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Doubt (2008)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 208
Fresh: 163 | Rotten: 45

Doubt succeeds on the strength of its top-notch cast, who successfully guide the film through the occasional narrative lull.

Average Rating: 6.4/10
Critic Reviews: 41
Fresh: 29 | Rotten: 12

Doubt succeeds on the strength of its top-notch cast, who successfully guide the film through the occasional narrative lull.

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 156,222

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Movie Info

When the principal (Meryl Streep) of a Bronx Catholic High School accuses a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of pedophilia, a young nun caught in between the feuding pair becomes hopelessly swept up in the ensuing controversy. 1964, St. Nicholas, the Bronx: The winds of change are sweeping through this tight-knit religious community, and charismatic priest Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is doing his best to adapt by revisiting the school's notoriously strict disciplinary practices.

PG-13, 1 hr. 44 min.

Drama

Directed By: John Patrick Shanley

Written By: John Patrick Shanley

In Theaters: Dec 12, 2008 Wide

On DVD: Apr 7, 2009

Box Office:$33.4M

Miramax

Doubt Trailer & Photos

More Photos (6)

Cast

Meryl Streep
Sister Aloysius Beauvie...
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Father Brendan Flynn
Amy Adams
Sister James
Viola Davis
Mrs. Miller
Alice Drummond
Sister Veronica
Audrie J. Neenan
Sister Raymond
Joseph Foster II
Donald Miller
Susan Blommaert
Mrs. Carson
Carrie Preston
Christine Hurley
John Costelloe
Warren Hurley
Lloyd Clay Brown
Jimmy Hurley
Mike Roukis
William London
Haklar Dezso
zither player
Frank Shanley
Kevin
Robert Ridgell
organist
Frank Dolce
Ralph
Paulie Litt
Tommy Conroy
Matthew Marvin
Raymond
Bridget Megan Clark
Noreen Horan
Molly Chiffer
Sarah
Lydia Jordan
Alice
Suzanne Hevner
Mrs. Kean
Helen Stenborg
Sister Teresa
Tom Toner
Monsignor Benedict
Michael Puzzo
Father Sherman
Margery Beddow
Mrs. Shields
Jack O'Connell
Mr. McGuinn
Jack A. O'Connell
Mr. McGuinn
Marylouise Burke
Mrs. Deakins
Valda Setterfield
Parishioner

Critic Reviews for Doubt

All Critics (210) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (167) | Rotten (46) | DVD (11)

John Patrick Shanley's Doubt left me less moved than querulously dissatisfied despite the impressive performances of Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis in all the key roles.

December 31, 2008 Full Review Source: New York Observer

| Comment

Andrew Sarris

New York Observer

Top Critic

John Patrick Shanley the writer should never again hire John Patrick Shanley the director.

December 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Detroit News

| Comment

Tom Long

Detroit News

Top Critic

Thanks to a nearly perfect cast, this provocative glimpse into the Catholic priest child-molestation scandal manages to be deeply disturbing on several levels.

December 23, 2008 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel

| Comment

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

Top Critic

Doubt asks hard questions, and we dutifully squirm in reply.

December 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle

| Comment

Amy Biancolli

Houston Chronicle

Top Critic

While the Streep-Hoffman death match is the film's dramatic high point, its success lies in its defiant refusal to trot out even a slightly satisfying answer to the question: Did he or didn't he?

December 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

| Comment

Kristin Tillotson

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Top Critic

For all its high-caliber performances, its cutting dissection of the roles of men and women within the Catholic hierarchy, and its timely resonance in the wake of the church's sexual abuse scandals, there's something pat and tidy about Doubt.

December 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

| Comment

Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

Top Critic

Streep bursts onto the scene in a shower of meteors and takes control of director John Patrick Shanley's scenario.

August 16, 2011 Full Review Source: East Bay Express

| Comment

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

As a movie, very little actually happens. It's a lot of discussion about what might have happened or may occur in future, and then the emotional change that signals the curtain to drop and for the class to put down their pencils. The performances are st

December 15, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinerina

| Comment

Karina Montgomery

Cinerina

An attention-getting bit of drama built on remarkable performances.

October 9, 2009 Full Review Source: Times-Picayune

| Comment

Mike Scott

Times-Picayune

Shanley's continuous straining for that Great Unknown is undercut by tidy characters and cinematic deficiencies

August 26, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion

| Comment

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

It might be a bit of a slow starter, and it definitely takes its time allowing the story to unravel slowly. However, it's definitely worth a look, and a bit of discussion.

June 14, 2009 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures

| Comment

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

If it's a less than perfect film, it's only because there may not be as much doubt for some as for others.

June 14, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

Not a cinematic powerhouse, but a good conversation starter

May 14, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Habit

| Comment (1)

Marty Mapes

Movie Habit

The early scenes of Doubt glide past so smoothly that it's easy to miss the seditious currents underneath.

April 7, 2009 Full Review Source: Paste Magazine

| Comment

Jeffrey Bloomer

Paste Magazine

You get a full-length commentary by writer/ director John Patrick Shanley plus four featurettes.

April 6, 2009 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

| Comment

Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

The acting talent in evidence here is astounding and nobody, absolutely nobody puts her or his performance ahead of everyone else.

April 6, 2009 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

| Comment

Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

There is no doubt that Doubt has been given a highly exalted DVD treatment.

April 6, 2009 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Sal Cinquemani

Slant Magazine

Five-time Oscar-nominated drama proves ultimately unsatisfying parable, in spite of a taut plotline and four inspired performances.

April 3, 2009 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze

| Comment

Kam Williams

NewsBlaze

If Shanley is condemning any rush to judgment, why is the deck so solidly stacked, not just against Streep's shrew, but all the women? Not to mention dismissing priest pedophilia as a conspiracy theory by mean nuns, considering the alarming public record.

March 30, 2009 Full Review Source: NewsBlaze

| Comment

Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

A cat-and-mouse game of power and posture, played out by two of the finest actors of the moment.

March 21, 2009 Full Review Source: Screenwize

| Comment

Simon Weaving

Screenwize

The cast['s]... collective efforts go a long way to mitigating Shanley's pedestrian grasp of film language.

March 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Miss FlickChick

| Comment

Maitland McDonagh

Miss FlickChick

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Doubt

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" I Have Doubts, Such Strong Doubts!" What a powerful ending, i loved the way it ended, i love that the Nun was questioning everything she believed in. Just fantastic!A fantastic cast, which then led to fantastic ending which deserved each of them a Golden Globe.Its a powerful movie about a catholic priest and a black

December 13, 2008

Film Crazy

Super Reviewer

Doubt was a very good film, but also I didn't think it was the greatest either. Despite my mixed feeling on Doubt, the cast for this film is excellent. I thought that the film was good, entertaining and very well directed. However I also thought that something was missing to really make it a memorable film. I enjoyed

December 19, 2011

Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Doubt Quotes

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1. Sister Aloysius Beauvier: In ancient Sparta, important matters were decided by who shouted loudest. Fortunately, we are not in ancient Sparta.
– Submitted by Siddharth S (20 days ago)
1. Father Brendan Flynn: Where's your compassion?
2. Sister Aloysius Beauvier: Nowhere you can get at it.
– Submitted by Jarred S (57 days ago)
1. Father Brendan Flynn: You have no right to act on your own. You have taken vows; obedience being one. You answer to us. You have no right to step outside the church.
2. Sister Aloysius Beauvier: I will step outside the church! If that's what needs to be done, though the door should shut behind me, I will do what needs to be done!
– Submitted by Jarred S (57 days ago)
1. Father Brendan Flynn: I can fight you.
2. Sister Aloysius Beauvier: You will lose.
– Submitted by Joe S (3 months ago)
1. Mrs. Miller: It's something in the child's nature.
2. Sister Aloysius Beauvier: I was married, and he died in Italy.
– Submitted by Faith C (8 months ago)

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