I doubt a better cast could have been chosen for the film, “Doubt”, starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. I may have mentioned beforehand that Meryl Streep is capable of absolutely anything. I might add Hoffman and Adams to that short list as well.
The screenplay is adapted from the play Doubt: A Parable, by John Patrick Shanley (the film’s director). While the trailers might lead one to believe Doubt is suspenseful crime story unraveled by strategically placed plot points, the film is in fact more complex. Since the original manuscript was not written for Hollywood, we are spared the hand-holding for audiences that usually goes along with screenplays. Instead, Doubt ends unresolved, forcing the audience to decide for themselves whom to believe and why. While the story leans in one direction much of the time, there is no wrap-up that allows the viewer to walk away satisfied.
I applaud Shanley for maintaining the essence of a stage play on the big screen. He took advantage of camera angles and opportunities not afforded on stage, but I can envision how well the original script would work on stage. To me, that is an indication of a well-made film.