[jimdgoulding]

This has just come out on video and I saw it.  It was an acting tour de force as you may know.  The four priniciple actors were all nominated and Streep won an Oscar.  Not your action picture.  Somber, dude, and something of a mystery.  Wonder if anyone else saw this?  Aw to heck with it, I'll cut to the case.  I'm itchin about the end.  Don't think the priest did anything wrong but why would he then resign?  The only reason other than he did it that I can come up with was to spare the boy from the controversy so he could graduate there and from his father.  Maybe he recognized that the old girl was too tough an opponent?  The dialog is this is not wasted.  I admired the writing.  Might this have been written for the stage?  And if you went to Catholic grade school like me this will seem very familiar.

[ajzepp]

Yep, excellent film. I got the impression that maybe the Priest didn't actually physically do anything, but he was battling thoughs? I dunno...but I really appreciated the ambiguity element, and I respect the fact that they didn't trash the church in the process. And as you mentioned, the acting was absolutely amazing.

[S Clark]

I just watched this tonight, and it was clearly the best acting of the 2008/9 movie season.  Meryl Streep (although she didn't win, Winslet did for the Reader) turned in a stunning performance.  And yes, this was an adaptation from the stage, where it was nominated for several Tony's.

Just get it and watch it. Best acting I have seen in years.

[launche]

Yes, this was so very good. So simple and so effective. A must see for sure.

[rodge827]

I watched it a couple of nights ago.
Acting, story line, and writing were all superb.
Did he ? Didn't he ? Wow ! A very thought provoking film.
I'm of the mindset that Fr. Flynn (Phillip Seymore Hoffman) resigned for the "greater good" of all involved.

Chris