'Doubt', starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Now, it's interesting to note about this one that it's based on a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning stage play. So not only is it very dialogue and character driven, but fortunately the writer/director of this film, John Patrick Shanley, is the actual writer from that original play. So rather than being an adaptation that might bastardize or misinterpret, what you see in the film perfectly matches the intent of the source material. Now, although I haven't seen the original stage-play, I found myself quite impressed with the adaptive choices that were made. When using film as a medium, you're able to convey points to the audience by using editing techniques rather than explaining them directly. Just a simple cut between two different settings can show so much contrast when they're one after the other. It's choices like these that make me appreciate that the director actually tried to utilize film to the best of its ability to tell the story. You can tell that it's adapted from a stage play, but it doesn't feel like they just filmed a stage play. The majority of the film also has really good shot composition, so it doesn't feel like it's made by an inexperienced filmmaker.And last but not least, all of the performances are fantastic. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis all received Academy Award nominations for their performances in this film. Each one of them was able to perform their characters believably and consistently. And there are several moments in the film where each of them are really given an opportunity to shine.There's some minor editing issues that I won't even explain in case you don't notice them yourselves, but overall this makes for not only a great adaptation but a great film, regardless. So check it out.
Review by DeletedBlockedParent2015-12-14T16:00:35Z
'Doubt', starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Now, it's interesting to note about this one that it's based on a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning stage play. So not only is it very dialogue and character driven, but fortunately the writer/director of this film, John Patrick Shanley, is the actual writer from that original play. So rather than being an adaptation that might bastardize or misinterpret, what you see in the film perfectly matches the intent of the source material. Now, although I haven't seen the original stage-play, I found myself quite impressed with the adaptive choices that were made. When using film as a medium, you're able to convey points to the audience by using editing techniques rather than explaining them directly. Just a simple cut between two different settings can show so much contrast when they're one after the other. It's choices like these that make me appreciate that the director actually tried to utilize film to the best of its ability to tell the story. You can tell that it's adapted from a stage play, but it doesn't feel like they just filmed a stage play. The majority of the film also has really good shot composition, so it doesn't feel like it's made by an inexperienced filmmaker.And last but not least, all of the performances are fantastic. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis all received Academy Award nominations for their performances in this film. Each one of them was able to perform their characters believably and consistently. And there are several moments in the film where each of them are really given an opportunity to shine.There's some minor editing issues that I won't even explain in case you don't notice them yourselves, but overall this makes for not only a great adaptation but a great film, regardless. So check it out.