DOUBT
RYAN: The new movie “Doubt” has received Golden Globe nominations for every actor who has a major speaking role in the film; but it did not get a Best Picture nomination, which surprised me.
CAROLINE: Not me. I enjoyed this movie, but I didn’t think it was superb. The first hour moved a little slowly for me, and I was very surprised at the total lack of music in most scenes.
RYAN: I didn’t even notice the lack of music because it was so well written and acted. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams all own their roles. The drama is so intense that I felt uncomfortable. I was kind of sick to my stomach for part of it.
CAROLINE: I really enjoyed the last forty minutes of the movie, but the first hour was a little weak. The slow pacing was OK because it’s that kind of movie, but I expected a little more from it. I think the movie suffered from having its screenwriter, John Patrick Shanley, also direct. He wrote the original play that this movie is based on, and the only movie he’s directed prior to this was “Joe Versus the Volcano.” Need I say more?
RYAN: I didn’t like how he tried to use creative angles with some of his shots. Overall, the movie is very static, which was fine; it was the attempt at trying creative angles that bugged me. It was distracting and a disservice to the story.
CAROLINE: For me, the movie took a big turn for the better with a pivotal scene between Meryl Streep and Viola Davis. It’s just stellar. I’m gonna nominate it for Best Scene in a Movie at my own personal 2008 Oscars.
RYAN: It was riveting. Viola Davis totally deserves that Golden Globe nom; it’s an absolutely perfect, spot-on performance from her.
CAROLINE: Totally, even though she’s only in the movie for like, five minutes.
RYAN: I loved Meryl Streep in this role. I can’t believe she has this movie coming out in the same year as “Mamma Mia!” In that movie she was a free-spirited, carefree, lovelorn woman, which is the polar opposite of this movie in which she’s an uptight nun. 
CAROLINE: The woman has range. I really liked her in this, and her slight New York accent. I was a little underwhelmed by Phil Hoffman though.
RYAN: Not at all! I thought he even outshone Meryl, an uneasy task. He was so commanding as the priest.
CAROLINE: Even though he looked the part, I didn’t buy him as a priest. His sermons seemed forced and awkward. Something didn’t quite work.
RYAN: Amy Adams is on my short list of favorite actresses, but as much as I adore her, I’m a little over her playing these wide-eyed roles all the time. She needs to branch out.
CAROLINE: I liked her in this, but she was better in “Junebug.” She really earned that Oscar nomination, but for this I feel like she’s just getting nominated because of the company she’s keeping in the film.
RYAN: Plus any time you put an actress in a nun’s habit, it’s a guaranteed Oscar nom.
CAROLINE: Unless it’s Whoopi Goldberg in “Sister Act.”
— BOTTOM LINE —
CAROLINE: I enjoyed this movie and I would recommend it, but I didn’t think it was excellent. The acting is stellar and it’s definitely an Oscar contender, but I wouldn’t be shocked at all if it didn’t get a Best Picture nom. It’s not well directed enough.
RYAN: It’s such an interesting and dramatic story with some of the year’s best performances. It’s not too long, which is great, and it moves really well. I’d definitely recommend it for mature audiences; it’s not for antsy viewers.
— RATING —