Doubt Movie Teaser Poster- Page 2

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 11:46am

Hoffman is amazing, and a literal chameleon. The Man can play any role. I don't know what all the worries are for.

what I AM worried about is that Shanley's only other directing credit is "Joe Versus the Volcano" now THAT makes me uneasy.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 12:08pm

Hoffman is amazing, and a literal chameleon. The Man can play any role.

I couldn't disagree more. He can play effeminate and/or pathetic characters. That's pretty much it. He's pretty much the sole reason I may avoid this film completely.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 12:21pm

walkedthroughmany, from Ain't It Cool News:

http://www.aintitcool.com/talkback_display/36380?q=node/36380

"Hey Guys,

I’ve never written one of these reviews, but I just got out of a sneak peek of a movie WAY in advance -- that we'll definitely be hearing a lot about in the fall. So I thought you might be interested to hear about tonight’s preview of "Doubt," directed by John Shanley and starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. (I saw it at Sony Lincoln Square in New York.) Shanley wrote and directed the movie based on his play (which won a Pulitzer). I've really been looking forward to it for a while ever since they announced it was going to be a movie, and I didn't expect I'd get a chance to see it this early. I'm so glad I did because it lives up to expectations.

“Doubt” is set in 1964 and is the story of a nun (Streep) who accuses a priest (Hoffman) of molesting one of his students. But it is MUCH MUCH more than that. It's also about some big themes like faith, conviction and truth. This is definitely some heady stuff and the movie has got some great performances to pull it off. Meryl Streep is a mean nun on a mission who makes her Miranda in "The Devil Wears Prada” look like a softy. She's at the top of her game and this is another notch on her belt.

Hoffman, always fantastic, goes toe to toe with Streep – and their face offs are explosive. Hoffman’s intense, vulnerable and sinister all at the same time. One minute you think he’s guilty, then innocent the next (no spoilers here!). This role was made for him. And the
beautiful Amy Adams, who's generally known for her cute, quirky characters, shows she has got some real chops (She plays the nun in the middle of this moral tug of war). She plays her character with a real sense of inner strength amidst all of these battles. Adams is one of the many pleasant surprises of this movie.

The movie isn't perfect though. It's pretty long at almost 2 hours and takes a while to get the action going. But even when my mind started to drift, it was hard to pull my eyes away because of these great performances. And also Roger Deakins' beautiful cinematography (he got robbed at this year's Oscars!). But I'm sure we'll be seeing him and the rest of this movie come awards time.

Dave Feldman"


And I've read more...I'm trying to find them...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 1:23pm

Hi,Smaxie. Have you attended the advanced screening of the movie Doubt already? You post seemed to give me this feeling.

So what is your impression of the whole movie? Is it great? Is John Shanley able to make a smashing transfer from the stage to screen? And what about Streep's performance as the great role of Sister Aloysius? (in the stage version, Cherry Jones really gave a tremendous performance. Is Streep up to the par or even better)

Waiting for your reply

[ahmelie]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 1:28pm

Hm... I've yet to read Doubt. I guess its time to go spend an hour at Borders.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 5:54pm

I simply cannot wait for this movie. I think the poster is great. Simple... I like it.

~Steven

[ahmelie]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 10:57pm

Done. And I'll join the chorus of people that is very worried about Hoffman.

I don't see it at all.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 11:00pm

The poster is great. I'm excited.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 11:38pm

"I agree about Hoffman. I don't see why they insist on putting him in everything these days."

That is a weird thing to say bc he has only been in four movies since 2005 and two were supporting characters and two were films that grossed under 8 million each.

[christhefish]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 2:01am

I can not wait for this film, I hope it is as explosive as the play. My fears are that it will come across a little dull.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 12:31pm

>My fears are that it will come across a little dull.<

Based on what? Your imagination? The film has the same feeling of mounting tension as the play did. I was also gripping my armrest during Viola Davis's scene, since she plays it very real and raw.

For the Hoffman worriers, again, I tell you that the character's innocence or guilt is not betrayed in any way by Hoffman's presence or performance, and there are a few new scenes and moments, including some interaction with the boy, that leave you further conflicted.

The film is opened up in the best possible sense. Nothing feels extraneous, but you see contrasting scenes of the priests and the nuns in their respective worlds, as well as scenes in the classroom with some of the other children that were referred to in the stage script, such as William London, and the girl whom Sister Aloysius wants seated away from the boys. (I'm blanking on the name).

Streep's Aloysius is ferocious. She's funny in the terror she provokes in others and in the character's dry wit, but without any camp creeping into her performance. She's mesmerizing in her stand-offs with Hoffman, and in the heat of the confrontation scene, did something incredibly surprising, giving Aloysius a moment of vulnerability that helps humanize her for the final scene. I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I think it stands with her great performances.

Updated On: 8/5/08 at 12:31 PM

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 12:55pm

I can't wait for this movie. Doubt is one of my favorite plays (along with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? but we'll wait for THAT movie to come out before we discuss...) and I can't wait to see how it translates to the screen.

I'm confused...are you saying let's wait for "...Virginia Woolf?" to become a movie? The only reason I think I must be reading you wrong is because there's no way it's your favorite play and you've never seen the movie.


Smaxie, thanks for your review. It just made me doubly eager to see this movie.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 1:26pm

Streep's Aloysius is ferocious. She's funny in the terror she provokes in others and in the character's dry wit, but without any camp creeping into her performance. She's mesmerizing in her stand-offs with Hoffman, and in the heat of the confrontation scene, did something incredibly surprising, giving Aloysius a moment of vulnerability that helps humanize her for the final scene. I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I think it stands with her great performances.

Smaxie, my mouth is literally watering after that description of Streep's performance. I can't wait to see her tear some sh*t up!

[B3TA07]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 1:27pm

I love Smaxie.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 1:36pm

Smaxie rules all. Next to Marc Shaiman.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 1:37pm

OMG Marc Shaiman, we love your work you are the light and future of BroadWAY!

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 1:40pm

Do we have a candidate for the new Margo?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 1:52pm

Because a user saw a screening of it and gave a well-written review? No. Smaxie has been very literate and intelligent for many years, in fact.


Smaxie is the sun and the moon and the stars.

[njohn]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 2:09pm

Out of all the upcoming movie posters that I saw in the cinema yesterday, this one stood out. I will definitely see this.

[christhefish]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 2:26pm

Smaxie - I just felt like when I saw the play that some of the tension was derived from the fact that it was live. My fear was that it wouldn't traslate with the same sense of urgency. I'm glad to hear that the movie is so good, like I said before I can't wait to see it.

[zinn_g]

Posted: 8/6/08 at 3:01am

Thanks, Smaxie, for your thoughts on the film.

I'm most interested in hearing about Amy Adams' Sister James. I think Sister James is very important in the telling of the story, as she's perhaps the one character the audience can most relate to or connect with. It is therefore very important that she be played well.

I have no worries about Streep. That woman can act circles around anybody. Hoffman, who may not be the obvious choice for the role (physically), has proven time & time again that he is an excellent actor. I'm not too worried about him, either. Adams, on the other hand, is also a fine actress but has much less experience.

Smaxie, I don't think you've mentioned much about Sister James. Was Adams able to deliver the goods as well as the others? Was this role made bigger than the one on stage?

Looking forward to this movie!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/6/08 at 6:23am

I should have mentioned Adams. She fares very well throughout - and looks great. As you mention, she is the one that hears both points of view from Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn and her reactions are important as a barometer for the audience. I particularly liked her courtyard scene with Father Flynn and her standoff with Aloysius where she defends the priest. She also benefits from some new material in her classroom, where she tries to adapt herself to the methods suggested by Aloysius, and a moment where she witnesses something that further clouds the issue of Flynn's innocence or guilt.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/6/08 at 1:13pm

Hi,Smaxie. Thank you for your comments on the film. (I PMed you)

You touched upon the main roles and the actors' performance in the film. How do you think of Shanley's direction and what's your overall feeling about the whole film? (Is it good, great, or even a masterpiece? If you are asked to grade it, what grade will you give? (A, A-, B+.......?)

As for streep's performance. I suppose you saw the legendary performance of Cherry Jones on the stage. Do you think streep's acting is on the par or even better? And do you think it is one of the best in recent years and will become one of Streep's representative performances, like Sophie's choice...?

I have read the screenplay of the film. Shanley includes the mental growth of the boy Jimmy as an observer of the event, and there are some scenes depicting the boy's family. Some people think this thread of the story is unnecessary. Does the cut of the film you saw still preserve this part?

I have some tacit understanding of some things you mentioned. the mirror (in the classroom) and the locker (with father flynn) in the scenes of Sister James......right?


If anyone wants to read the screenplay to temporarily quench your thirst for the upcoming film, please give me a PM.

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/6/08 at 1:30pm

Let's not compare Streep's performance to Cherry Jones. That's not fair to either ladies. Both are brilliant actresses...not even an issue.

Either way, I'm sure that Streep will be nominated, and perhaps win the Best Actress Oscar. And, it wouldn't suprise me in the least that she'll win both acting awards at The Golden Globes in January - Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical for "Mamma Mia," and Best Actress in a Drama for "Doubt.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 8/6/08 at 1:57pm

Definitely not iffy about Hoffman at all. That man is a chameleon.