John Patrick Shanley's adaptation of his own Pulitzer Prize-winning play stands as an excellent film. The first thirty minutes of the film held me spellbound, with an extraordinary adaptation of a play to the screen. The film centers on Sister Aloysius, a domineering nun in charge of St. Nicholas School, while the parish is run by Father Flynn. The central question boils down to "Did he or didn't he?", but the film contains such powerful themes the final answer pales in comparison to the reasons for asking the question. Streep's icy Sister Aloysius represents what screen villains should be: three-dimensional, highly motivated and obsessive. Hoffman turns Flynn into a truly ambiguous character. My only fault with the film lies with Amy Adams' Sister James. Personally, I feel no human can possibly be as cheery as Adams. Such cheeriness rendered Sister James into a manipulated character. However, it may simply be a personal fault against Adams.
Shanley's direction of the opening thirty or so minutes was incredibly inspired. The remaining hour revealed great performances, but the feeling of watching a stage play sadly returned to the film. Had Shanley maintained the feeling of film, this would be one of my favorite movies of the year.
Shanley's direction of the opening thirty or so minutes was incredibly inspired. The remaining hour revealed great performances, but the feeling of watching a stage play sadly returned to the film. Had Shanley maintained the feeling of film, this would be one of my favorite movies of the year.
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