Displaying a sturdy professionalism throughout that stops just short of artistry, director Gary Ross, who co-scripted with Collins and Billy Ray, does his strongest work in the early scenes, which set up the stakes with chilling efficiency.

The yahooism he had always despised was suddenly yoked to an ideology he viewed as reckless.

I acknowledge yes to Craig, and he broke squelch twice. It was my turn to pull point. I moved slowly and quietly down the path toward the company.

also the bit about saying others 'need not apply' is a tick taken straight out of redneckian history.... asshole white people who discriminated against any and all who threatened their stranglehold on the country, including other whites who didn't agree with them.