Photo via IMDB
By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Having three professional talents headline the cast help make an already well-written script look that much better. “The Order” is a crime thriller that is based on a true story from the 1980s in the Pacific Northwest. This is a well-crafted film that takes a page out of “Heat’s” playbook to provide nail biting suspense while developing both the protagonist and antagonist characters.
When decorated FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) moved to a sleepy suburban town in the Northwest, it was to finally slow down until retirement. The job was not done with him, however, as a series of bank robberies and car heists disrupts the relative peace, putting him right in the middle of the investigation. Teaming up with a local officer named Jamie Bowen (Tye Sheridan), they discover they’re dealing with something far more terrifying than simple bank robbers. They’re dealing with a white supremacist group with domestic terrorism goals.
Led by the very charismatic Bob Mathews (Nicholas Hoult), the group has been successful in keeping their identities hidden, narrowly avoiding apprehension time and time again. Staying one step ahead of law enforcement, Bob rallies more followers to his cause, making his dreams all that more attainable. It will be up to Husk’s and Bowen’s dogged determination to stop this hate group before they succeed with their horrific plans.
The mostly youthful cast is anchored by the veteran presence of Jude Law. This two-time Oscar nominated English actor (“The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Cold Mountain”) is a consummate professional with the rare ability to play a wide range of roles. He provides so much depth to his character as an aging FBI agent whose marriage to his job makes it difficult for anybody to get close. He gives subtle hints to his fallibilities like his penchant for drinking, his self-loathing as a bad husband and father, or his deteriorating medical condition. His three-dimensional performance helps elevate the performances of his two co-stars.
At 28 years of age, Tye Sheridan (“Ready Player One”) is still young with a lot of potential. He supplies a more impassioned performance as the youthful cop who is smart enough to be an excellent detective, but with a naivete when it comes to the danger in which he’s inserted himself. This is an actor to watch.
Nicholas Hoult may have a few more years of experience under his belt compared to Tye, but this is another actor who continues to improve at his craft with each passing year. The English star of last year’s “Renfield” has proven he can act in a variety of roles across all genres, and this latest role proves he can excel as the main antagonist. His charismatic intensity is a treat to watch and makes it all the more credible when other characters follow his lead. The religious devoutness and deceiving look of innocence he portrays only makes his character more sinister. Look for him to have a major role in “Nosferatu” later this month, and next year he will be Lex Luthor in the new “Superman” movie.
While director Justin Kurzel may have failed with the adaptation of “Assassin’s Creed” in 2016, he succeeds in creating a solid true crime thriller with “The Order.” He stylizes the film in a similar way to 1995’s “Heat” in that he builds emotional attachments to characters on both opposing sides. This allows the audience to feel that building tension between the characters that culminates in an explosive climax. Coupled with excellent pacing, Kurzel fashions an entertaining and riveting film of this true story. He slowly teases out nuggets of information that allude to the motivation behind the crimes, keeping viewers invested from start to finish. The cinematography may not be the fanciest, but it gets the job done, and Kurzel ensured a high attention to detail to capture the look and feel of the early 1980s.
Overall, “The Order” is composed of compelling ingredients like intrigue, excitement, and suspense, making this a delectable film worthy of a trip to the theater. With the many films being released this month, don’t fall asleep on this one. The acting alone from the three stars is reason enough to experience this on the big screen.
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