#joseph foster

A pessimist (read: Dan Stunkel) might say this movie is set up in a way where the drawn out discussions of heated dialogue are merely vehicles for the lead actors/actresses to 'gun for Oscars'. An optimist would probably say the movie's simplistic approach says what it needs to say, then gracefully wraps up; its style and length certainly don't give room for unnecessary excess or wasted words.

Though we never truly 'find out' if the priest is guilty or not -- and since it's called "Doubt", I imagine the concept is to draw your own conclusion -- my decision on the matter was airtight: guilty. But yeah, they coulda made this an hour longer and added way more bells and whistles, had they wanted.

Ebert: Gave it four stars and banged this relevant point home, re: the acting of two of the movie's best...

Donald's mother (Viola Davis) fears her son will be expelled from the school. He has been accused of drinking the altar wine. Worse, of being given it by Father Flynn. She appeals directly to Sister Aloysius, in a scene as good as any I've seen this year. It lasts about 10 minutes, but it is the emotional heart and soul of "Doubt," and if Viola Davis isn't nominated by the Academy, an injustice will have been done. She goes face to face with the pre-eminent film actress of this generation, and it is a confrontation of two equals that generates terrifying power.

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MVP: Streep. I really need to watch more stuff with her, because I know she's awesome, and she killed it in this movie. Seymour Hoffman was creepy/good, and Amy Adams certainly worked her young charm, but Streep was this movie's alpha dog.

Bonus Points: When you say "doubt" in the movie "Doubt", you get bonus points.