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Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixReview: Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixBy Shane JenkinsJuly 20, 2007
In fact, this is the most overtly political of the Potter movies, and there was a danger that it could have ended up as dreary as one of those Star Wars prequels. But screenwriter Michael Goldenberg, taking over for Steve Kloves, who scripted all of the previous installments, chose carefully what to include and what to keep out, and he's managed to turn the most overstuffed book of the series into the tightest film. There's less action, at least until the finale, but the interpersonal dynamics are rewarding enough for this to dodge the mantle of the "filler chapter." Yates has the fortune of working with a top-flight cast of British vets, but the standout in this film is Imelda Staunton as Umbridge. She gets more screen time than any other adult, and sure makes the most of it. There's a scene where a student is given a pen with no ink, and her reaction as the scene plays out its horrible conclusion is absolutely chilling. Umbridge is a one-note character, but Staunton manages to transcend that and deliver a fully-fleshed out monster. With the emphasis on Harry's internal struggle, coupled with the shorter-than-usual running time, some of the favorite characters from the other movies get the short end of the (broom) stick here. Hagrid and Dumbledore are noticeably absent for most of the film, and offer barely a line apiece to explain their disappearances. Ron and Hermione spend a good deal of the movie exchanging worried glances about Harry. Emma Thompson and Julie Walters basically have cameos, and aside from one virtuoso scene with Staunton, even the great Maggie Smith is pushed into the background. Take a look at these movies including funny movies and horror movies too. See which films we liked the best today. Make no mistake -- Order of the Phoenix is The Harry Show all the way. Fortunately, for maybe the first time in the series, Daniel Radcliffe is up to the task. Yates clearly spent time with the actors, and the performances are better than ever (with the possible exception of Emma Watson, who seems to be developing some unfortunate actor-y mannerisms). Radcliffe has never been the most naturalistic actor; in the earlier installments you could almost see the director coaching him from the sidelines. But being around these great thespians seems to have finally paid off. He even manages to share a few scenes with that master of intensity, Gary Oldman, and not get blown off the screen. This movie, much more so than the others, rests on his shoulders, and part of the exhilaration here is seeing him finally bloom into a real actor. And this feels like a real movie too, not just a cash-generating machine (which, of course, is precisely what it is). Alfonso Cuaron's The Prisoner of Azkaban is still my favorite of these movies so far, with its nice balance of whimsy and darkness. Order of the Phoenix may be a little harder to love, mostly due to the grim nature of the source material, but it has its rewards. The final battle is the best set piece in the series yet. The opening scene with the Dementors is wonderfully shot and scary. And the glimpse of Snape's own lousy childhood is a welcome bit of backstory. I would call Order of the Phoenix the second best of the series, and, while I would like to have seen Cuaron's take on one of these later chapters, I look forward to Yates's work in next fall's Half-Blood Prince. He's laid the groundwork for something great.
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