I saw Doubt today in Reno. This is guaranteed best film, best female and best male actor nominations for the Oscars. In case you haven't heard the buzz about this film, here's the story in a nutshell.

Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is the new parish priest also responsible for St. Nicholas church and school in the Bronx in 1964. Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) is principal of the school and head sister of the attached teaching convent of six nuns. Sister Aloysius is an old-fashioned tough as nails very severe nun who rules the children by fear. However, she is devoted to the care and well-being of the children's souls.

Young and naive Sister James (Amy Adams) brings a story to Sister Aloysius about Father Flynn paying particular attention to the only black boy in the school. Sister Aloysius also notices another boy pull away from Father Flynn in the school yard. She immediately decides with certainty that Father Flynn must be molesting the boys rather than just trying to protect the only black boy in the working class school. However in the extremely patriarchal Church she knows she has no chance in succeeding through a church channels complaint. So she takes on Father Flynn in a battle of wills.

This film is a stunning portrayal of Church patriarchy, protection of pedophile priests, subservience of nuns and all to the Church hierarchy, as well as the desperation of a black mother to protect her child and ensure his future from more than just a priest.

Don't miss this film. It is certainly one of the best of 2008.