Sovereign

Sovereign (2025) is the best movie of the year by far! Based on the real story of the 2010 Arkansas shooting, the directorial debut of Christian Swegal was strong and profound. The entire cast and crew are superb; and the movie left no stone unturned.

Sure, this movie might not be for everyone. It is heavy, heartbreaking, terrifying at times, and it will leave you in the inevitable state of doom. There are some hopeful things that happened in the movie, but as you continue to watch, deep inside you know that hopefulness is in borrowed time.

Nick Offerman set the bar, but Jacob Tremblay played it equally scene by scene. Nick disappeared in the role while Jacob, once again, gut punched the audience; and this time with an even more heart wrenching performance.

As usual with Jacob, he never overacts in his roles; he always performs the most believable way in the most exceptional way possible. His eyes speak louder in silent scenes, while his screams slam you with the right amount of pressure - indeed an amazing performance! Jacob makes you understand Joe's confusion, worry, and pain - and it sticks to you like a symbiote.

Sovereign (2025) is an even heavier movie compared to Room (2015). This is not taking anything away from Tremblay's 2015 breakout role; but as Joe, he set his new bar up high. Certified reviewers even dub Jacob Tremblay as the MVP of the Sovereign cast, and it's all the while praising each and every one as well.

It's not premature to say that Sovereign is Jacob Tremblay's best acting performance to date.

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.

My daughter and I are both attorneys who lecture on the "sovereign citizen" movement. We're also published in this area. This is about as close as you'll get to this one horrible case based on facts. Other sov cits are mostly down on their luck looking to content creators who hold seminars on line or in hotels as seen here. They are found in 11 countries and NONE OF THEIR METHODS HAVE EVER WORKED! No one ever got off at trial, got paid by their "secret trust", saved their house or car. You need a license, registration & insurance & no, you're not "traveling" in "the private". Don't get taken in by it.

A tense, absorbing character study that showcases Nick Offerman at his absolute best. Christian Swegal's debut feature, Sovereign, feels remarkably assured, smart, gripping, and full of striking little details that reward close attention. As an indie film, it makes the most of its modest scale to deliver a atmospheric experience that feels both personal and cinematic. Swegal leans into sharp writing, focused direction, and strong performances to build tension without relying on spectacle, proving that indie filmmaking, when done with this level of care and vision, can be just as impactful as big-budget thrillers. A confident, memorable thriller that lingers long after the credits roll.

Just watched Sovereign (2024) and found it to be a well-crafted tragedy. It's a haunting exploration of father/son dynamics, with Nick Offerman as a delusional, anti-government father grooming his teenage son for a future he doesn't want-but doesn't have much choice in. Inspired by true events, the film is a slow burn-there's action, but it takes its time building tension and developing its characters. It's melancholy, tense, and beautifully acted, with a supporting cast including Dennis Quaid, Nancy Travis, and Martha Plimpton-an interesting mix of talent that totally works. An impressive directorial debut from Christian Swegal.