Review: The Order

Now it makes sense why Fox didn’t screen The Order a few months back for critics: The film doesn’t make a lick of sense!

The Order
Photo: 20th Century Fox

Now it makes sense why Fox didn’t screen The Order a few months back for critics: The film doesn’t make a lick of sense! Poor Brian Helgeland. It should be a sin for a director to take material this nonsensical so seriously. “In the beginning, my mystery still remained,” bemoans pin-up Carolingian priest Alex Bernier (Heath Ledger), inexplicably called “Spaghetti O” by his best buddy Thomas (Mark Addy). With the help of his friend and a psychotic mental patient, Mara (Shannyn Sossamon), who tried to shoot him during an exorcism (don’t ask, the film isn’t willing to explain), Alex goes to Rome to investigate the events surrounding the death of his kooky father-figure Dominic (Francesco Carnelutti). Helegand’s Europe is an aesthetic heresy. There’s a trashy MTV quality to the film that betrays the director’s serious obsession with Alex’s faith. The film cribs from the best Catholic spookers (look for the Exorcist fonts and Omen demon children) but really owes more to the likes of Stigmata. After doing some quickie research and butting heads with a series of human placards (most non-memorably an “Apathetic Bishop”), Alex makes his way through a series of dining halls, museums, and Catholic techo clubs. In the end, he discovers that sin takes the shape of a CGI octopus when it leaves the body and has to decide whether he wants to eat it or not. “Sunflowers are a brilliant mistake,” says the doomed Mara. “Like you and me,” replies the wise Alex. Blood in. Blood out. Eye roll.

Score: 
 Cast: Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy, Benno Furmann, Peter Weller, Francesco Carnelutti, Mattia Sbragia  Director: Brian Helgeland  Screenwriter: Brian Helgeland  Distributor: 20th Century Fox  Running Time: 102 min  Rating: PG-13  Year: 2003  Buy: Video, Soundtrack

Ed Gonzalez

Ed Gonzalez is the co-founder of Slant Magazine. A member of the New York Film Critics Circle, his writing has appeared in The Village Voice, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications.

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