atm711 Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 I saw "Doubt" this week and thinking about it has occupied much of my time since seeing it. John Patrick Shanley (didn't he write the screenplay for Moonstruck?) is a first rate craftsman; like Williams, he knows his characters so well. Out of the 4-character cast it is hard to choose a favorite; they are all outstanding. If necessary, I would suggest going to one less ballet performance and seeing this play. Link to comment
carbro Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 Thanks for the recommendation, atm. Do you think I can get a ticket for $15 if I present my 4th Ring Soc. card? Link to comment
atm711 Posted May 15, 2005 Author Share Posted May 15, 2005 Ha--it's worth a try With my 'Playbill.com' membership I got a $75 seat for $59---I will never understand why a play with a small cast costs so much----- Link to comment
dirac Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Thanks for posting, atm711. Shanley won an Oscar for Moonstruck, if memory serves. I'll have to settle for reading the play, at least until it toddles out West. Has anyone else seen it? Link to comment
dirac Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 The movie of "Doubt," written and directed by Shanley, is out. Has anyone else seen one (or both) versions? Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I saw the movie. It was Streep's... There was a precious little story within the story involving feathers, words and wind... But hey, no more hints...go and watch it. It's worth it. My word on it. . Link to comment
atm711 Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 It was an interesting film that should be seen---that said--the play was superior. The film leaves no doubt---the play had you wondering for months. Hoffman and Streep were no where as effective as Cherry Jones and especially Brian O'Byrne. The best performance in the film goes to the mother of the boy---Shanley changed this part a bit--on the stage she came across as somewhat detached middle-class. Can't recall the actress in the film--but she is up for an award. I thought Streep's performance was too much of a caricature. The 'doubt' in the play was not centered on only one cause (as it is in the film)--it could have been many. Link to comment
Hans Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Viola Davis plays Donald's mother in the film. Link to comment
abatt Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Can't recall the actress in the film--but she is up for an award. The actress in the film that plays the boy's mother in the film is Viola Davis. She is a veteran Broadway actress who I have seen a number of times. She is always very good. I'm glad that she is now being recognized in the film industry too. I haven't seen the film (waiting for DVD). The actress who played the mother on Broadway was Adrienne Lenox. I saw the play on Broadway, and she was fantastic. I know that she was nominated for the Tony award. Can't recall if she won. Cherry Jones and Bryan O'Byrne (spell?) were fantastic on Broadway. It's a shame that Hollywood hardly ever picks the actors who originated roles on Broadway when the show is turned into a movie. I guess Streep and Hoffman are more bankable stars. Link to comment
dirac Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 By happy chance, the movie just opened nearby and I went last night. It’s certainly worth catching. Shanley does a reasonably good job of opening up the play without opening it up too much. I could have done without some of the distracting shots where we’re looking up the actors’ nostrils and also the many scenes of high winds and stormy weather to signify spiritual and emotional turbulence. The film leaves no doubt---the play had you wondering for months. That’s right. In the movie it’s perfectly clear, as dramatized and in Hoffman’s performance. That seems to have been a conscious choice on Shanley’s part and I’m not sure it was a good idea. (Showing us Donald was necessary but also not ideal from a dramatic standpoint.) The actress in the film that plays the boy's mother in the film is Viola Davis. She is a veteran Broadway actress who I have seen a number of times. She was excellent. IMO, the scene itself did not work despite Streep’s and Davis’ best efforts, although it might have made slightly better sense if the mother was shown as somewhat detached, as described by atm711. I saw the movie. It was Streep's... I agree. She dominates the movie. I thought initially she was over the top but as the film went on I changed my mind about that. There’s a difference between ‘stagy’ and ‘theatrically heightened’ and I thought Streep was the latter. Her inflections alone were worth the price of admission. Thanks for commenting, everyone. Please keep them coming and I hope others who see the film will pipe up. Link to comment
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