Review of The Order (2003) by Caden D — 01 Apr 2009

The Order(The Sin Eater) is a wicked spiritual thriller from Brian Helgeland, the director of Payback and A Knights Tale. It tells the story of a young priest, Alex Bernier, who is sent to Rome to investigate the death of a revered member of the Order, a secret cult of priests that has existed within the Church. Bernier's investigation leads to a wicked truth much more threatening than death itself.

Heath Ledger is an actor who is nearly impossible to dislike. His charming and boyish personality really shines in this film, making his character a lot more compelling and engaging. Ledger's natural charm and genuine good looks are what make his films so successful, he's an actor who can portray a wide variety of characters. His performance in this film is phenomenal and I was highly impressed by him, like I usually am with all of his performances.

Shannyn Sossamon is simply an adorable and compelling actress with the ability to fully capture your attention within seconds. I fell in love with her the second I first saw her and I have not once been disappointed by her. Shannyn is beautiful and she clearly has a unique acting ability that I enjoy immensely. Her performance is wonderful.

Brian Helgeland is a director whose body of work is quite interesting. He's directed three films that are completely different from one another, and has written many other films that have been praised by critics and movie-goers alike. This film is his most compelling film of his career as a director. Brian is a filmmaker who seems to like making something different with each film and I admire him for that. There are countless directors who arent adventurous enough to try something new and simply repeat and make the same film over and over again. Quentin Tarantino is a filmmaker who comes to mind, his films are too much alike and Helgeland's films are somewhat different from each other. Brian Helgeland is one of my favorite directors and writers.

The Order, which is also known under a different title "The Sin Eater", is a riveting film and one of my favorites. The story is complex and I was completely engaged in everything that was happening. The performances are superb, they really grab you and take you within the heart of the story and never let go until the final scene. The script is smart and the direction is skillful. The Order is a masterful thriller that really took me by surprise. I highly recommend this film, especially for fans of Heath Ledger, he is exceptional in this film...