When the principal (Meryl Streep) of a Bronx Catholic High School accuses a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of pedophilia, a young nun (Amy Adams) caught in between the feuding pair become hopelessly swept up in the ensuing controversy. John Patrick Shanley adapts his own play for the screen under the guidance of producer Scott Rudin (The Queen, Notes on a Scandal).

The play is a dynamic, provocative piece. Judging from my exclusive preview of the trailer, in the movie, three strong actors form a triangle in a titanic power struggle. Representing the force of the old ways is Meryl Streep as the older nun who sees a popular, younger, hipper, kinder form of Catholic authority--priest Philip Seymour Hoffman--threatening her power. Her accolyte is sweet, trusting younger nun Amy Adams. Streep and Hoffman each try to persuade Adams to take their side. Viola Davis, another explosive actor, plays the mother of the little boy at the center of the drama unfolding at Madison St. Nicholas School. These actors are laying it down: yelling, cajoling, screaming, fighting for their lives.

Miramax is releasing this meaty picture December 12. It's a slam dunk for Oscar consideration with performances like these. I'll have to see the movie to know for sure how far it will go. The question mark is director Shanley, who won an Oscar for writing Moonstruck, but didn't fare so well on his first directing gig, 1990's Joe Versus The Volcano. We can assume that Shanley is more in control of his own material here.

Doubt is in the Zone, with the talent on board: producer Scott Rudin (No Country for Old Men) helped Shanley assemble an Oscar-friendly support team: cinematographer Roger Deakins (Old Men and The Assassination of Jesse James), editor Dylan Tichenor (There Will Be Blood), costume designer Ann Roth (The English Patient), and production designer David Gropman (Cider House Rules). As for the music: here's new news: it's Howard Shore (The Lord of the Rings).

UPDATE: Someone who has seen Doubt writes:

"It's a knockout. I had read the play and the movie took it way beyond. Meryl Streep is definitely on the best actress list. Shanley's direction is very 'on.'"

My informant has also seen Frost/Nixon:

"It was just as good -- it will be head-to-head between these two powerhouse smart, adult play adaptations. Frank Langella will get a best actor nomination for portraying Nixon, and Michael Sheen might very well get a best supporting as Frost. In each case, I think the screenplays will be nominated -- J.P. Shanley and Peter Morgan, both for adaptations of their own plays."