BOTTOM LINE: Despite some riveting performances from both Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, this screen translation of the stage play of the same name barely registers as a film experience, with a slow pace, boring and static visuals, at-times melodramatic direction and a lack of strong narrative flow or tension.

THE GOOD: “Doubt” starts off with an intriguing premise and story, centred on a battle of wills between old-fashioned and strict school principal Sister Aloysius (a commanding Meryl Streep) and the more free-thinking parish priest Father Flynn (an equally strong Philip Seymour Hoffman) set against the backdrop of a Catholic School with the former becoming increasingly suspicious of the latter’s close relationship with a black altar boy. The biggest strength of this film lies in its casting; scenes where Streep and Hoffman go at it are riveting to say the least. In line with the film’s title, director John Patrick Shanley manages to keep doubt in your mind throughout the entire film (and even in the end) as to what Flynn was really up to, or if Sister Aloysius was too harsh and jumped to the wrong conclusions. There is a true back and forth in position for both of these characters; at times Sister Aloysius seems overbearing and out of date in her thinking, but slowly becomes vindicated throughout the process. Father Flynn seems like a man ahead of his time with his views on changing the traditional positions of the Church, but who seemingly crosses the line with inappropriate behaviour. It would be worth noting that Amy Adams puts in a strong supporting performance as Sister James, the innocent newcomer who ultimately believes in Flynn’s innocence but does not want to acknowledge the nastier possibilities as they are too uncomfortable to deal with. Her character changes from a meek child-like innocent to a strong-willed adult, particularly when she takes some of Sister Aloysius advice and techniques to discipline her students. “Doubt” has a strong story at its heart, and with one exception in the final scene of the film, is held aloft by its commanding cast who deliver riveting performances.

THE BAD: “Doubt” is another example of a film that needed a lot more imaginative work done on the screenplay to translate its stage origins to the format of the silver screen. Director Shanley was also the original playwright, and despite his best intentions, the immovable nature of the scenes he constructs as director ultimately make it feel like a filmed staged-play. Shots are locked down, there is hardly any movement outside of the school in terms of locations, and the staging of the dramatic scenes do not convey anything cinematic. Ultimately this style drags the film down. One other unfortunate problem, and it stays with you as it is the last scene in the film, is the poor, over-the-top handling of the ending, with Sister Aloysius breaking down in tears and announcing that she has doubt. Not even Streep can save this overcooked, hammy and completely unnecessary staging of this scene. You get the point all the way through the film; hammering it in to the audience at the end diminishes the meaning of the film and makes it look tacky). A director who understood the nature of filming cinematically would have made more out of this material; in the end, “Doubt” is a noble piece of work, just not that interesting or engaging to watch as a film.