Doubt on Blu-ray Disc Review by Rachel Cericola on BigPictureBigSound

Blu-ray Disc and DVD : Blu-ray Disc Reviews

Published: 2009-04-06 - 02:00:57

Doubt on Blu-ray Disc Review

By Rachel Cericola

The Film

Doubt has all of the right ingredients for an Oscar sweep. The film is based on director John Patrick Shanley's 2004 play, which tackles a heart-wrenching topic. Oh, and as a bit of insurance, the names and faces of Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman sit well above the title.

Well, if this wasn't the year of Slumdog Millionaire, things might have taken a different turn. However, the film did receive plenty of Oscar noms, including one for the screenplay and each of the film's leads, which also includes Amy Adams and Viola Davis.

Those accolades are well deserved. Streep's Sister Aloysius rules St. Nicholas with an iron fist. When a fellow nun (Adams) suggests that the beloved Father Flynn (Hoffman) may have had an inappropriate relationship with a young student, Sister Aloysius gets her habit into a bunch and is bent on proving the good Father's guilt.

Doubt is an interesting movie as well as an interesting title. Doubt isn't just the topic of a sermon or what the film's characters experience over the course of 103 minutes. It's also a bit of what viewers take away from the movie. Despite being left with the cliched "did he or didn't he?" the film is a bit slow and over the top. However, Doubt did deserve all of those Oscar nominations, though, because for all of the uncertainty, there is one definite: the real show here is the acting.

For another opinion, check out David Kempler's review of the theatrical release of Doubt.

The Picture

This is one dark movie, in both tone and image. Between the costumes and the film's wintry backdrop, don't expect a lot of color here. Maybe if you squint, there's a shriveled leaf or two. That's not to say that the 1.85:1 transfer is wasted. The blacks (and there are plenty of those) are sharp and bold. There's also a nice contrast, which means you can almost see the starch and/or ironing work that went into every student's collar. There are plenty of details, whether it's feathers or frown lines. However, on those rare spots where you'd expect to see color shine, such as in the church scenes, the image appears a bit washed, possibly to reflect the time period.

The Sound

Doubt has no special effects, no fight scenes, and no dance numbers. In other words, much of the DTS-HD Master Audio technology is spent making the film a great vehicle for dialogue. Still, don't expect to give those speakers a night off. Expect a few roars over the surrounds, especially during the church or stormy scenes. Also, for those that have ever attended Catholic school, expect those services to bring back some memories -- with scary realism.

The Extras

This is not the type of movie that warrants a large selection of special features. There are no bloopers or deleted scenes. However, what we are left with is some quality extras. Giving writer/director Shanley the sole voice for the audio commentary works very well. Instead of just hearing about the trials and tribulations of production, he makes viewers feel like they actual lived through that setting and time period. It's also interesting to see how Doubt went "From Stage to Screen," as well as the day-to-day of real nuns in "Sisters of Charity."

Final Thoughts

Beyond a shadow of a you-know-what, Doubt is a must-see. The excellent writing and stellar acting will keep you hooked, despite the often-unsteady pace. The only thing one might doubt is whether or not to buy this film on Blu-ray. The performances are great, but this one probably won't warrant repeat viewings. It's certainly not a demo disc. So if you refuse to accept anything less than HD, this is one you'll want to try before you buy.

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