There's Something About Doubt

There's something about Doubt that makes my circle of friends quote the film incessantly. It is slightly inappropriate however as the film is about the suspicion of pedophilia in a Catholic school, but bear with me.

Meryl Streep & Philip Seymour Hoffman | Doubt

Doubt has a campy quality that has largely gone unnoticed. While it is also about the danger of certainty, the enjoyment comes from watching actors (at the peak of their powers) scream at each other. Some of the lines are so ridiculous, they're hard not to quote. "Tell Sister Raymond to wash her neck!" "I like Frosty the Snowman!" "Penmanship is dying all across this country!"

What's so brilliant about Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman is that they know exactly how to camp it up without falling into the absurd and doing a disservice to the sensitive material. It is only freaks (like me) who find the camp in their line readings. The film has the illusion of a prestige picture but the theatrical nature of the performances make it hard to take seriously.

The Doubt Party Game

What's even more fun is watching the film with a group of friends. Everyone must be divided into teams. Team Aloysius vs. Team Flynn. Each team must wear the appropriate costume. Habits for Team Aloysius. Robes for Team Flynn. Some kind of drinking game must be involved. Drink! Everytime there's a clap of thunder or a gust of wind. We even entertained the possibility of printing some tee shirts with either Team Flynn or Team Aloysius on the back.