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Doubt Details

FULL SYNOPSIS

When the principal (Meryl Streep) of a Bronx Catholic High School accuses a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of pedophilia, a young nun caught in between the feuding pair becomes hopelessly swept up in the ensuing controversy. 1964, St. Nicholas, the Bronx: The winds of change are sweeping through this tight-knit religious community, and charismatic priest Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is doing his best to adapt by revisiting the school's notoriously strict disciplinary practices. Unfortunately Father Flynn's progressive ideas stand in stark contrast to the longstanding beliefs of Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep), the iron-willed principal, who believes that an oppressive environment of punishment and fear is the only way to keep the student body in line. Suddenly into this tempestuous environment appears young Donald Miller, St. Nicholas' first black student. When hopeful innocent Sister James (Amy Adams) reluctantly reveals to Sister Beauvier that Father Flynn and Donald have been spending an unusual amount of time together in the church rectory, the unrelentingly righteous headmistress begins a merciless crusade to reveal the beloved clergyman as a lecherous child molester and have him permanently expunged from the school. Yet despite her moral certainty that Father Flynn has committed such an unspeakable transgression, Sister Beauvier has not a shred of actual evidence to back up her audacious claim. Now, as Sister Beauvier and Father Flynn enter into an epic battle of wills, the shock waves set into motion by their explosive confrontation threaten to destroy one man's reputation and tear apart the entire surrounding community. John Patrick Shanley adapted his own play for the screen under the guidance of producer Scott Rudin (The Queen, Notes on a Scandal). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

  • Release date:December 12, 2008

Awards

Awarded by
Nominee
Category
Year
Status
Dallas/Fort Worth Film Critics Association Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Winner
National Board of Review Viola Davis Breakthrough Performance by an Actress 2008 Winner
Houston Film Critics Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Winner
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Winner
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Winner
Screen Actors Guild Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Viola Davis Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture 2008 Nominee
Vancouver Film Critics Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Southeastern Film Critics Association Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Broadcast Film Critics Association Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Chicago Film Critics Association Viola Davis Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Screen Actors Guild Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Winner
Iowa Film Critics Association Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Winner
Phoenix Film Critics Association Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Winner
Broadcast Film Critics Association Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Winner
Kansas City Film Critics Association Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Winner
Washington D.C. Film Critics Association Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Winner
London Film Critics Association Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Nominee
British Academy of Film and Television Arts Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Meryl Streep Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama 2008 Nominee
Vancouver Film Critics Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Nominee
Detroit Film Critics Society Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Nominee
Chicago Film Critics Association Meryl Streep Best Actress 2008 Nominee
Screen Actors Guild Philip Seymour Hoffman Best Supporting Actor 2008 Nominee
British Academy of Film and Television Arts Philip Seymour Hoffman Best Supporting Actor 2008 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Philip Seymour Hoffman Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture 2008 Nominee
Vancouver Film Critics Philip Seymour Hoffman Best Supporting Actor 2008 Nominee
Broadcast Film Critics Association Philip Seymour Hoffman Best Supporting Actor 2008 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Philip Seymour Hoffman Best Supporting Actor 2008 Nominee
Chicago Film Critics Association Philip Seymour Hoffman Best Supporting Actor 2008 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association John Patrick Shanley Best Screenplay 2008 Nominee
Writers Guild of America John Patrick Shanley Best Adapted Screenplay 2008 Nominee
Broadcast Film Critics Association John Patrick Shanley Best Screenplay 2008 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences John Patrick Shanley Best Adapted Screenplay 2008 Nominee
Chicago Film Critics Association John Patrick Shanley Best Adapted Screenplay 2008 Nominee
Screen Actors Guild Amy Adams Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
British Academy of Film and Television Arts Amy Adams Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Amy Adams Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture 2008 Nominee
Detroit Film Critics Society Amy Adams Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Amy Adams Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Chicago Film Critics Association Amy Adams Best Supporting Actress 2008 Nominee
Art Directors Guild David Gropman Best Art Direction in a Period Film 2008 Nominee

Cast

Meryl Streep
as Sister Aloysius Beauvier
Philip Seymour Hoffman
as Father Brendan Flynn
Amy Adams
as Sister James
Viola Davis
as Mrs. Miller
Alice Drummond
as Sister Veronica
Audrie Neenan
as Sister Raymond
Susan Blommaert
as Mrs. Carson
Carrie Preston
as Christine Hurley
John Costelloe
as Warren Hurley
Mike Roukis
as William London
Haklar Dezso
as zither player
Frank Shanley
as Kevin
Frank Dolce
as Ralph
Paulie Litt
as Tommy Conroy
Matthew Marvin
as Raymond
Molly Chiffer
as Sarah
Lydia Jordan
as Alice
Suzanne Hevner
as Mrs. Kean
Helen Stenborg
as Sister Teresa
Tom Toner
as Monsignor Benedict
Michael Puzzo
as Father Sherman
Margery Beddow
as Mrs. Shields
Jack A. O'Connell
as Mr. McGuinn
Marylouise Burke
as Mrs. Deakins
Valda Setterfield
as Parishioner

Crew

John Patrick Shanley
Director
Scott Rudin
Producer
Mark Roybal
Producer
John Patrick Shanley
Play Author
John Patrick Shanley
Screenwriter
Roger Deakins
Cinematographer
Howard Shore
Composer (Music Score)
Howard Shore
Musical Arrangement
Dylan Tichenor
Editor
David Gropman
Production Designer
Peter Rogness
Art Director
Nora Skinner
Associate Producer
Celia Costas
Executive Producer
Ellen Christiansen
Set Decorator
Ann Roth
Costume Designer
John Rusk
First Assistant Director
Ellen Chenoweth
Casting
Dianne Dreyer
Script Supervisor
Jennifer Lane
Post Production Supervisor
Patty Willett
Production Supervisor
Ron Bochar
Re-Recording Mixer
Ron Bochar
Supervising Sound Editor
Sal Carino
Production Accountant
Deb Dyer
Production Supervisor
Celia Costas
Unit Production Manager
Patrick Capone
Second Unit Camera
Patrick Capone
Second Unit Director Of Photography
Amy Lauritsen
Second Assistant Director
Danny Michael
Production Sound Mixer
Lee Dichter
Re-Recording Mixer
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