The Order

Autumn in New York. Dumb and Dumberer. From Justin to Kelly. What do these films have in common? This might be a trick question, since odds are that you understandably have forgotten all about these F-worthy flicks, but the answer is that they weren’t screened for critics. The Order follows this trend of ashamed distributors withholding their products from insult-slinging critics for fear of hearing the truth. Writer/director Brian Helgeland’s religious thriller just barely might be an exception to Hollywood’s unwritten rule. With the sin eaters, nightingale hallucinations, cloaked Pagan worshippers and Heath Ledger’s sexy mug, The Order’s spook factor and mild intrigue of a Catholic priest investigating a supposed suicide should adequately arm Fox distributors from us insult-slinging critics.