Proof (**1/2)

Proof is a very good play, but it only makes for a decent movie. Don't get me wrong. The performances are outstanding all around in this one. Gwyneth Paltrow, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hope Davis, and Anthony Hopkins are all stellar. But one can feel them laboring the whole time. This is an actor's showcase. The performances are all hyped up, emotional, and prone to dramatic outbursts. Much of that has to do with the script, which despite director John Madden's attempts to enlarge the scope, is ultimately a chamber piece for the stage. The story is not all that involving blown up on a big screen, and the movie tends to sag after the reveal right before the "intermission." Still, Paltrow should garner some awards consideration, if nothing else.