Analysis of the Film - Essay Example

?Analysis of the Film “Doubt” Introduction The film “Doubt” appeared before its audience in 12th December 2008 for the first time and was it circulated widely on the eve of Christmas. The film was premiered in October, 2008 at the AFI Fest. The film “Doubt” was written and directed by John Patrick Shanely. The film is adapted from the John Patrick’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, “Doubt: A Parable”. The film was produced by Scott Rudin and it was a multi-starrer film in the truest of the term. The film casts Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. The film was outstanding for the performance of its actors and all of them received nominations for the 81st Academy Awards. In the film, Meryl Streep plays the role of Sister Aloysius Beauvier, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the role of Father Brendan Flynn, Amy Adams plays the role of Sister James, and Viola Davis was seen as performing the role of Mrs Miller whereas Joseph Foster plays the role of Donald Miller. Alice Drummond was seen appearing as Sister Veronica and Pauli Litt as Tommy Conroy. For the outstanding performance in this film Viola Davis was nominated first time at the Academy Awards and Amy Adams second time for the best supporting actress. Philip Seymour Hoffman was nominated as best supporting actor and subsequently won the award. But most critically and commercially acclaimed was the performance of Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius Beauvier and for this performance, she received twelfth nomination at the Academy Awards for the best actress and which she ultimately bagged. Cinematography: The Aesthetic Facet Cinematography plays a very vital aspect in film making. The interplay of light, setting, color, capturing of a moment and over all editing played a vital role in building up the whole impression of the film. At the same time, its relation with the plot, thematic aspects and character development demand a complete coherence and should properly compliment the entire collaboration. A slight incompatibility of all these factors might agitate the entire feel of the film. The cinematography of the film, “Doubt” is executed by Roger Deakins and an in-depth analysis of the film easily launch the audience to a plethora where they are able to perceive the fact easily that the film “Doubt” is more concerned with a feeling than propagating an idea. The cinematography operating in this particular film is pitch-perfect. A major point in the cinematography is that it does not take away the concentration of the audience form the main plot or the story line of the film. This is done quite intentionally as the no one can deny the fact that the play “Doubt: A Parable” had on their audience and the movie is definitely retrospection of the play and to relive this fact, director Shanely left no stone unturned and did not allow any technical glitch to the film which can subvert the literary aspect of the film. Shots & Angles Implementation of sharp angles to manifest the proper mood of the picture is utilised to its optimum length. The shots are taken at a quite simple way delivering the proper elegance of the story. The most remarkable aspect in this regard is the opening of the shot which was decked up in simplicity and only few movies in Hollywood open with such simple way implementing minimum technical support. Yet the film never lost its charm, elegance or dignity. Cinematographer Deakins and director Shanely proved that simplicity can be an archway for elegance and it has its different sober yet sombre effect on the mind of the viewers. In a particular scene where Meryl Streep looks at the sky and enjoys the fall of the leaves all over her body, the work of camera had been superb. The face of Meryl is shot from top here and the camera slowly gets away from her face capturing the feeling and facial expression intact. At the same time, the frame also captivates the fall of the leaves simultaneously. Color As regards to the color scheme operating in the film, cinematographer Deakins and director of the movie takes a plunge to deliver a theatrical effect to the film in its Technicolor way. Undoubtedly, the use of the colors, black and white is poignant of the movie. But no one can deny the fact that the nuns and the people of monastery can appear as colorful as projected in the film “Doubt”. The color scheme is totally apt with respect to the setting and the characters of the film. One important point in this case deserves mention. Most of the characters in the film belong to catholic congregation and their apparel is a kind of uniform in most cases. The director and the wise cinematographer of the film take an added initiative, an extra challenge to maintain the austerity and the perfect theme of the film without disturbing its appeal. Nowhere the sisters, brothers or parishioners appear mundane and the setting, drab. The fall of America and especially the urban winter of New York City with all its glory and beauty of different level were captivated at length in the film, “Doubt”. In depicting the winter and autumn of New York City, plenty of color is used which is a challenging task after all. Symbols Implicit expression in a film sometimes enhances the intellectual quality of the film. In the movie “Doubt” this is manifested to a great length. The film “Doubt” manifolds symbols and meanings of most of the scenes that are quite inherent and suggestive. This also provides a good food for thought to the audience. Nothing is very black and white in this movie and this fact makes it most workable. The film has a serene appeal. The central point of the film is focused on the interplay of faith and doubt in human life which is the flip side of the same coin. The play “Doubt: A Parable” tends to explore that when a single answer is rendered concerning the operation of faith and doubt, it ceases to be the part of the same paradigm. Therefore to retain this morale, the film had to maintain certain curtains over rude and naked aspect of the social decorum. Many ideas which are considered as taboo in the society are explicitly hinted at. The audience would hear Meryl Streep telling that a boy had a relation with Father Flynn which is ‘inappropriate’. The darkest molest mentioned in the film appears only through verbal instruction and it was nowhere in the film brought up during the entire course of it. The most symbolic part of the film is its ending where the close shots and sharp angles of the camera play inextricably. The film has a definitely open ending but a straightforward meaning to this can be rendered somewhere. By the time the film receives its final predicament, the fact that one character is right and the other is evidently wrong gets established. At the same time, it appears that justice has been already rendered. When Sister Aloysius spells the last lines to Sister James it seems much as a declaration and not as a humble confession. As the ending of the film it should not allow its audience to have a second line of guess or thinking, but it does not operate in the same way here. The film “Doubt” somewhere leaves the mind of its audience into some kind of fix and there are lots of inquisitions and guesses that arrive after watching the movie at a close contour. Setting Setting of the film has a lot of effect on its cinematography and vice versa. The film “Doubt” is set against the backdrop of the power play that takes between Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn at St. Nicholas School situated in the city of New York. The time captivated in the film is 1964. Therefore, the setting and the props are designed in such a way that it exactly resembles the period against which the plot of the film is crafted. Very skilfully the most modern areas of New York City and the latest constructions are avoided and a feel of the America in sixties have been powerfully created in the film. The props, costume, locations and sets have been meticulously crafted to serve the purpose properly. The mansions, the school and the exterior garden scenes honestly resemble the time against which the film is set and this 2008 Broadway classic is able to oscillate between past and presents reverting back to the yesteryears evoking nostalgia as well. Lights The effect of lights used in this play is completely coherent to the theme, color scheme and setting of the film. Already mentioned the poignancy of the color black and white is pertinent throughout the film. But it never gives a very gloomy effect to the film. Neither the charm of a school its catholic way treatment is destroyed. To diminish and balance the effect of the poignant black and white colors, the background of the frame where Sister Aloysius and other sisters are captured is illuminated with translucent effect and very focused and sharp lights are thrown at the face of the characters to point and explore their neat facial effects as the depiction of emotion is very important and this effect of the theatre is also implemented by the director. Enough lights are also used at the exterior shooting and the flavour of a natural light is maintained throughout the film. Editing & Music The editing of a film plays a very crucial and important role in building up a proper aesthetic appeal and conveying the message inherent in the film. A slight disturbance in the order of the shots along with a bad editing can spoil the entire thrill, magic and feel of the film. The film, “Doubt” is edited by Dylan Tichenor. Film “Doubt” can be claimed as a well edited film. The sequence of the action culminates logically and not a single scene overlaps with each other. There is no unnecessary stretching of the plot and the film ends with an open ending with coherent and proper feel which it tried to convey to its audience. Synchronisation of the apt background score and music into the film with the action of the plot is a mark of good editing. The incorporation of the original score from Howard Shore builds a very dark and its intensity builds up throughout the film with the increasing plot. The effect of the music operates like a building of storm in the film. Conclusion The film “Doubt” has 104 minutes on screen duration and its audio and video qualities are quite commendable. The film achieved commercial success and was critically acclaimed across the globe for the fineness of its thought and freshness of the issue presented in a very subtle and intriguing way. The film was distributed by Miramax Films. The film projects the dark sentiments and social vices which operate beneath the august and dignified catholic institutions. At the same time the film renders a subtle thought which actually does not bring any disgrace to the religious congregation but raises a volley of inquisitions and debates on the interplay of faith and doubt operating in our lives and help us to find the true meaning of it, curing our inhibitions. While analysing any facet of the film “Doubt”, thematic, aesthetic or technical, a point that the film has evolved from a theatrical background and its effect to the film should be given proper justification. Patrick Shanley is the man who has written and directed “Joe Versus Volcano” and the critics acclaim that it is one of the most confusing films which appeared in nineties. But after watching “Doubt” from the same man it can be easily contended that as a film maker, John Shanely has matured a lot and undoubtedly this film deserves a nomination in the categories of the Best Picture and Best Director in the 81st Academy Awards. Bibliography Dargis, Manhola. “Doubt”. December 11, 2008. The New York Times, November 19, 2011. NY Daily News, “The Benefit of “Doubt”” 2008. Entertainment, November 19, 2011. Pincus-Roth, Zachary. “Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman to Star in Doubt Film” April 19, 2007. PlayBill. November 19, 2011. Read More