Sovereign

Based on true events that occurred in West Memphis back in 2010, Christian Swegal's feature debut that tackles the complicated and confronting world of self-imposed "sovereign citizens" is a well acted and put together piece that doesn't shy away from the horrors of the incident it leads up too and the dangers of the movement it explores.

An uncompromisingly bleak affair, rightfully so when you consider the subject and true events that form the basis of the entire film, Sovereign creates an ever present atmosphere of slow dread and unease all built off its two leads Nick Offerman and Jacob Tremblay (almost unrecognisable now from his Room and Wonder days) who play father and son duo Jerry and Joe Kane.

Living a life of impending bank foreclosures on their property, road tripping around small towns spreading the sovereign message and general disdain for the way in which modern society functions and interacts, the Kane's lifestyle is one built around hatred and misguided senses of importance and the way in which Swegal and his two lead performers capture the Kane's world plays a huge part in why Sovereign becomes the impactful viewing experience it does.

Morphing more and more away from his Parks and Gardens persona that made him a household name around the world, Offerman in particular delivers an arguably career best turn here as the fiercely determined and unflappable Jerry who has shaped and moulded his only child to be a believer of his ideologies and belief systems as he traverses his way around a way of life that he will hold onto no matter the cost.

Bringing the perfect mix of quiet power and determination as well as genuine moments of outbursts and anger, Offerman looms large over the film and Tremblay's understated but perfectly evaluated performance is an impressive one from the child turned adult actor who clearly has what it takes to become one of the rare success stories of staying power in the industry after bursting onto the scene as an 8 year old in Room.

Sovereign may not do anything outstanding or noteworthy from a production standpoint and there are segments throughout the film that don't add great depth or meaning to the overall aim but by tackling a subject that's rarely been looked into on the big screen and by allowing its performers to ply their trade with emotional intelligence and ability, Sovereign is one of the years more memorable indies and a fine starting point for director Christian Swegal.

Final Say -

Culminating in an impactful and shocking final act, Sovereign is an expertly acted character driven drama that shines a light on a worrying movement that has managed to grow in stature in the years following the events depicted in Christian Swegal's feature.

3 1/2 white suits out of 5.

Based on a true story, the movie flows well, a little harsh at times however there was a major flaw that should have perhaps resulted in a different ending.

Upon getting arrested the first time, the officers should have confiscated their weapons from the van, why were the weapons there upon retrieving the van after they were eventually bailed out of jail.

Aside from that piece the movie was interesting.

This movie is gut turning. Most people recognize the sovereign movement from online videos showing citizens being difficult with law enforcement and then being arrested. What I find important about this film, while it is barely touched directly by the films dialogue, is its presentation of mental illness brought on by trauma. Near the end of the film we see a very brief discussion on a tragedy that, if offered up sooner, would have given the viewer a bit more of a grip on Jerry's mindset and why he had taken up the path he chose. While this movie is a slow burn it is also a rather fast spiral of decision making which held my interest till the end.

I think this and other films like it should be given note since it reflects the actions of people in other real life events. Being able to recognize when someone has fallen down the rabbit hole and landed themselves and others into dangerous waters is useful in life and benefits society. We see the young teen, Joe, in this story obviously confused and without true understanding of the peril he is in. We see the theme of growing up thinking life is "normal" when it's far from it.

I saw this movie in theaters with a group of friends, all of us born and raised here in the Midwest. Afterwards the mood was pretty somber because everyone in the group recognized scenes from their own family upbringing. The kid sitting in the backseat listening to Dad rant about the government, cops being trained to immediately rely on overwhelming force, all of it building a system that pushes normal people into potentially violent situations over and over again until eventually somebody pulls a trigger. If you grew up in a working last neighborhood, I can guarantee you're gonna recognize some family members in these characters and chances are that you'll sympathize with each of the main characters. It's a great movie, but it's not a fun movie to watch.

Sovereign has a killer concept but stumbles, earning a 6/10 for a bloated setup and a rushed payoff that left me feeling for the boy.

This crime thriller, rooted in the 2010 West Memphis shootings, follows Jerry Kane (Nick Offerman), a sovereign citizen zealot, and his son Joe (Jacob Tremblay), defying government authority. The concept - exploring anti-government extremism - is bold, but Christian Swegal's script drags, spending 75 minutes establishing a 20-minute story.

The slow-burn setup, while atmospheric, feels overstretched, leaning on repetitive rhetoric. The final 20 minutes ignite with tragic intensity, delivering raw emotion, especially for Joe's plight, but it's too late to fully salvage the pace.

Offerman is magnetic, blending charisma and menace, while Tremblay's vulnerable Joe tugs heartstrings, making his arc gut-wrenching. Dennis Quaid's police chief is solid but underused. Swegal's direction crafts a gritty, tense vibe with stark visuals, but uneven pacing and thin supporting characters hold it back.

Sovereign could've been a stunner with tighter storytelling and deeper focus on Joe's tragedy. Still, it's worth a watch for its strong leads and chilling climax.