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nimmrt DOUBT (15) 104min oooo
If, as the old proverb goes, ‘doubt makes the mountain that faith can move', then John Patrick Shanley's powerful 2004 play, set in a Catholic school, posits a relative Kilimanjaro in the middle of the Bronx.
When the headmistress Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) begins to suspect liberal forward thinking Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of having inappropriate relationships with some of the pupils, she enlists the help of young teacher Sister James (Amy Adams). As evidence against Flynn, spurious or otherwise, begins to mount, Sister Aloysius shows her mettle and dogged resolve to try and elicit a confession from Flynn.
Adapting and directing his one act play for the screen Bronx-born baby boomer Shanley opens things up to strengthen the prism of accusation and denial between the three main characters, while playing up the diminishing effects that supposition supported by unsupportable dogma can have on the human psyche. At work, at play and most importantly in the arms of the faith they have allowed to define them, all these
Tribll t E t' r357" ’N Pumsuen - WAR ZONE (18) 102min o
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I Generalrele.'1:;e from In (5 l el).
characters are victims of fundamentalism, one way or another.
Though basically a piece of filmed theatre, Doubt is as robust and enthralling as any character driven drama. The language of diplomacy, frustration and ultimately accusation take the place of physical action and adventure. It’s thrust and rhythm-provoking meditations are as complicated and painfully unsolvable as any brought on by the birch.
Needless to say Streep is remarkable as the twitchy, petty, deeply contradictory Aloysius and Hoffman is equally as fine as the compromised, slothfully superior priest. Shanley, who was last let near a director’s chair for the appalling 1990 Tom Hanks fantasy Joe Versus the Volcano proves he may not be the most inspired of filmmakers but he is good enough for a film that should be all about the language and its use to crush hope and personal freedoms.
With Doubt Shanley has made sure he will not always be remembered as the man who gave Cher her best movie role in 1987’s Moonstruck (which he wrote the screenplay for). He has also given his prescient, troubling and brilliant play a life beyond the boards. (Paul Dale)
I General release from Frr 6 Feb.
Name Jonathan Levine
Born 1978. New York City Background Given he's been making movres since he was a prepubescent 12-year-old. NYC born and bred Jonathan Levme was always going to become a film director. Graduating from the Arts/Semiotics programme at the Ivy League Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Levrne got a job back home working as PA for filmmaker Paul Schrader in 2002. Later that year, Levine moved to Los Angeles to study at the American Film Institute Conservatory, where he made his thesis film Shards. a short about a hip hop DJ attempting to kick his crystal meth habit. Its success at film festivals lead to Levine signing on to direct his first feature. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane. a teen slasher with attitude and cool way beyond the average genre entry. What’s he up to now‘? His second feature, The Wackness, 8 Sundance award-winning high school drama written and directed by Levine has just come out on DVD. The film is heavily based on his own teenage years. Set in NYC in 1994 and focusing on the painful initiation into adulthood of a young pothead (played by Josh Peck), the film is extremely evocative of the end-of—an-era of blissful innocence (signified by the tough social reforms ushered in by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani). What he says about making a high school movie ‘I wanted to do a movie about that time in someone's life when they're leaving school and becoming a grown up. And I really like high school movies that are authentic. For me. the best high school movie is Amy Heckerling's Fast Times at Ridgemont High. So rather than trying to write a movie that takes place in present day — now that I’m 30 I don't know what kids are doing — the best way to be authentic was to go back and write about the year I graduated high school. That, and I liked the music.’
Interesting fact Although securing music rights is usually a budget-breaking exercise. Levine had few problems acquiring the rights for his old school hip hop soundtrack, because ‘no one really puts that music in films'. (Miles Fielder)
I The Wackness is available on DVD now (Revolver).
5-19 Feb 2009 THE LIST 45