by Josh Sewell
The Order
(Rated R for some strong violence, and language throughout. Opens in select theaters on December 6.)
In this fact-based docudrama, Jude Law stars as Terry Husk, an FBI agent who comes to believe a series of bank robberies are connected to a domestic terrorist group in the Pacific Northwest. As he and his team search for leads, they fall deeper into the world of white supremacist militias – particularly one headed by Bob Matthews (Nicholas Hoult), a deadly racist who draws the FBI into a bloody standoff.
The Order is unquestionably a tough watch. However, screenwriter Zach Baylin and director Justin Kurzel craft a story so compelling, enhanced by such strong performances, that it drew me in from the opening moments and kept me riveted until the brutal finale.
This bleak thriller isn’t a guns-blazing action flick where viewers cheer as the bodies pile up. There are only a handful of violent moments, but the threat of deadly force is constant. When it does erupt, it’s nauseatingly sudden and brutal.
Despite taking place in the early 1980s, the narrative’s parallels to modern America are impossible to miss. There’s an especially damning moment about midway through the film when two vile characters debate the merits of physical attacks. One says patience is key, and that if they stay under the radar eventually their hateful beliefs will be represented in the highest levels of government. Turns out he wasn’t wrong.
Law is great as Husk. It’s not an overtly showy role and he doesn’t get any big speeches, but his charisma comes through – especially in scenes with Tye Sheridan and Jurnee Smollett, who play his law enforcement colleagues. After a few years in franchise stuff like Captain Marvel and the godawful Fantastic Beast flicks, it’s easy to take for granted what a terrific actor he can be.
Hoult is downright chilling as Matthews, chalking up yet another killer performance in a season packed with them. (He’s also fantastic Juror #2 and Nosferatu.) He approaches the character’s evil worldview with a fascinating certainty and matter-of-factness that makes him even more dangerous.
While I can’t say I “enjoyed” watching The Order, it’s definitely a compelling and important film. Unfortunately, because of this fall’s crazy release schedule and awards season chaos, there’s a danger it could slip through the cracks. It’s currently playing in limited release, but make sure to keep in on your radar as it hits VOD, streaming, etc. in the coming weeks.
Grade: B+
Flow
(Rated PG for peril and thematic elements. Opens in select theaters on December 6.)
One of my favorite experiences is when I fall in love with a movie that comes out of nowhere. That’s exactly what happened with Flow, Latvia’s entry for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature category (which also seems destined for a Best Animated Feature nomination).
In the film, a cat’s home is devastated by a flood and he finds refuge on an abandoned boat that’s already occupied by a capybara. As the unlikely duo sails through unfamiliar territory, they eventually add a lemur, a dog and a bird to their ranks. Despite their differences, they must rely on each other to survive.
I’d heard positive buzz from some colleagues and I’d seen a poster, but that’s all the info I had about Flow before hitting play on the screener I received. Imagine my surprise when this dialogue-free story of animals working together to make it through an apocalyptic event transfixed me from its opening moments. The animation style is gorgeous, evoking the bygone era of hand-drawn art and creating a world that somehow feels fantastical and realistic at the same time.
What’s more, I love that director Gints Zilbalodis (who co-wrote the screenplay with Matiss Kaza) eschews the Pixar/DreamWorks model of assigning human traits to cuddly critters and hiring famous actors to voice them. In Flow, the animals behave the way you’d expect them to, aside from a few heightened moments of movie magic. In fact, the sound team went to great lengths to capture noises from real animals, so the characters sound authentic.
While I’m sure the film will find a large audience once it hits streaming services in a few months, the overwhelming beauty and emotional power of Flow make it a must-see on the big screen. Unfortunately, it’s only playing in a handful of Atlanta area theaters, but I promise it’s worth the drive.
Grade: A+
Book Spotlight
Believe: The Untold Story Behind ‘Ted Lasso,’ the Show that Kicked its Way into Our Hearts, by Jeremy Egner
(Now available.)
Over the course of its three seasons, Ted Lasso became a cultural phenomenon. Debuting in the summer of 2020, it provided comfort and distraction for viewers during the height of the pandemic. Now that the series has ended (for now?), New York Times journalist Jeremy Egner shares how an old soccer commercial became one of the world’s most beloved TV shows.
He provides key insights from Ted Lasso cast members, creators and more, telling a story of teamwork and hidden talent. He also spotlights a group of friends looking around at the world’s increasingly nasty discourse and deciding that maybe simple decency still has the power to bring us together.
(Rated R for some strong violence, and language throughout. Opens in select theaters on December 6.)
In this fact-based docudrama, Jude Law stars as Terry Husk, an FBI agent who comes to believe a series of bank robberies are connected to a domestic terrorist group in the Pacific Northwest. As he and his team search for leads, they fall deeper into the world of white supremacist militias – particularly one headed by Bob Matthews (Nicholas Hoult), a deadly racist who draws the FBI into a bloody standoff.
The Order is unquestionably a tough watch. However, screenwriter Zach Baylin and director Justin Kurzel craft a story so compelling, enhanced by such strong performances, that it drew me in from the opening moments and kept me riveted until the brutal finale.
This bleak thriller isn’t a guns-blazing action flick where viewers cheer as the bodies pile up. There are only a handful of violent moments, but the threat of deadly force is constant. When it does erupt, it’s nauseatingly sudden and brutal.
Despite taking place in the early 1980s, the narrative’s parallels to modern America are impossible to miss. There’s an especially damning moment about midway through the film when two vile characters debate the merits of physical attacks. One says patience is key, and that if they stay under the radar eventually their hateful beliefs will be represented in the highest levels of government. Turns out he wasn’t wrong.
Law is great as Husk. It’s not an overtly showy role and he doesn’t get any big speeches, but his charisma comes through – especially in scenes with Tye Sheridan and Jurnee Smollett, who play his law enforcement colleagues. After a few years in franchise stuff like Captain Marvel and the godawful Fantastic Beast flicks, it’s easy to take for granted what a terrific actor he can be.
Hoult is downright chilling as Matthews, chalking up yet another killer performance in a season packed with them. (He’s also fantastic Juror #2 and Nosferatu.) He approaches the character’s evil worldview with a fascinating certainty and matter-of-factness that makes him even more dangerous.
While I can’t say I “enjoyed” watching The Order, it’s definitely a compelling and important film. Unfortunately, because of this fall’s crazy release schedule and awards season chaos, there’s a danger it could slip through the cracks. It’s currently playing in limited release, but make sure to keep in on your radar as it hits VOD, streaming, etc. in the coming weeks.
Grade: B+
(Rated PG for peril and thematic elements. Opens in select theaters on December 6.)
One of my favorite experiences is when I fall in love with a movie that comes out of nowhere. That’s exactly what happened with Flow, Latvia’s entry for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature category (which also seems destined for a Best Animated Feature nomination).
In the film, a cat’s home is devastated by a flood and he finds refuge on an abandoned boat that’s already occupied by a capybara. As the unlikely duo sails through unfamiliar territory, they eventually add a lemur, a dog and a bird to their ranks. Despite their differences, they must rely on each other to survive.
I’d heard positive buzz from some colleagues and I’d seen a poster, but that’s all the info I had about Flow before hitting play on the screener I received. Imagine my surprise when this dialogue-free story of animals working together to make it through an apocalyptic event transfixed me from its opening moments. The animation style is gorgeous, evoking the bygone era of hand-drawn art and creating a world that somehow feels fantastical and realistic at the same time.
What’s more, I love that director Gints Zilbalodis (who co-wrote the screenplay with Matiss Kaza) eschews the Pixar/DreamWorks model of assigning human traits to cuddly critters and hiring famous actors to voice them. In Flow, the animals behave the way you’d expect them to, aside from a few heightened moments of movie magic. In fact, the sound team went to great lengths to capture noises from real animals, so the characters sound authentic.
While I’m sure the film will find a large audience once it hits streaming services in a few months, the overwhelming beauty and emotional power of Flow make it a must-see on the big screen. Unfortunately, it’s only playing in a handful of Atlanta area theaters, but I promise it’s worth the drive.
Grade: A+
Book Spotlight
(Now available.)
Over the course of its three seasons, Ted Lasso became a cultural phenomenon. Debuting in the summer of 2020, it provided comfort and distraction for viewers during the height of the pandemic. Now that the series has ended (for now?), New York Times journalist Jeremy Egner shares how an old soccer commercial became one of the world’s most beloved TV shows.
He provides key insights from Ted Lasso cast members, creators and more, telling a story of teamwork and hidden talent. He also spotlights a group of friends looking around at the world’s increasingly nasty discourse and deciding that maybe simple decency still has the power to bring us together.
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com
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