higher ups don't want any fuss, they're all buddy buddy with each other, so they move the guy along and sweep everything under the carpet. And that's exactly how they showed it to be in the movie. Hoffman even asks Streep to call the pastor of his previous church, and you're thinkng to yourself "Well of course he won't say anything bad, they don't want this breaking out" and even Streep points to them having an "understanding" and it all seems so blatant.
And when Hoffman tells her at the end that:
"I can't tell you everything. There's things I can't say. Even if you can't imagine the explanation, Sister, remember there are things beyond your knowledge. Even if you feel certainty, it is an emotion, not a fact."
That is probably the single biggest moment in the movie. At that moment if you are on the side of Streep, that's like an "I knew it" moment. Your instincts were correct, the guy is a monster. However that's if you willingly put aside the conversation Streep had with the kid's mom because it didn't serve your belief that Hoffman was guilty.
At that instance what Hoffman knows, what he doesn't want to say, and most importantly what he thinks is beyond Streep's knowledge, shows that he wasn't guilty of being a pedo priest. The kid was gay. And Hoffman couldn't let that secret out, because the kid probably would have gotten thrown out of the school and any hope for a good future. But Streep knew it as well after talking with his mother about his "nature", but that stood in her way of getting rid of Hoffman, who like Tuki said, represented change in the church. It wasn't so much about the kids to Streep, but the fear of change.
Being black back then was enough, but being black and gay? Needless to say not a very bright future. So instead of having that exposed to everyone and pretty much throwing the kid's life out the window, Hoffman resigned and moved on in order to protect him.
But Streep couldn't face that truth, she didn't want to believe it. No one else in the church knows the kid is gay, it's only her and the priest, and neither of them knows the other one knows (wait....yeah I got that right). After seeing how crazily intent Streep was, ready to sacrifice the innocent child's future and welfare because of a personal vendetta (even worse being that she actually KNEW the reason behind everything and still wanted to forge ahead, which is completely contradictory to what she says she stands for). Hoffman knew he didn't have a choice but to move on. It was the only option that gave the kid a chance.
Streep wanted to keep on believing that the Church had to be different from everyone else, that they have to be seen as different. She believed they could not change that image. She wanted that simplicity, just like Adams wanted the simplicity that Hoffman was simply protecting the boy of which she thought was just simply the kid taking a swig from the wine jar, nothing more serious than that.
And it's all a testament just how great Streep was in this movie. You were right there alongside her, rooting her on. Because of her performance, it's so easy to be convinced by her, so easy to be on her side, asking the kind of questions you would want asked, going after the guy head on, full force, seemingly, without doubt. But that's just not the truth. Jumping to those conclusions, ignoring contradictory evidence and instead embracing self serving gossip. Like when she took the kid's radio and then became addicted to listening to it herself, she's just like everyone else, she's not any different. As much as she preaches they, the church, have to be different from the regular folk, she isn't.
And when Hoffman tells her at the end that:
"I can't tell you everything. There's things I can't say. Even if you can't imagine the explanation, Sister, remember there are things beyond your knowledge. Even if you feel certainty, it is an emotion, not a fact."
That is probably the single biggest moment in the movie. At that moment if you are on the side of Streep, that's like an "I knew it" moment. Your instincts were correct, the guy is a monster. However that's if you willingly put aside the conversation Streep had with the kid's mom because it didn't serve your belief that Hoffman was guilty.
At that instance what Hoffman knows, what he doesn't want to say, and most importantly what he thinks is beyond Streep's knowledge, shows that he wasn't guilty of being a pedo priest. The kid was gay. And Hoffman couldn't let that secret out, because the kid probably would have gotten thrown out of the school and any hope for a good future. But Streep knew it as well after talking with his mother about his "nature", but that stood in her way of getting rid of Hoffman, who like Tuki said, represented change in the church. It wasn't so much about the kids to Streep, but the fear of change.
Being black back then was enough, but being black and gay? Needless to say not a very bright future. So instead of having that exposed to everyone and pretty much throwing the kid's life out the window, Hoffman resigned and moved on in order to protect him.
But Streep couldn't face that truth, she didn't want to believe it. No one else in the church knows the kid is gay, it's only her and the priest, and neither of them knows the other one knows (wait....yeah I got that right). After seeing how crazily intent Streep was, ready to sacrifice the innocent child's future and welfare because of a personal vendetta (even worse being that she actually KNEW the reason behind everything and still wanted to forge ahead, which is completely contradictory to what she says she stands for). Hoffman knew he didn't have a choice but to move on. It was the only option that gave the kid a chance.
Streep wanted to keep on believing that the Church had to be different from everyone else, that they have to be seen as different. She believed they could not change that image. She wanted that simplicity, just like Adams wanted the simplicity that Hoffman was simply protecting the boy of which she thought was just simply the kid taking a swig from the wine jar, nothing more serious than that.
And it's all a testament just how great Streep was in this movie. You were right there alongside her, rooting her on. Because of her performance, it's so easy to be convinced by her, so easy to be on her side, asking the kind of questions you would want asked, going after the guy head on, full force, seemingly, without doubt. But that's just not the truth. Jumping to those conclusions, ignoring contradictory evidence and instead embracing self serving gossip. Like when she took the kid's radio and then became addicted to listening to it herself, she's just like everyone else, she's not any different. As much as she preaches they, the church, have to be different from the regular folk, she isn't.
Why this movie wasn't nominated for Best Picture, I have no idea, but it deserved it.
