Posted: 4/19/16 at 9:57pm
What did you guys think of the film Doubt. I loved it and i thought all four performances are great. I would loved to have seen the original Broadway show.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 10:04pm
I saw the national tour with Cherry Jones and absolutely loved it.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 10:15pm
I really enjoyed both the play and the movie.
Previous thread exists on this topic:
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1065707&boardname=
Posted: 4/19/16 at 10:42pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "Is... Is it 2008?"
No but Kingfan can correct me if I am wrong but I have found that a lot of younger people are just seeing movie and tv shows that we saw when they were originally released. I have also noticed that they discuss them as if they are something new at times. The sad thing is that, at times, when I have chimed into these conversations I am ignored because it seems they want to "own it" so to speak because it is new to them. With that said, the op did not see the show. Maybe just because he/she possibly just wasn't able to or could possibly have been too young to see it. Just my thoughts.
My opinion on the movie is that Streep should not have been cast and it paled in comparison to the play. I saw the original cast and was quite shaken when I left the theater.
Updated On: 4/19/16 at 10:42 PM
Posted: 4/19/16 at 11:11pm
Love this play and the film. Wasn't necessarily a fan of Hoffman, but I loved how claustrophobic the film was. I'd love a revival!
Posted: 4/19/16 at 11:17pm
Not having seen the play to make a comparison, I thought the film was well cast and very effective.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 5:04am
Did not see the stage production so I have no point of comparison but I found the film very well done and the performances were outstanding. For me, it was a riveting story that I thought about for a long time afterward. I can only imagine that the live production would have been even more thought provoking.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 7:09am
I moved to NYC during the original Broadway run, and was blessed with the opportunity to see both casts perform the show, which highlighted the great skill and the idea of Doubt perfectly. One cast left me wi one conclusion, one cast left me with an entirely different conclusion.
The film, while strong, is ultimately a misfire for me. It is well cast, well shot, it wonderfully expands the world of the play to the medium of film without losing the essence of the small play that it was, but I think given the purpose of the story, it was a true mistake to have Shanley direct it. It runs the risk of someone seeing the film, draw their conclusions of guilt or innocence, and then believe that THAT must have been Shanley's intent and that fifties the entire purpose of the story and could color their perspective on the show.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 10:20am
They play is a masterpiece.
The movie, although great, suffered from having a portrayal of Donald. It works much better without seeing Donald at all.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 11:23am
The play was one of the most chilling theatrical experiences I've had. I was shaking when I walked out of the show.
The film just didn't capture that raw tension that was present watching it on stage.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 11:29am
I thought the movie was flawless! Would love to see it on stage at some point.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 12:02pm
I saw the Broadway version and thought the movie was terrible. It was all so hammy. Meryl Streep jabbing that crucifix at Philip Seymour Hoffman like it was a shiv. Streep standing outside and suddenly all the leaves blowing at her signaling "Trouble's coming." PSH looking like the stereotypical pedophile.
The Broadway version was so much better. But Cherry Jones and Brian O'Byrne had to rely on their acting not a bunch of gimmicks.
Updated On: 4/20/16 at 12:02 PM
Posted: 4/20/16 at 12:03pm
I also saw Cherry Jones in the national tour and thought it was great. I'd also like to see a revival of the play - I'm typically more a musical guy, but this is perhaps my favorite (modern day) play.
I thought the cast in the film was incredible, and love that Viola Davis was recognized for a great performance with such little screen time. I do, however, agree I think someone other than John Patrick Shanley should've directed it. Re: seeing Donald (the boy), I understand your point, but I'm not sure how that could've worked in the film medium.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 12:53pm
I really like the film, but I was not a huge fan of Philip Seymour Hoffman in the role. This is just me, but when I looked at him, I could be led to believe that he could be capable of unpleasant acts. This is not a comment on him as a person in his everyday life, but just the way I saw him in this role. I would have liked to have seen maybe Edward Norton or someone else in the role. However, I enjoyed Amy Adams performance and adored Viola Davis' performance. In fact, I think that Viola should have won the Oscar that year for Best Supporting Actress instead of Penelope Cruz. Although, I do think Cruz is talented, I just didn't see what the hullabaloo was about her in VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 1:13pm
"I moved to NYC during the original Broadway run, and was blessed with the opportunity to see both casts perform the show, which highlighted the great skill and the idea of Doubt perfectly. One cast left me wi one conclusion, one cast left me with an entirely different conclusion."
That is the same thing that was said by NY Times review I believe when the original cast left. I saw it with Cherry Jones and it was fantastic. I thought the priest was guilty.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 1:24pm
I agree that Viola Davis should have won the Oscar. I mean Penelope Cruz was enjoyable but I don't get that win.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 2:52pm
I saw the original Broadway cast twice, and the replacement cast once. The first two trips were riveting theatre, the third not so much. Like someone else mentioned, I had different opinions with each trip as to whether the priest was guilty. The first time, I was certain he was. The second, I thought Aloysius simply had an ax to grind.
Regarding the film -- I loathed it. Viola Davis was lovely, but not as strong as Adriane Lenox. Amy Adams reminded me a lot of Heather Goldenhersh, but less memorable. Hoffman was miscast. And Meryl? Oy vey. I thought she was awful. I know she's a national treasure, and has a well-earned reputation, but that role was not for her. With a better director she could have been perfect. But alas, the film adaptation is a perfect example of why some writers cannot, or rather should not direct their own pieces. All in all, the film lacks any kind of tension for me. The stakes just did not translate to film, whereas in the theatre I could not breathe.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 7:04pm
Was incredibly fortunate to see Cherry Jones when the tour came to Chicago, she was so amazing! When the film was released, I thought that Meryl Streep would the perfect person to replace her. Boy was I wrong, her performance had moments, but she completely blew the ending of the film. Her cry-baby approach really turned me off, since through the whole film she was this hard as nails bitch. She didn't really even deserve her Oscar nomination
