The title itself is a misnomer, as this article is really a Review of the Film - "DOUBT"

I highly recommend seeing this movie - then - examine your own conscience - are you truly as LILY WHITE as you think you are?

Do the Ends Justify the Means?

Personality Conflicts

Prompted by the Film - “DOUBT”

© - Tom Hyland - 06-14-09


I just finished watching the movie, Doubt. What fine performances by Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis. What a profound commentary on human fraility.

Even though Sister Aloysius was, in fact, both a tyrant and a pedagogue, she had redeeming merit. And Father Flynn was portrayed as a possible ‘guilty victim.’ The entire sordid situation bespeaks of a bygone era of both malfeasance of office, as well as an Inner Sanctum of corruption, especially in light of today’s multiple disclosures of the Cancer perpetrated by the Catholic Church’s Hierarchy.

I see Sister James and her naivete as representing the common people - trusting, and ill-informed - and then, ultimately, seemingly astonished at the repercussions which result.

A well-meaning Antihero, a questionable Villain, a shapeable Pawn, and presumably ‘innocent’ parents and children - all trying to work through this thing we call ‘Life.’

Suspicions, assumptions, presumptions, gossip - all work to fester Doubt. Perhaps few of us are ‘perfect’? Most, are not perfectly innocent, and many are guilty of simply being human? In the final analysis, Man is a feral animal.

The title ‘Personality Conflicts’ was chosen for personal reasons. In my own experience, I was Fired Three Times in my lifetime of work - each time by a callous CPA, solely for assumptions made by others, when I had not been guilty in any way, of any wrong-doing.

Each time there was a simple Personality Conflict with a Boss who thought he was truly Superior - i fought, and I lost!

And yet, this is the system that we all must live in.

Is life Fair? I DOUBT IT!

I’d give this movie a TEN Rating!