The Order (2024), directed by Justin Kurzel, stars Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, Marc Maron, George Tchortov, Sebastian Pigott, Phillip Forest Lewitski, Odessa Young, Philip Granger, Morgan Holmstrom, Alison Oliver, Bradley Stryker, Geena Meszaros, and Matias Lucas. The film follows Terry Husk (Law), a veteran FBI agent who’s sent to the Pacific Northwest to investigate a series of violent crimes possibly linked to a splinter group of local white supremacists led by the charismatic Bob Matthews (Hoult). With the help of Joanne (Smollett), his former partner, and Jamie (Sheridan), a young local deputy, Terry stops at nothing to catch Matthews even if it’s at the expense of his mental/physical well-being.  

Although the characters are ones we’ve seen countless times before, the performances themselves are nicely executed. Jude Law is surprisingly authentic as the hard-boiled, alcoholic detective archetype, proving he’s one of Hollywood’s most underrated lead actors. Nicholas Hoult as the villain is a casting that initially made me scratch my head, but after only a few scenes, it was clear why he got the role. The character is written to be a less cartoonishly evil neo-nazi than we usually see in this kind of film so Hoult’s natural sweetness allows him to come across as more recognizably human despite his terrible actions. Tye Sheridan is well-cast as the story’s rookie cop, probably the easiest character for the audience to root for, and Jurnee Smollett’s intensity surprises as a veteran female agent. These stock characters ultimately work for two reasons: they’re well-portrayed and the script takes the time to flesh out various aspects of their lives. 

Smollett plays the only notable character of color in a film featuring white supremacist villains, and although the script doesn’t focus too much on this relationship, it does just enough to feel touched upon. Explorations of racial tension are extremely common in today’s day and age, so it’s oddly refreshing that this is more of a character-focused experience as opposed to something that attempts to force-feed the viewer relevant yet unoriginal social commentary. 

The film is essentially the kind of Heat (1995)-style crime movie we’ve seen countless times before, but it’s one of the better examples. Justin Kurzel directs with a sure hand that results in striking yet grounded visuals, intense chases/shootouts, and emotionally effective performances. You may be able to guess where things are going, but it doesn’t change how entertaining it ultimately is. It’s unoriginal, but pretty much everything about it works. It really is a throwback that’s a breath of fresh air for fans of the crime genre. It also knows its place – telling a good story that entertains and little else. 

Overall, this a movie that delivers on its genre promise. It’s well-made and entertaining even if it doesn’t do anything particularly new. If the trailer interests you even slightly, give the movie a shot. The best part, however, is Jude Law’s uncommonly unhinged lead performance. B+