User Reviews

Disorder (2015)

Alice Winocour's thriller set in upper class France is filled with anxiety, and is filmed very smartly to increase that stress without resorting to pyrotechnics. Quietly, especially because of the edgy psychological performance by Matthias Schoenaerts, we feel the anxiety of an ex-soldier fighting PTSD and still doing private high brow security work.

The setting is interesting but the plot is thin. This can work for the film, which depends on lots of quiet moments to punch up the drama when it occurs. The direction is really good, with some simple strategies at play. Example—when our main character, who is guarding someone off in the distance, is sensing danger, his eyes flit around, he stiffens up and walks and look, but the one thing the camera doesn't do is show us the person he's protecting. In the dark, we worry, and we don't know if the danger is real or if he's just too high strung.

Seeing the inside of a high level security detail is nice, and it's handled with good realism. The whole movie, in fact, depends on a simple believability that typical Hollywood versions would ramp up, and it works.

The big downside here is the writing. There isn't enough to the overall plot after all (and Schoenaerts can't do everything). And some of the dialog is unlikely or a big out off kilter. Sucked into the mis-en-scene, you can go with it, at least until the long stretch at the end in the house, when you do wish it hadn't trapped itself into a series of well worn ideas.

The last several seconds of the movie do show that the director/writer is capable of more than you'll find here. It might be unexplained, but it leaves at least still immersed as you leave the film's finely rendered world.

I was not sure what to expect with this. But I was definitely intrigued with the two leads, Matthias Schnoenarts and Diane Kruger.

I like a lot of the films that they star in. So it will be interesting to see what their chemistry is on screen.

The premise was definitely one I do not see that often. Also, the story that director and writer Alice Winocaur had put onto screen got me invested. But despite me still finding it reasonably enjoyable, I felt that we have a missed opportunity here.

One thing is for sure, Schoenaerts was great as our main character. A bit like Tom Hardy, most of his success comes from the physical part of the performance. You can really see the killer instinct in his character and his charisma definitely carries this film well. I was feeling his characters problems and I was rooting for him to overcome them. I think without Schoenarts, this could have been something quite boring. The rest of the cast were not that memorable, even Kruger.

For the few action scenes that were on screen, they were really well constructed. You could really feel the hits being taken. The score was fascinating and surprisingly atmospheric. The style felt different, but managed to fit in well with the film. However, there were some moments where I felt the moment to use that score felt unnecessary or badly timed.

Like I said before, there are problems with it. While it may feel slow for the most part, you can feel the tension throughout. You do feel that something does not feel right and we get some well executed action scenes. But I think in the end, the lack of drama and thrills may make people impatient as they know this could go down more interesting routes. I don't get a lot of the slow no-dialogue moments that we seem to see with most of European cinema. It's not often that style gets me totally invested. I was not a fan of the camera-work as well. There was a lot of shaky moments that I felt were unnecessary, and it made me struggle to see what was going on. This negative is a bit of nit pick. But I felt there were too many times when they were reminding us of our main characters anxiety problems. That just seemed to signal to me that they have little more to show and just lingered on that particular part.

For what looked like an interesting premise, for me it did not manage to make the most of it. But don't worry, it still remains to be a solidly delivered thriller with an amazing lead by Schoenarts. The way they portrayed his characters problems on screen was quite clever. I also liked it did not have that cliché feeling at all, and that might be the reason that I remained interested. Despite its problems, I will still recommend this. Winocour should be proud of this. I will definitely check out the rest of her work.

Rating: 7/10

Matthias Schoenaerts plays Vincent, a soldier who has returned from Afghanistan and is now suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He is signed off from duties and so gets to work as a hired security guard. One of his friends gets him a gig working for a wealthy, but decidedly shady, Lebanese businessman.

Once there he becomes enamoured with his very attractive wife (Diane Kruger) and ends up being assigned to watch over her as a personal bodyguard. He is still dealing with PTSD and the effects of having served as Special Forces and so is on edge and sees danger where it may not be. However, he soon feels that she and her son are under threat and then – well it all kicks off but to say anymore would be a plot spoiler.

Now the part of Vincent was written with Schoenaerts in mind and he does a very good job indeed (I have PTSD so could spot some of the subtleties) but the tension and atmosphere that is engendered at the beginning then starts to fade as the plot reveals itself. The story is fairly good though and the ending may bemuse some but the overall journey is one that is worth the effort. In French with good sub titles this will appeal to lovers of thrillers but it is not one that is too taxing on the intellect.

In a twist on the story of a combat veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder attempting to adjust to civilian life, director Alice Winocour realigns the balance of the narrative to focus as much on romance and one woman's perspective as action and a psychologically wounded man.

Vincent takes odd jobs as he lobbies to return to combat as a soldier. Despite its inherent dangers, combat at least is a place where he has a mission and purpose. Civilian life is not so kind. It is confusing, degrading and offers little in the way of sympathy for what Vincent has been through. A side job as part of a security team, together with his military pals, takes Vincent to a mansion, party and pretty woman who attracts his eyes and focus. In the ensuing days Vincent is drawn into a personal security detail for her. When she is targeted for kidnapping, the pair must draw upon not just Vincent's military training, but upon their basic qualities as human beings. Because each of them has moved in different spheres until then, this may not work so well.

The sound selections and wounded hero narrative are reminiscent of the Nicolas Winding Refn films that I love. However, Winocour cannot quite match Refn's levels of tension, chemistry and spectacle. I admire the acting of Matthias Schoenaerts and he does not disappoint here. While the film has some potential to live up to, there is ample suspense and intrigue inside the characters and the scenes that envelop them. Seen at the 2016 Miami International Film Festival.

French cinema has come a long way and is close to overtaking Asian cinema as my favourite world cinema. This has all the right ingredients for the type of thriller I personally enjoy the most. Suspense? Plenty. Intense? Sure. Psychologically stimulating? Ehhh. This was an intriguing concoction to mix PTSD psychology with a home invasion flick. It's just a shame the former wasn't explored to its maximum potential. Don't get me wrong, the utilisation of hallucinogenic imagery and delusional paranoia is well executed. In fact, it's what powers the narrative. The story itself is completely forgettable, bland and undeveloped. However, the attention to our protagonist is what truly captivates. Matthias Schoenaerts was the perfect casting choice for Vincent. His brute physicality and cold exterior unleashes plenty of inner torment for the character. You can tell through Schoenaerts' facial expressions that our character is brimming with determination and conflict. A superbly strong performance. Diane Kruger was also good and definitely held her own. The cinematography was incredibly seductive. The usage of slow motion, dark shadows and shades of purple really enhanced the experience. The contemporary sound design also highlighted the scenes of PTSD, which I appreciate. Alice Winocour's direction felt fresh, in particular the "over-the-shoulder" camera shots where we see what Vincent might (or might not...) be seeing. Including such intimacy really draws you into the narrative, especially the dialogue is minimal. It's a piece of visual storytelling, which in turn makes the plot less intricate and ambiguous. Whilst it does not necessarily work constantly, I was entranced by this and really enjoyed it. Some more attention to the story would've made it that much better, but it's worth a watch.

Main actor is all the money as a saying goes. His portrayal of a war veteran who tries to make a living, but even more tries to live kind of normal (if the bodyguard job can be described as normal), is amazing to watch. It's not fireworks all the time, though it does have some decent stunts and action scenes.

But this is more about dealing with you past, the ghosts of things that you have seen and heard. Also falling in love with probably the wrong person. But then again, how does it manifest, if someone with war issues loves someone? And can he be loved back? Especially by someone who already has someone in their life? Will you get all the answers to your questions? The last one I can answer with a no. I do think though that the end is pretty clear, even if some may disagree ...

I think I was expecting more of an action thriller, but this movie was turned down to three.

A guy name Vincent is hired to protect a woman and her son from bad guys looking harm her.

Some action does happen in the movie, but it was very quiet and uneventful. A bit of a a shame cause I wanted to like the movie. It was very inventive in its scale.

I think the real problem is that I'm not getting any personality from the main characters. I went to go see because Matthias Schoenaerts was the main character. I liked this guy in other movies, but he seemed dull heading up his own flick.

I wanted to see the laid out plan work out, but I was not getting enough energy.

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An interesting meander down the PSTD journey. Solid acting if a somewhat pointless story. It never really gets going even though there is a bit of action but in the end to no end.

I was very surprised at this movie. The IMDb precis led me to think it was going to be an average action thriller so I watched it to fill in a dull couple of hours, but what a treat it turned out to be.

Definitely not for the Hollywood action fan, this movie is an incredibly well-paced (read: slow burn) psychological study and suspense builder. I found a lot of it reminiscent of a great Hitchcock, who was, after all, the master of building true suspense out of the ominously suggested but mainly unseen.

Matthias Schoenaerts is absolutely brilliant. His portrayal of a damaged, sometimes paranoid, drug-dependent, PTSD-suffering soldier trying to carry out a fill-in assignment on a private security detail is a masterpiece of characterisation. The directing is superb and had me watching in delight throughout the film's entirety. The whole recipe is topped off by cinematography that is so ideally matched to the mood(s) of the film, perfectly complimenting the atmospheric, slow-building story. No, we don't get to know the whole of Vincent's character during this movie, but when have you ever got to know someone well after spending a mere two hours with them? We learn what we need to to engage in the movie and that is just the right amount.

Some reviewers will bemoan the lack of a full background story, dearth of explosions and other typically Hollywood special effects, the dark settings and minimal dialogue. In my opinion that only illustrates that they entirely miss the point and magic of this beautifully made film and I suggest they go and rent a brash, loud, brain-dead, exaggerated Hollywood action explosion-fest.

Disorder AKA Maryland is a bit of a mystery about a bodyguard with post traumatic stress disorder.

I expected it to be a bit exciting with the plot summary on IMDb but it moves at a slow pace and is trying to be a bit of a psychological drama- thriller.

Which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing but the edge isn't quite there , it never truly gets suspenseful even though the plot technically have moments where it should be.

I didn't hate it or anything and the acting is okay but overall I think this is the type of movie that in a year I might have forgotten I've even seen because it plays everything so low-key and well the plot isn't all that intriguing or original.

It's in French btw, when I got it I didn't realise that as I'm used to seeing Diane Kruger in American films and well I thought Maryland (which is the original title of the film) was taken from the state of Maryland, USA but there is actually a place called Maryland in France as well and that's where the name is from as it's there it takes place.

Disorder is an interesting French thriller about an Afghanistan veteran who takes a job to protect the wife and son of a wealthy Lebanese businessman while at the same time is suffering from PTSD. This is quite slow paced , as you might expect being French but it's well worth watching. Matthias Schoenaerts is excellent as Vincent , the troubled security officer as is Diane Kruger who plays the wife. What little action there is , is done very well and at times it's very tense , Almost like a horror film. There are lots of questions to be asked about what is happening because not all you see may as clear as it seems. When this was released last year it was called Maryland but for the DVD release and the UK/US market they have called is Disorder .

I found the movie a mixture of "Man on fire" and "Harsh Times" plus a bit of "Jacob's Ladder" For sure is worth watching if you enjoyed the titles named above. And the acting of Matthias Schoenaerts is good, giving his character the right doses of violence, kindness and madness you would expect in somebody suffering from war related psychical injuries. You find also in the movie quite a realistic depiction of how close protection work is getting done in Europe, from the way they operate to the way the recruiting is done. I have watched Matthias Schoenaerts playing as well in "The Drop", he did a good part but the role was small and didn't give him to much of a chance. He has a disposition for bringing to life characters filed with repressed rage and expect to see him mostly in R rated movies and maybe some movies with religious themes.

Enjoy it

This is a film with few dialogue. It was the soundtrack and the actors who must speak for themselves. But more could be done with this film and these actors. The genre is not quite clear: a character study of post-traumatic stress disorder? an thriller? an critical society film? Of course Matthias is superb, but I hope to see him also smiling. But the situation here is not for smiling. And why, fgs, must the title be changed from Maryland to Disorder? This English title don't explain anything more than the original title. Perhaps the better should be 'Matthias' (or Vincent) when it is all about a character study of the mean actor Matthias....

This is a foreign action film that although it has a couple of very decent lead actors (two true favorites).. it really goes nowhere because like so many similar American films, it has little meat to the actual story, and nowhere near any the amount of action sequences necessary to fill the void. And the English sub-titled version is an absolute joke. Not knowing how to speak the language, would not be a disadvantage, as you could be guessing at most all of the dialogue, and still do a substantially better job than the captions shown with this screen version. So how we complain in this country about how European films are invariably always sooo much better.. well here with this production, the opposite is confirmed.

Disorder is a great but slow paced thriller that's tense, moving and stylish whilst also skillfully withholding answers. Matthias Schoenaerts gives an incredible lead performance and Diane Kruger is great. Alice Winocour's direction is fantastic, especially the quiet but impactful ending and it's extremely well filmed. The music by Gesaffelstein is really good.

I like Diane Kruger, so watched this. It was awful, there is almost no redeeming value here, it is like watching grass grow. There is almost no action, and even the little that there is makes absolutely no sense. The plot and writing seems like it was by some 9 yr old. Complete waste of time.

Slow, non sense , ilógic , No continuity 😞 Yo never know what is the purpose, the servants dissspear and nobody tried to look for them ,

Completely useless. super boring. nothing happens. and then when it does, it's underwhelming and.... completely useless. (1 viewing)

This is not your usual "home invasion" film.It's above all an incredible sensory experience.Alice Winocur (who directed 2 years ago the magnificent "Augustine") creates a great combo between drama & paranoid thriller.And don't expect a love story ala Bodyguard. Matthias Schoenaerts is phenomenal as usual.It's quite an intense performance.You're truly seeing things through the eyes of his emotionally damaged character. Diane Kruger is also solid but the movie truly belongs to King Matthias.The ending could have been slightly better but it doesn't take anything away from the quality of the film. The soundtrack is also very catchy : Gaffelstein is a genius ! He creates a very atmospheric environment. A must see !