Poetic Film Review: Doubt (2008)
In Hollywood's halls of power and might,
A symbiotic bond with Church took flight,
A mutually dependent dance, a delicate spin,
Where favourable portrayals were traded within.
But as the years went by, and culture shifted wide,
Younger minds viewed faith with a more critical eye,
The Church's conservative roots, no longer in vogue,
Hollywood reassessed, its liberal voice to engage.
From this new wave, a film emerged, a period drama bold,
Doubt, a story of faith, and the lines that grow old,
Set in the Bronx, 1964, a time of great change,
A young priest, Father Flynn, with progressive range.
He spoke of doubt, as a unifying force, alongside faith,
But Sister Aloysius, a traditionalist, would not waiver or swathe,
Their clash of ideologies, a complicated, tangled web,
As Sister James suspected wrongdoing, and the truth began to seep.
The tension mounted, as Flynn denied, and Mrs. Miller shared,
Crucial insights, that shifted the perspective, and the story impaired,
The film, a showcase of talent, with performances so grand,
Streep, Hoffman, Adams, and Davis, all nominated, hand in hand.
But despite the acclaim, Doubt fell short, of the highest prize,
No nomination for Best Picture, a surprising, unexpected demise,
Yet, the film explores social issues, that resonate and remain,
Racism, sexism, and homophobia, through personal conflict, and moral pain.
Shanley's narrative, a nuanced, complex, and layered tale,
Presents themes, without didacticism, through character flaws, and moral fail,
The film, a platform, for exceptional acting, and social commentary,
A showcase of talent, that challenges, and provokes, with complexity.
But the resolution falters, the twists, overly convenient, and neat,
The ending, ambiguous, and frustrating, rather than satisfying, and complete,
The setting, in the past, diminishes, the dramatic weight,
The patriarchal structures, still prevalent, the struggle, still a quixotic fate.
Ultimately, Doubt, a film, that deserves recognition, for its outstanding cast,
But falls short, in delivering, a compelling narrative, that resonates, and will last,
A story, of faith, and doubt, that challenges, and provokes,
But ultimately, a film, that could have been, more, if it had spoken, with a clearer voice.
(Note: The review in its original form can be read here.)
Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e
BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7