Inspiring ‘Doubt’ and uncertainty

The verbal tussles will keep you guessing. Meryl Streep plays overly conservative Sister Aloysius, a principal tightly monitoring her students and fellow nuns. Amy Adams plays adorable, somewhat naïve Sister James, who suspects that a pupil might’ve been subjected to abuse by a trusted faculty member. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the radically modern Father Flynn, whose closeness to the boy arouses suspicion.

Sister Aloysius investigates and interrogates in her inimitable way, sparking a battle of wits and words between her and the priest. “Doubt” casts uncertainty on pieces of the truth, the characters’ staunch beliefs and their notions of righteousness. Those are seriously questioned throughout the story, originally an award-winning play by John Patrick Shanley. Its small, gifted cast brings the layered drama to cinematic life, creating the proper emotional connections through probing interactions.

From the priest’s unusual sermons to the nun’s descriptive declarations, the words are precise, and evoke the right emotions. Perhaps the inclusion of a scene or two would’ve added some visual depth and further elaboration to the story near the end, because the final scene partly becomes a case of telling and not showing. Still, the performers give believability and humanity to the flawed vessels of religious authority, inspiring genuine doubt on their unflinching convictions.

“Doubt” will be in cinemas starting February 4.