This is a slow moving story. The script takes place about 1965. It shows how strict the catholic schools were with discipline. In this story the priest was trying to be more human yet strict with the kids. The Head Nun was very traditional. The HN was never human like to kids. The HN never said thank you or smiled. The HN never touched the kids except to discipline. The priest trying a soft touch on the shoulder and a smile in his approach. The priest was protecting the first black student in the school from being physically abused by the other kids. The HN falsely accused the priest for acting in a sexual abuse for the black child. This movie demonstrates how society was changing it's approach to child rearing and education.

Thank you Meryl Streep, Hoffman, Davis and Adams! The characters were real enough to be an interesting story about a yet another controversial subject. I've read comments about some interpreting Hoffman's character being a molester. I didn't get that vibe surprisingly, as that's what I went into the movie thinking. We've all heard the scandal of priests with boys. I thought the priest in the story was helping the African boy to live a religious life yet still be gay (his mother even said he had "tendencies" and that's why his father beat him) Hoffman tends to play strong, thought provoking characters so I'm staying with this line of thought until proved otherwise. This make me "Doubt" my strong dislike of ALL priests because I'm an advocate for gay rights.

Riveting performances from Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The characterizations are so well balanced. Meryl Streep gives us yet another persona we have not seen from her. The neighborhood, interiors and scene settings capture the austere ambiance of the time period and locale. The film has a storytelling economy. "Doubt is the only certainty."

Great acting, interesting subject.

Thought provoking.

This is a 2008 American drama directed by John Patrick Shanley, based on his own stage play "Doubt: A Parable."
It is a gripping, suspense-filled and profoundly thought-provoking drama with riveting performances of the main actors.
I know that a woman like Sister Aloysius exists, and I hate but admire such a woman at the same time.
And I also know that a man like Father Flynn exists, and I like such a man on the surface but detest him from the bottom of my heart.
It is really a nice movie.

I got a little bored watching this. I was just checking out some Phillip Seymour Hoffman movies, and thought this one might be good, but I wouldn't recommend it. It gave me something to think about, but only at the very end!....I just read Nursebob's comment....he/she obviously got a lot more out of it than I did, so maybe don't take my opinion to heart!

“What do you do when you’re not sure…” intones Fr. Flynn during a Sunday sermon, “…doubt can be a bond as powerful as certainty.” This pretty much sets the tone for Shanley’s brilliantly executed drama about an embittered mother superior who accuses Flynn of molesting a child at the school where she resides as principal. Armed only with a misguided sense of righteousness, Sr. Beauvier begins a one-woman witch hunt designed to make her unfounded suspicions a reality, even violating her own moral code in order to do so…“In the presence of wrongdoing, one steps away from God” being her only justification. In order to truly appreciate what Shanley has done we must look at the period in which the film takes place, the early ‘60s. The nation was still reeling from the assassination of Kennedy, cold war paranoia was in full swing, and Pope John XXIII was trying to drag Catholics into the 20th century with the Second Vatican Council. While Fr. Flynn openly embraces the spirit of change sweeping the church Sr. Beauvier remains dour and rigid, not even allowing ballpoint pens into the classroom. Torn between these two extremes is Sr. James, a young novice who teaches history. Possessed of a certain naiveté, or maybe just a greater faith in the basic goodness of people, she is at first drawn into Beauvier’s web of suspicion then later horrified by the old woman’s monomaniacal crusade. Shanley’s use of natural elements to provide counterpoint to the film’s narrative is superb; storms and tempests battle overhead while a mighty wind buffets the church doors. He also employs subtler imagery to great effect whether it be the stained glass eye of God or a statue of the Virgin casting a shadow on a garden wall; and a simple burnt light bulb has never held such import. Lastly, despite all the empty hearsay and innuendo, he introduces just enough doubt into the story to make us question our own convictions as to what really happened. A completely engrossing drama highlighted by some magnificent performances including Viola Davis’ turn as the young boy’s mother whose reaction to the accusations took me completely off guard. Bravo!

I shall not forget Sister Aloysius Beauvieer, played by Meryl Streep anytime soon. Just look at her picture of the DVD box. That is the lady who plays the iron fisted by the rules principal of a Catholic School. Her work in this film is amazing. She made me hate her so much for all her evil ways. I don't want to tell too much of the plot, but the whole cast is wonderful. The story is controversial and that might explain why it get varying reviews. The movie caught my imagination and felt very real. I felt the persecution of Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the character of Father Flynn. You can't help but feel the pain and suffering he is going through. All the issues we see on television every day are here in Doubt. They may not be pretty or a love story, but they are truly real problems facing real people. Watch the film for me please. See what you think and leave me a message here. I have given you my honest opinion. I look forward to reading your reaction to Doubt.

Excellent acting, but a real downer.

Despite the extremely good performances (especially Viola Davis) this is really a PRO-CATHOLICISM campaign film disguised as a true independent film allegedly based on the play of the same name period.The relationship between the black boy and his parents in this film hits very close to home indeed,but it doesn't matter to me when i really didn't have a good time watching this experience overall.At least the film shows me how RACIST the so-called Catholic Church is when it comes to crimes being committed against children of color,but the Catholic Church doesn't really LOVE boys no matter what color they are in real life period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!