Friedpez
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The story opens in 1964 in a neighborhood parish in the Bronx, where Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) is the school principal. She's tough and traditional and bristles at the friendlier, more outgoing attitude of the pastor, Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). A young teacher tells her that the priest may have acted inappropriately with one of her students, and Sister makes it her business to rid the parish of the dangerous man.
+3
This movie didn't live up to its hype for me. I found the script dull and the actors competent, but not memorable. The plot also draws upon the priest scandals of recent years and assumes guilt even though there is no evidence or trial. There is no action at all and the overblown, trite speeches lack real conviction. I never believed Streep as the principal despite her scowls and knitted brows (and her accent that comes and goes); it all felt like play-acting. Amy Adams is way too saccharine and childlike as the young teacher. I did like Hoffman as Father Flynn, however, and thought he did a good job of keeping us guessing.
All in all, it seemed too stagy and tedious and pointless. There were many things the Sister could and should have done with her suspicions, but she did nothing except believe she was right. It all felt very unsatisfying to me.
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review by Linda_in_Maine.
April 16, 2009
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December 26, 2008
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review by arichards.
February 08, 2009
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KonaCat
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About this movie
It's always a risk when writers direct their own work, since some playwrights don't travel well from stage to screen. Aided by Roger Deakins, ofNo Country for Old Menfame, who vividly captures the look of a blustery Bronx winter,Moonstruck's John Patrick Shanley pulls it off. IfDoubtmakes for a dialogue-heavy experience, likeThe Crucibleand12 Angry Men, the words and ideas are never dull, and a consummate cast makes each one count. Set in 1964 and loosely inspired by actual events, Shanley focuses on St. Nicholas, a Catholic primary school that has accepted its first African-American student, Donald Miller (Joseph Foster), who serves as altar boy to the warm-hearted Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Donald may not have any friends, but that doesn't worry his mother, Mrs. Miller (Viola Davis in a scene-stealing performance), since her sole concern is that her son gets a good education. When Sister James (Amy Adams) notices Flynn concentrating more of his attentions on Miller than the other boys, she mentions the matter to Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep), the school's hard-nosed principal. Looking for any excuse to push the progressive priest out of her tradition-minded institution, Sister Aloysius sets out to destroy him, and if that means ruining Donald's future in the process--so be it. Naturally, she's the least sympathetic combatant in this battle, but Streep invests her disciplinarian with wit and unexpected flashes of empathy. Of...
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Director:
John Patrick Shanley
Genre:
Drama,
Gay & Lesbian
Release Date:
2008
MPAA Rating:
PG-13
Screen Writer:
John Patrick Shanley
DVD Release Date:
April 07, 2009
Runtime:
1hr 44min
Studio:
Miramax
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