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The Sin Eater [2003]
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RRP: £15.99
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booooring!
Review date: 2008-06-16 Rating: 2 out of 10
I don't know why i bought this. Maybe because I was having an emotional Heath Ledger tribute which involved purchasing a load of his films. I'm sorry to say this was a really dire film. The plot although i'd originally thought of it as looking fantastic, was really bad!! Really bad. Sorry Heath, but everyone makes a couple of dud films, even you.
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Reviews
Forgiveness for the unforgivable?
Review date: 2008-05-17 Rating: 2 out of 10
Dreadful, pretentious tripe. A ridiculous and probably blasphemous conceit too. I only watched it all to see if it could maintain the same level of pretension through out, it could. The only saving grace was the belly laugh reading the, admittedly few, positive reviews on amazon. Not even slightly as clever as it thinks it is.
I'm off to read some Umberto Eco, see ya!
BETTER VIEWED 2nd TIME AROUND!
Review date: 2008-02-07 Rating: 8 out of 10
OK,this film is by no means a classic but is actually better viewed 2nd time around. It is what it is, a thriller (of sorts) but the eerie location settings and great soundtrack give the film a real sense of pensiveness. Ledger does well in the lead role as does Robocop himself, Peter Weller as support.
Surprising anyone wanted to be credited for this tripe!
Review date: 2008-01-28 Rating: 2 out of 10
Heath Ledger played his part in this movie like a Zombie. His acting was so bad to be unbelievable,Shannyn Sossamon was the same,even when she got her kit off it was unexciting as was the WHOLE of this movie. The script was terrible and in total disarray,the whole cast were in total turmoil and didn't seem to know really what they were supposed to be doing or care.I would have given zero if possible.Bad,Bad,Bad.Watch paint dry instead.
A FILM THAT NEEDS YOU TO PAY ATTENTION
Review date: 2007-08-30 Rating: 6 out of 10
After Dominic (Francesco Carnelutti), a priest who is one of the last of the Carolingian order, dies of an apparent suicide, the other two remaining Carolingians, Alex Bernier (Heath Ledger) and Thomas Garret (Mark Addy), come to Rome to learn what happened. While there, they discover that something much more sinister is afoot.
I can see why The Order would have difficulty being commercially successful. And that's too bad, because this is an excellent film. The "problem" leading to a commercial struggle is that writer/director Brian Helgeland created a very intelligent script that assumes the viewer does not need everything spelled out to them. This is a film that opens by placing us in the middle of a complex world, with a deep history, so that we have to pay attention and do a bit of detective work to get up to speed initially. The script is full of unexplained references to beliefs and traditions of the Catholic Church and "orders" such as Carolingians and Jesuits. It is densely packed with clever dialogue, subtle puns and other kinds of literary devices and references. It uses, and some understanding of the film depends on, occasional phrases in Latin, Aramaic, French and Italian (although most of the important words and phrases are translated for us). This is not a light "popcorn" movie, and it is a slow burner. If you were not to fully pay attention and actively think about the film, you could easily become lost or confused.
The performances are superb. Alex, Thomas, Mara Sinclair (Shannyn Sossamon), William Eden (Benno Furmann), and Driscoll (Peter Weller) all seem like real people with complex personalities and back stories. Visually, Helgeland creates and sustains an incredible eerie atmosphere throughout the film. It's so remarkable that a repeated viewing focusing only on the production design, cinematography and composition would be very rewarding. The music, by David Torn, one of my favorite modern composers and musicians, is exceptional. And the relatively sparse visual effects are beautiful, well placed and appropriately surreal.
The story is captivating and becomes more so as it continues. It is wonderfully "gray" about its subject matter when it counts. This is a film that not only bears but demands repeated viewings, but you have to be able to slow down and think while viewing--don't expect action set pieces (although there are a couple minor bits of action), a gorefest, or MTV-styled editing.
The ending of The Order cries out for a sequel, but not because the ending is at all incomplete, or because there was a monster who just wouldn't die. However, given that the film only grossed a fraction of its 38 million dollar budget, those of us who are fans of this film will have to keep our fingers crossed.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Benno Furmann
Heath Ledger
Mark Addy
Shannyn Sossamon
Peter Weller
Creators:
Heath Ledger (Primary Contributor)
Shannyn Sossamon (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036015523
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-02-09
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 98 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003
Language: English (Original Language)