in the film Doubt on BBC4 tonight. I don't even know the woman's name but she plays a mother walking and talking with fascist Mother Superior Meryl Streep in a park or cemetery - and she not only steals the scene (brilliant Meryl, spotting greatness, remains almost silent; she's as good an actress in silence as in noise) but the entire movie. She deservedly won an Oscar for it. Great movie anyway if you've never seen it. I adore Philip Seymour Hoffman.

PS The other great film moment? Paul Scofield and Wendy Hiller saying Goodbye in A Man For All Seasons - I'm in tears every time I watch it.

thank you. I will watch it. I have so far enjoyed all your TV recommendations.

Doubt is one of my all time faves and remains horribly relevant in these barmy times.
You speak of wonderful Viola Davis who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in this (and also starred in The Help) as was Amy Adams who is an equally fine actress (worth catching in the odd and scary The Master which also stars the stupendous Philip Seymour Hoffman). Hoffman was also nominated for an Oscar in this. Not to be outdone (she is NEVER outdone), Meryl towers above the phenomenal cast and received the Best Actress nomination. FOUR acting Oscar nominations in ONE film is reason enough not to miss this cracker whatever you do!

Yes - Viola Davis. What a performance. Only about five minutes yet so extraordinary - and says so much about this current lunatic era of moral doubt... without being a spoiler, Streep at the end... Wow!

Oh my God; just watched that scene again; Viola Davis is simply incredible.

It's a terrific movie; Streep is incredible but Viola Davis' one scene is absolutely extraordinary; truly great acting.

A magnificent film; that was a splendid year - Slumdog won Best Film; Sean Penn was Best Actor in Milk; I thought Frank Langella was superb as Nixon; Kate Winslet was great in The Reader... but I think now Doubt deserved several awards.

Meryl Streep is possibly my favoutie all time actress and her talent transcends her personality...in Doubt she is truly scary as she sums up much of the pedo hysteria persona of today.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman is similar...I've both hated and loved characters he has played.

What I love about this film and the stunning script and performances are the nuances. Cruel Streep helping the blind nun find her fork - reaching out a helping hand. Yet so driven by fury and hatred that she tries to destroy Hoffman (and guess what HIS life would be like in this century).

The viewer is never told whether her suspicions may be correct. And she herself has DOUBT - that final scene is absolutely superb.

Human beings are complex. There is no definite solution. The Savile situation is perfectly viewed in this movie - years before it happened. And that one Viola Davis scene is so brilliantly written and acted (note the snot dribbling from her nostrils), it sums up the entire message: sometimes life is not easy but it should NEVER be judged by extremes.

A truly magnificent classic film; it's in my Top Ten Best Ever.

"The viewer is never told whether her suspicions may be correct. And she herself has DOUBT - that final scene is absolutely superb."

Ok. But what does it all mean? What is the "message" of this movie?

The nun is satisfied with herself as long as she thinks she did the right thing. Even so the (in her eyes) guilty) priest is now in a much better position to do his evil things.

Then the younger nun says something like "Are you really sure, he did it?" and she breaks down crying. End of story.

Is she sorry for herself because she might have done something wrong? (That would be a very strong anti-church message). In any case, she doesn't care for the children (which in itself is an anti-church message).

For me, at the end she is admitting doubt - about God, about her behaviour... her humanity has worried her.

I thought the film was magnificent. I particularly liked that we never found out if he was guilty or not, and that the "meryl Streep character thought she had tricked him into admitting guilt.
I loved the story about the pillow.