The Order (Justin Kurzel, 2024, USA/UK/Canada)

Justin Kurzel follows up his excellent Nitram with another powerhouse film - The Order. The kind of film that simply doesn't get made anymore, The Order is a throwback to the muscular and gritty crime/action cinema of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It tells the true story of American law enforcement's battle with The Order, a neo-Nazi organization led by the charismatic Robert Jay Mathews (played by a bowl-cut-sporting Nicholas Hoult in the film). Jude Law plays FBI agent Terry Husk, who leads the charge against Mathews. Their cat-and-mouse dynamic provides the narrative momentum of the film.

Kurzel is no stranger to creating a palpable sense of tension, and here he succeeds tremendously. There are several bank heists and car chases here that rival many of Michael Mann's best scenes, not only for the palpable sense of tension but also for the feeling that the stakes are truly real for all participants involved. This is amplified by the phenomenal score from Kurzel's constant collaborator and brother Jed, which evokes an atmospheric and creepy vibe throughout. Adam Arkapaw's cinematography, capturing the Canadian Rockies (meant to stand in for the American Pacific Northwest) is magnificent. The environment surrounding the characters almost serves as an additional character in the film.

The Order is less concerned with ideology and more concerned with the battle between Hoult and Law. Hoult's youth and charisma contrast sharply with Law's world-weariness and age. The film's final cataclysm is a set piece that truly has to be experienced in a theater. Supporting roles in the film from Tye Sheridan as a local sheriff supporting Jude Law, and Jurnee Smollett as another FBI agent supporting Jude Law, are also great. The Order is a gritty, pulsing set piece that deserves to be experienced on the big screen. It proves Kurzel's role as one of the top filmmakers active today.

9/10