RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / The Order of Myths
The Order of Myths

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Showtimes & Tickets
  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Order of Myths (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
100 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:31

Fresh:31

Rotten:0

Average Rating:7.7/10

Consensus: More than a documentary about the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the south, Order of Myths encompasses the eccentric characters of Mobile and the still-lingering racial tensions that surround them.

Rated: Not Rated

Genre: Education/General Interest

Theatrical Release:Jul 25, 2008 Limited

Synopsis: As winter turns to spring, Mobile, Alabama, buzzes and flutters with the floats, parades, masquerade balls, and secret mystic societies of Mardi Gras. The oldest Mardi Gras celebration in America,... As winter turns to spring, Mobile, Alabama, buzzes and flutters with the floats, parades, masquerade balls, and secret mystic societies of Mardi Gras. The oldest Mardi Gras celebration in America, this time-honored ritual has always been racially segregated. Filmmaker Margaret Brown, herself a daughter of Mobile, escorts us into the parallel hearts of the city's two carnivals to explore the complex contours of this hallowed tradition and the elusive forces that keep it organized along color lines.

Taking a wonderfully restrained, observational approach that allows viewers to draw their own conclusions, Brown unveils the vibrant pageantry under way as ornate masks are donned, luminous gowns fitted, bejeweled trains painstakingly stitched, and the king and queen of each royal court trotted out at public appearances, parties, and coronations--within their distinct black and white realms, that is. Playfulness, reverence, and camaraderie suffuse the spectacles, generating genuine mirth and dignity in each community. Yet stories of a lynching as recent as 1981, and of the white Mardi Gras queen’s slave-trading ancestors, as well as subtle interracial social codes, cast a shadow on the proud Mobile heritage the white residents invoke. Do the recent formation of a racially integrated secret society and the attendance by this past year’s black Mardi Gras monarchs at the white folks’ ball augur cracks in a mysteriously enduring social order? --© Sundance Film Festival
[More]

Director: Margaret Brown

Director: Margaret Brown
Screenwriter: Margaret Brown
Studio: Cinema Guild

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "SAVE" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Order of Myths

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Mobile and its still-segregated Mardi Gras tradition seem to be world unto themselves, presented without reference to the wider world's pressing issues--the failing economy, environmental concerns, war in Iraq. The documentary's impressive compilation of

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
04/03/09
Jennifer Merin
Jennifer Merin
About.com

Reveals ceremonies that are exotic, unexpected, colorful and incredibly ritualized, layered with vast amounts of denial, submerged agendas and hypocrisy.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
02/11/09
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Separate but equal is alive and well in America; see how it works at Mardi Gras in Mobile

Full Review Source: Movie Habit | comment Comment
01/20/09
Marty Mapes
Marty Mapes
Movie Habit

A good time is had by all even in light of public displays of racial segregation in the Mobile, Alabama's Mardi Gras celebration.

Full Review Source: Monsters and Critics | comment Comment
01/19/09
Ron Wilkinson
Ron Wilkinson
Monsters and Critics

An informative behind-the-scenes look at America's oldest Mardi Gras.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
12/05/08
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

[An] affectingly insightful and well-informed documentary. Myths taps into a special kind of Southern tradition%u2014with underlying racial overtones as a societal hovering factor.

Full Review Source: Movie Eye | comment Comment
12/04/08
Frank Ochieng
Frank Ochieng
Movie Eye

A revealing anthropological portrait and reminder of American places where young people grow up surrounded by tradition, both positive and negative, and stay to carry it on.

Full Review Source: Film-Forward.com | comment Comment
12/03/08
Nora Lee Mandel
Nora Lee Mandel
Film-Forward.com

A well-constructed documentary about a surprising remnant of segregation in the new South, The Order of Myths gracefully explores Mobile's Mardi Gras celebrations and profiles the young people playing at royalty at these ceremonies' hearts.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
11/07/08
Dan Kois
Dan Kois
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Trapped under the weight of hundreds of years of racial animosity and mistrust, with few clues as to how to work themselves free, the celebrants of the oldest Mardi Gras in the country take refuge in their traditions.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
10/24/08
Josh Rosenblatt
Josh Rosenblatt
Austin Chronicle

[A] beautifully restrained, intelligent documentary about how complicated race relations can be in the modern South.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
10/24/08
Stan Hall
Stan Hall
Oregonian

Entertaining and provocative.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
10/18/08
Noel Murray
Noel Murray
AV Club

An invaluable portrait of us-and-them America, a smart, generous, poignant, quietly disturbing movie about secrecy and hospitality.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
10/18/08
Robert Abele
Robert Abele
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Brown presents a complex, provocative view ...

Full Review Source: Los Angeles CityBeat | comment Comment
08/08/08
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
Los Angeles CityBeat

Less a vitriolic critique than a considerate, despairing depiction of the intractable sway exerted by long-held, unpleasant traditions.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
07/27/08
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Cinematical

On both sides of the Mobile Mardi Gras divide, people seem to be edging toward a desire for reconciliation, but there remain significant differences about what that might entail.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
07/25/08
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Ostensibly about Mobile, Alabama's annual Mardi Gras tradition, which dates back to 1703, Margaret Brown's documentary is actually an examination of the racial divide in a city that claims there is none.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
07/25/08
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The cast of characters trailed by the crew is a compelling batch.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
07/25/08
Matthew Nestel
Matthew Nestel
Boxoffice Magazine

Engrossing if discomfiting.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
07/25/08
David Noh
David Noh
Film Journal International

Wise and soberly affecting documentary about the separate but unequal Mardi Gras festivities that take place each year in Mobile, Ala.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
07/25/08
Manohla Dargis
Manohla Dargis
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This microcosmic look at race relations is a great reminder that, even in the year of Obama, we remain a nation divided between black and white.

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
07/24/08
David Fear
David Fear
Time Out New York
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Order of Myths

August 03, 2008: Trailer & Poster review Opens in new window
More...

See All

More Movies

Close
Coming Soon
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

More…

— The Twilight Saga: New… 11/20
— Planet 51 11/20
— The Blind Side 11/20
92% 92% Bad Lieutenant: Port o… 11/20
90% 90% Red Cliff 11/20
See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

60+ New Moon pics

60+ New Moon pics

You want Twilight images? We got 'em!

New Clips!

New Clips!

Explore The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus!

2012

2012

Major havoc in these new clips!

Salt trailer

Salt trailer

Angelina Jolie! Espionage! Check it out!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Can Avatar Make Money? Source: New York Times
58
  • Robert Pattinson Says Breaking Dawn Could Roll in Fall 2010 Source: Collider.com
16
  • Joe Johnston Talks The Wolfman Source: Ain't It Cool News
6
  • Jason Schwartzman Talks Scott Pilgrim Source: Collider.com
0
  • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
99
  • J.J. Abrams Producing Micronauts Movie? Source: Wall Street Journal
11
  • Peter Murphy Filming Twilight Saga: Eclipse Cameo Source: MTV
18
  • David Goyer Promises "Existential" Ghost Rider Sequel Source: MTV
164
  • Emmerich Plans 2012: The TV Series Source: Entertainment Weekly
21
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
42
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Total Recall: George Clooney's Best Movies
91
  • Critics Consensus: A Christmas Carol Dazzles But Disappoints
43
  • Ho-ho-horror! 10 Scary Christmas Movies
36
  • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
33
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Christmas Carol Tops, Precious Rocks
30
  • Friday Harvest: Prince of Persia, The Road, and more!
25
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
14
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
14
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
15
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
  • Emma Stone talks Zombieland - RT Interview
40
  • Michael Moore: The RT Interview
139
  • Andrea Arnold talks Fish Tank - RT Interview
4
  • Neill Blomkamp talks District 9 - RT Interview
51
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Order of Myths at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
Worst Movie Biopics
Worst Movie Biopics External Link

Moviefone brings us 9 failed attempts at biographical films.

Top Cameron Crowe Moments
Top Cameron Crowe Moments External Link

TIME reminisces on the 10 most iconic moments from the films of Cameron Crowe.

November Films
November Films External Link

BuzzSugar wants to know which movies coming out this month you're most looking forward to.

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

The AV Club takes a look back at Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.