As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for historical thrillers and a soft spot for gritty realism, I can wholeheartedly say that “The Order” is a cinematic gem that should not be missed. This film, directed by the maestro of on-screen violence, Justin Kurzel, takes us back to the 80s, showcasing the chilling true story of a neo-Nazi gang terrorizing the Pacific Northwest.
If you’re concerned about the rise of heavily armed white supremacist groups potentially becoming a threat to America, I recommend watching “The Order“, an intense, expertly crafted historical thriller. It portrays a neo-Nazi group that terrorized the Pacific Northwest around four decades ago, carrying out bank robberies and armored car heists to finance their plans for a full-scale uprising.
A gripping tale from beginning to end, the gritty and powerful true story directed by Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel centers around FBI agent Jude Law, who relentlessly pursues the film’s namesake group. Spanning multiple years, he chases them from one robbery and murder to another. The stellar cast, comprising Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, and Jurnee Smollett, brings this tense portrayal of American violence to life. Unfortunately, such introspective examinations of violence are seldom seen on the big screen in Hollywood these days. Following its premiere in Venice’s main competition, we hope it finds an audience in the U.S., with Law’s commanding performance as a key selling point.
Known for his ability to portray real-world violence effectively, filmmaker Kurzel has a history of tackling such themes in his work. His debut film, “The Snowtown Murders“, released in 2011, was a chilling account of a notorious Australian serial killer. Similarly, his 2021 drama, “Nitram“, which won at Cannes, focused on the events preceding a tragic massacre that took place in Tasmania in 1996. Even Kurzel’s adaptation of “Macbeth” in 2015, though criticized, was rich with more violence than typical Shakespearean adaptations.
He was thus the perfect candidate to direct this violent and true American crime story, which screenwriter Zach Baylin (King Richard) adapted from Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt’s 1989 nonfiction book, The Silent Brotherhood. Sticking to events as much as possible while revisiting The Order’s crime spree throughout the early 1980s, the impressively detailed script also sketches out a trio of compelling main characters.
On the legal front, we have Terry Husk (a lawyer), a relentless but somewhat exhausted government agent, who has previously confronted both the KKK and the Cosa Nostra. He enters an abandoned FBI office with only his courage and intuition, picking up whispers of a secretive gang that’s been robbing banks and planting bombs across the state of Washington. Husk eventually teams up with Jamie Bowen (Sheridan), a local police officer who has some ties to this criminal group; in the movie’s opening scene, they lose contact with one of their mutual friends from childhood.
Kurzel alternates perspectives between the law enforcement officers as they learn to collaborate, and Bob Matthews (Hoult), the captivating leader of a radical right group, who sets out to establish a formidable armed brotherhood in the northwestern wilderness. Essentially, “The Order” follows two intertwined narratives, each focusing on men who are deeply dedicated to their cause, ready to sacrifice their lives for it, and potentially jeopardizing their own families in the process.
In the movie, there are multiple instances where Husk and Matthews seem to mirror each other, such as during a hunting scene where Law’s character is targeted by Hoult’s rifle scope. At this point, he doesn’t recognize Matthews or know about The Order’s plans. One of the film’s strengths lies in its realistic portrayal of investigations, showing that progress can be slow and sometimes interrupted, with Matthews and his group managing to stay one step ahead of Husk for most of the film.
The manhunt includes several action-packed scenes skillfully directed by Kurzel, characterized by tension. One of these scenes involves a coordinated bombing and heist attempt that Husk attempts to prevent, but the less seasoned Bowen unintentionally complicates matters. Another scene unfolds on a mountain road where an armored car is ambushed; this serene landscape is abruptly disrupted by unexpected gunfire blasts that will leave you startled.
Few contemporary directors can create violent scenes with the authenticity and impact that Kurzel does in this film. Remarkably, the gunfire in “The Order” is not senseless but rather serves to illustrate a particular interpretation of American history – one shaped by the white rebellion myths from the 1978 neo-Nazi novel “The Turner Diaries.” These ideas prove crucial to the investigation, and they are further reinforced by the sermons of Richard Butler (Victor Slezak) and his Aryan Nations extremist Christian group.
As I delved deeper into Matthews’ The Order, it became clear that this group was an exceptionally brutal offshoot of what I already knew. Eventually, the third act pits these two men against each other in a showdown that eerily foreshadows the FBI’s siege on Waco, Texas, which would transpire nearly a decade later. Despite the predictable trajectory by this stage, the stark reminder that these events unfolded in America not so long ago, with accurate dates and locations displayed on screen, adds a haunting and significant depth to the action.
In one of his more notable recent roles, Laws skillfully portrays Husk’s worn-out, compulsive nature with a good deal of charming resilience. The polished British charm and radiant smile are absent here, replaced instead by a rugged, mustachioed federal agent who seems to be nearing the end of his best years – hinted at by a prominent scar on his chest from open heart surgery.
1. Sheridan gives the movie its emotional core by portraying a cop who transitions into being a villain for the sake of justice, putting his family’s peace at risk in order to bring down Matthews and his criminal group. Smollett delivers a solid performance as an FBI agent supporting Husk but criticizing his lack of cooperation. Moreover, Hoult effectively plays the fearless and impulsive leader of The Order, orchestrating daring heists to finance what he considers the only truly important cause.
As I’ve been immersed in this gripping film, I can’t help but notice the eerie parallels between its plot and recent events unfolding in the U.S., especially since the 2016 presidential election. The meticulous recreations of ’80s Washington by DP Adam Arkapaw and production designer Karen Murphy are nothing short of stunning, yet there are instances when I find myself questioning whether the story is set then or now.
In simpler terms, the series “The Order” revolves around Marc Maron portraying Alan Berg, a Jewish talk show host who was tragically murdered in 1983 by a follower of one of Matthew’s extremist followers. Berg’s stance against the rising far-right ideologies proved to be his downfall. This drama leaves us pondering about our own positions in today’s society, which remains deeply divided and heavily armed, 40 years after the events depicted.
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2024-08-31 22:55