Album Reviews
Movies
Concert Reviews
Movie Resources
Concert Reviews
Book Reviews

Top 10
Resources
Contact Us

About a year ago, The Order was originally titled The Sin Eater and disappeared, only to reappear now with a new name. Okay, sometimes this scenario is bad and sometimes good. In this case, The Sin Eater name should have stayed, as with this confusing script, anything with "order" in it may be suspect.

The Order stars Heath Ledger as a young priest who begins to doubt his religion. His mentor has died of suicide, but after examining the body, Heath and the audience doubt it is suicide. Why the unusual markings on the chest? We are introduced to Heath's friend and fellow priest, Mark Addy (who gets the worst lines in the film), and Heath's friend, Shannyn Sossamon. Shannyn, it seems, has just escaped from a mental hospital where she was placed after trying to kill Heath. This is what the authorities think, but we actually know that Heath was performing an exorcism on her and things got out of hand. Enter a mysterious character (Benno Furmann) who begins to follow Heath and appears to know a great deal about everyone. There is discussion of Sin Eater which is an ancient group--supposedly dead that absolves people of their sins outside the church. Then comes a cardinal of the church (Peter Weller who as in Robocop does a great acting job with his chin) in the mix, and we wonder about HIS motives. You can start to figure out where this film is headed, but it takes enough turns to keep you in your seat without going out for popcorn.

What is positive about this film is the photography and general murkiness, which aid in giving a feeling of doom. Also, with the exception of Ledger, who does this one as though he just woke up, the acting is fairly good. The violence is mostly implied, though the usual blood on the floor shows up. There are flashbacks that are excecuted well, and the music score by David Torn is good. This film isn't one that talks the audience to sleep so that less is more. However, if there is going to be sparse dialogue, make what there is count and put witticisms in the right place in the film. What is also negative is the editing, which means we are halfway through the movie before the pieces start to fall together, and then we can discover whether we are in New York City or Rome.

I believe Brian Helgeland, who wrote the script, had a good idea about the absolving of sin outside the church. What is not explained is just when it started and why. It would appear that when someone is excommunicated and dying, there would be no priest to hear a last confession. Hence a "sin eater," but with the script as murky as fog around the Poe River, one can only guess. The best line of the film comes from Heath and Shannyn who say their friendship is "you and me until the wheels fall off." With the cast of A Knight's Tale plus director (Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy and Brian Helgeland) in this film, another team picture can't be far away, but with a lighter tone?

Copyright 2003 Marie Asner
Submitted 9/24/03