As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the digital world, I must say that watching Jude Law in “The Order” is like stepping out of a high-stakes first-person shooter game and right into the heart of a gritty, real-life thriller. The British actor has truly come a long way since his days as the pretty-boy charm of films like “The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Following its debut at the Venice Film Festival on August 31st, Australian director Justin Kurzel’s movie “The Order” made its way to the Toronto International Film Festival this week. Similar to its reception across the Atlantic, the film, adapted by Oscar nominee Zach Baylin from Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt’s 1989 book “The Silent Brotherhood,” about the FBI’s chase of a domestic terror group in the ’80s, was generally well-received by both critics and viewers. In terms of awards season potential, it stands out particularly in one area: the lead acting role, performed by Jude Law.
The British actor you once knew from his award-nominated roles in “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999) and “Cold Mountain” (2003), directed by Anthony Minghella, is no longer the youthful heartthrob he was decades ago. At 51 years old, he has faced numerous personal and professional challenges, which are evident on his face, but surprisingly, these hardships have refined his acting skills. A year ago at Cannes, we glimpsed this transformation in “Firebrand,” where he portrayed an indelible Henry VIII. Currently, film festival audiences at TIFF are witnessing this evolution in two films, “Eden” by Ron Howard, which is yet to secure U.S. distribution, and “The Order,” set for limited release on Dec. 6 by Vertical Entertainment.
In “The Order”, the character Law assumes the role of Terry Husk, a seasoned FBI agent who’s burdened by his past investigations – much like Gene Hackman in films such as “The French Connection”, “The Conversation”, and “Mississippi Burning”. Seeking solace in Idaho with its tranquil lifestyle, he finds himself unwillingly drawn back into the fray when he uncovers a string of crimes in the Pacific Northwest. Upon closer inspection, he discerns that these crimes are all interconnected, leading him to an offshoot of the Neo-Nazi white supremacist group, Aryan Nations – known as The Order. This secretive organization is led by a charismatic and dangerous young racist named Bob Mathews, skillfully portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, triggering a game of cat-and-mouse between Husk and Mathews that leaves a trail of violence and bloodshed in its wake.
Despite being released in 1983, this movie remains strikingly contemporary. It’s important to note that the themes explored in the film, which were also central to Mathews and The Order, stem from the same source material as they do – William Luther Pierce’s 1978 book, The Turner Diaries. Regrettably, this same literature has been instrumental in radicalizing individuals who carried out attacks on a federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995, took part in the U.S. Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, and are still planning further actions today.
The movie appears to be quite grim and unsettling, given the current state of reality, which might make its success at the box office challenging. However, if the voting body for awards can be persuaded to watch it (maybe Vertical Entertainment could market it as a full-length equivalent of True Detective, since it shares some similarities), I believe they will find Law’s performance highly commendable.
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2024-09-11 03:24