THE ORDER
Starring: Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, and Marc Maron
Director: Justin Kurzel
NICK
The Order is a feature that works because it checks all the filmmaking boxes. Nothing is flashy, it’s all just really solid. From the simple-yet-affecting score to the airtight performances, there is a real lived-in quality to this film. The action sequences are deliberate (though a little too limited), while the actions and motivations of “The Order” feel quite timely in our current climate. It’s not a horror film, but the implications of the events are quite terrifying, which only adds to the authenticity of everything. The Order is a no-nonsense police procedural, and it’s among the better ones we’ve seen in quite some time.
ADRIANO
I fell so hard for The Order. It wraps itself up a little too quickly, and I was a bit unsatisfied with how it concluded some storylines, but, almost from the jump, I was firmly enthralled with director Justin Kurzel's filmmaking approach to this police procedural and analysis of extreme white supremacy. On top of that, Nicholas Hoult is amazing, while Jude Law gives probably one of my favourite performances of his. Everything here is simply done well. The writing is precise, I loved the cinematography and sound work, and the tone is perfect. The Order is just a great movie.
QUENTIN
Simply put, The Order is good, old-fashioned filmmaking for grown-ups, with no gimmicks, no frills, and no egregious attempts to overdo it. At its core is a compellingly intense true story that plays like a mix of Hell or High Water and BlacKkKlansman, all of which is driven by terrific (but not necessarily awards-worthy) performances from Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult. That said, while I could nitpick a few undercooked narrative choices, when the end result is something this riveting (not to mention beautiful to look at because the cinematography and landscapes are top shelf), it’s easier to just give yourself over to it.
AMARÚ
The Order is a hard-hitting crime film with solid performances from Nicholas Hoult, Jurnee Smollett, and Jude Law, but I’m not sure I’ll remember it in a couple days. The subject matter strikes a nerve, especially with current events, so I thought that I’d have some sort of visceral reaction in one way or another. But I got through it without any overly positive or negative feelings. The heist sequences are tense, but with plodding pacing between each; the direction is forceful, but the screenplay is a tonal whiplash. Overall, The Order has its inconsistencies, but delivers a pretty good watch nonetheless.
This film was reviewed by Nick, Adriano, and Quentin as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and 2024 Zurich Film Festival respectively.