Doubt is a 2008 drama film directed by John Patrick Shanley, who also wrote the original Pulitzer Prize-winning play. It stars Meryl Streep as the stern and conservative Sister Aloysius Beauvier, who runs a Catholic school in the Bronx during the 1960s. She becomes suspicious of Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a progressive and charismatic young priest who takes an interest in the school's first black student, Donald Miller (Joseph Foster).
Sister Aloysius begins to believe that Father Flynn is too friendly with Donald, and that he may be molesting the boy. She brings her concerns to the attention of the school's principal, Sister James (Amy Adams), who is initially hesitant to believe her. As Sister Aloysius seeks proof of Father Flynn's wrongdoing, she clashes with him over his modern approach to Catholicism and his attempts to change the school's traditions.
The film explores themes of doubt, certainty, and the power dynamics within the Catholic church. Sister Aloysius is presented as someone who values discipline and tradition but is also struggling with her own biases and prejudices. Father Flynn is shown to be a sympathetic character who is accused of a crime he may or may not have committed, and the audience is left to question his guilt or innocence.
The performances of Streep and Hoffman, both of whom were nominated for Academy Awards for their roles, are particularly powerful. Streep's portrayal of Sister Aloysius is both intimidating and vulnerable, while Hoffman's Father Flynn is charming but also inscrutable. Adams also gives a nuanced performance as a young nun who is caught between her loyalty to Sister Aloysius and her own doubts about the accusations.
Overall, Doubt is a thought-provoking and intense drama that raises important questions about justice, faith, and the complexities of human behavior.