The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Steve46]

Pizza is life.

[Foggy]

Got Drive and Tinker Tailor Solider Spy Steelbooks today

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Got Drive and Tinker Tailor Solider Spy Steelbooks today

That Drive steelbook looks beautiful. Pics or it didn't happen!

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

wow! even ten years later and in another country, Pizza Planet is still succeeding, even in this terrible economy! can't say i ever expected to see a Pizza Planet in France, but hey, pizza is pizza! (reference to the truck being in Ratatouille)

They deliver all over the world. Especially that particular truck.

[Steve46]

Continuing my 100 movies to see before you die:

32. Doubt (2008)
Drama, 104 minutes
Directed by John Patrick Shanley
Starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis



Here's a film that I never expected to watch. The trailer looks boring and depressing and the subject matter isn't something that I would expect to hold my attention.

I was wrong.

The screenplay provides the foundation for a great film, and I don't use that word lightly, but what really elevates Doubt is the superb performances from the cast. Meryl Streep is utterly convincing as Sister Aloysius Beauvier. I can't imagine anyone else in the role. The students must have been terrified of her. My school had someone just like that. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a very convincing priest. When the two finally clash in a war of words, it's one of the most breathtaking confrontations I have ever seen. Amy Adams has never been better and I wish she would choose to do more serious roles. Viola Davis made a brief appearance, but I will never forget it.

I'm tempted to say that Streep was robbed of another Oscar, but Kate Winslet was brilliant in The Reader. Hoffman was never going to eclipse Heath Ledger, but his performance shouldn't be forgotten.

Doubt is all about the dialogue. It's also subtle. We are never told the complete truth and it's left up to us to decide whether Father Flynn (Hoffman) is guilty or innocent. This is writing at its best. The other thing that is perfectly depicted is the setting. I felt as if I had been transported back to the 1960s.

This is the kind of film that makes you want to find out more about the actors. I found myself seeking out other work by the cast. Have you seen the film? If you have, did you think Father Flynn was guilty or innocent?

If you like Doubt:

One film that I always associate with Doubt is something released in the same year. Politics is another topic that I generally find boring, but Frost/Nixon is an exception. Like Doubt, it's driven almost entirely by dialogue. I remember watching David Frost when I was a child and Michael Sheen captured his style perfectly. Frank Langella also was terrific as Nixon.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

That Drive steelbook looks beautiful. Pics or it didn't happen!

I'll take some after, I've gonna get watching Drive first

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest movie borrowed from the library: "Rope."

[Show spoiler]

The movie starts with a murder. Yep, it doesn't get more wicked and straightforward than that. It then becomes something of a morbid comedy as the characters praise their own handiwork, before hiding the body and centering a dinner party around the hiding spot. It can be suspenseful as the characters come close to discovering the body, but for the most part, I felt it was less about the suspense and more about the comedy of the situation. Overall, the film is like watching a play, and has a style and production value no different than a play (I wonder if it's based on one).

As such, the story is quite interesting, and it is populated with a bunch of colorful characters. The story never actually leaves the single apartment, but the film does manage to maintain interest and keep things rolling.

What's even more incredible is that the film appears to be 90% shot all in one take (key word is "appears," since there are obvious moments when the camera zooms or moves into a person's coat and then moves away, covering up the seams of the film so that it appears as continuous). However many cuts the film uses, each shot is incredibly long, well-choreographed, and intricately set up. Props go to the actors for being able to put on their performances flawlessly during these long shots (and Jimmy Stewart is the man). Writing is decent. The production features very simple sets (including one fake-looking city skyline in the background), and okay-looking props and costumes. Music is alright.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4/5, film: 4.5/5)

Recommendation: Yep.

Ridiculously long takes and great angles too. I always remember that shot with the rope hanging from the side of the chest.

Might get this one too.

Any word on a blu-ray release?

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Continuing my 100 movies to see before you die:

32. Doubt (2008)
Drama, 104 minutes
Directed by John Patrick Shanley
Starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis

[Show spoiler]Here's a film that I never expected to watch. The trailer looks boring and depressing and the subject matter isn't something that I would expect to hold my attention.

I was wrong.

The screenplay provides the foundation for a great film, and I don't use that word lightly, but what really elevates Doubt is the superb performances from the cast. Meryl Streep is utterly convincing as Sister Aloysius Beauvier. I can't imagine anyone else in the role. The students must have been terrified of her. My school had someone just like that. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a very convincing priest. When the two finally clash in a war of words, it's one of the most breathtaking confrontations I have ever seen. Amy Adams has never been better and I wish she would choose to do more serious roles. Viola Davis made a brief appearance, but I will never forget it.

I'm tempted to say that Streep was robbed of another Oscar, but Kate Winslet was brilliant in The Reader. Hoffman was never going to eclipse Heath Ledger, but his performance shouldn't be forgotten.

Doubt is all about the dialogue. It's also subtle. We are never told the complete truth and it's left up to us to decide whether Father Flynn (Hoffman) is guilty or innocent. This is writing at its best. The other thing that is perfectly depicted is the setting. I felt as if I had been transported back to the 1960s.

This is the kind of film that makes you want to find out more about the actors. I found myself seeking out other work by the cast. Have you seen the film? If you have, did you think Father Flynn was guilty or innocent?

If you like Doubt:

One film that I always associate with Doubt is something released in the same year. Politics is another topic that I generally find boring, but Frost/Nixon is an exception. Like Doubt, it's driven almost entirely by dialogue. I remember watching David Frost when I was a child and Michael Sheen captured his style perfectly. Frank Langella also was terrific as Nixon.

I completely agree that this is a great film. Simple but engaging and one of the best of recent years. And like you, I wasn't planning on watching this one. I forgot how I ended up watching it in theaters, but it's hard to forget that collection of magnificent performances.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'll take some after, I've gonna get watching Drive first

Enjoy

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

I completely agree that this is a great film. Simple but engaging and one of the best of recent years. And like you, I wasn't planning on watching this one. I forgot how I ended up watching it in theaters, but it's hard to forget that collection of magnificent performances.

Yep. Doubt. Frost/Nixon and The Reader all sounded boring, but I loved them all.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Yep. Doubt. Frost/Nixon and The Reader all sounded boring, but I loved them all.

Never saw Frost/Nixon but The Reader was so erotic in the first half and powerful in the second. I can't think of another film that has sent that pair of emotions my way so strongly.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Never saw Frost/Nixon but The Reader was so erotic in the first half and powerful in the second. I can't think of another film that has sent that pair of emotions my way so strongly.

It certainly had a couple of my friends squirming. As did Mulholland Dr..

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Steve46

It certainly had a couple of my friends squirming. As did Mulholland Dr..

Mulholland Dr. is on a league of its own.

[SquidPuppet]

I think where Doubt succeeded the most was in forcing the (unbiased) viewer to switch sides numerous times during the film. Streep is right, no, Hoffman is, no, Streep is, no Hoffman is, no Streep is just on a vendetta, no Hoffman is a perv, no Streep has a solid point, no Hoffman is innocent, no....

And of course, in the end, all we are left with is

[Show spoiler]DOUBT. Just like Streep finally admitting her own.

Awesome movie IMO.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I think where Doubt succeeded the most was in forcing the (unbiased) viewer to switch sides numerous times during the film. Streep is right, no, Hoffman is, no, Streep is, no Hoffman is, no Streep is just on a vendetta, no Hoffman is a perv, no Streep has a solid point, no Hoffman is innocent, no....

And of course, in the end, all we are left with is

[Show spoiler]DOUBT. Just like Streep finally admitting her own.

Awesome movie IMO.

Yep. Amy Adams needs to get back to roles like that. I wonder if men start with the belief that he's innocent and women with the belief that he's guilty?

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I think where Doubt succeeded the most was in forcing the (unbiased) viewer to switch sides numerous times during the film. Streep is right, no, Hoffman is, no, Streep is, no Hoffman is, no Streep is just on a vendetta, no Hoffman is a perv, no Streep has a solid point, no Hoffman is innocent, no....

And of course, in the end, all we are left with is

[Show spoiler]DOUBT. Just like Streep finally admitting her own.

Awesome movie IMO.

Exactly. And I love the end.

Speaking of "boring" movies, I'm planning to use a free redbox rental on The Ides of March tomorrow. I don't care for political films but the premise of this one caught my interest. I really enjoy movies that focus on internal struggles of the main character

[Show spoiler](not to be vague or anything )

.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Yep. Amy Adams needs to get back to roles like that. I wonder if men start with the belief that he's innocent and women with the belief that he's guilty?

Part of my surprise delight was that I went in thinking he was a perv and that Streep was a ritcheous crusader. So when things played out so

[Show spoiler]vaguely, I was overjoyed with the tension and just how sinister Streep was while trying to achieve her objective.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I think where Doubt succeeded the most was in forcing the (unbiased) viewer to switch sides numerous times during the film. Streep is right, no, Hoffman is, no, Streep is, no Hoffman is, no Streep is just on a vendetta, no Hoffman is a perv, no Streep has a solid point, no Hoffman is innocent, no....

And of course, in the end, all we are left with is

[Show spoiler]DOUBT. Just like Streep finally admitting her own.

Awesome movie IMO.

in my 4 Doubt viewings:

HOFFMAN SCOREBOARD
Guilty 2
Innocent 2

The definition of a rewatchable film!

Other things I love about Doubt:

-shot in the director/writers actual neighborhood/school where he grew up and attended school
-he hired one of the actual nuns that ran his school to work on the film, for authenticity
-one of the best scenes ever: Hoffman's homily about

[Show spoiler]gossip equating to tearing open a pillow on a building rooftop, and then trying to go back the next day and collecting all the feathers that have blown everywhere. The director shows a backdrop sequence while HOffman is talking of feathers floating from a building rooftop for blocks and blocks. Makes you think twice about engaging in gossip! I heard a good golden rule on gossip: Feel free to talk about people who aren't around, but talk about them as if they were around and can hear you

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

in my 4 Doubt viewings:

HOFFMAN SCOREBOARD
Guilty 2
Innocent 2

The definition of a rewatchable film!

Maybe the kid was the spawn of the Devil and was trying to frame Flynn or create chaos?

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Maybe the kid was the spawn of the Devil and was trying to frame Flynn or create chaos?

If he had actually tried to frame or accuse anyone, yes.

Too bad the self-admitted liar nun was too busy doing that for him.