The Order (2024)

Solid Crime Thriller - The Order review by GI

This is a solid, violent, well directed crime thriller based on real events although at times it drifts into glib territory and has a climax that seems very contrived and perhaps a little daft. Jude Law plays a weary FBI agent. You'll recognise the type of character as one who has seen it all, has emotional/relationship problems and a history that has resulted in his posting as the lone agent in a small Idaho town in the early 1980s. He begins looking into a series of violent robberies and explosions suspecting that the culprits are not normal criminals but a band of ultra right wing white supremacists. They are led by Bob, a cold fanatic played by Nicholas Hoult, who has broken away from a mainstream group which he views as all talk/no action in order to build up to an insurrection. This overarching plot plays into the current issues in the USA and indeed there's a post credit reference to the 2006 Capitol Hill events. This film has some great set pieces including a bold highway armoured car robbery and a gripping chase sequence. Unfortunately there are some slip ups along the way including the final stand off that pushes the boundaries of credibility a little too far. Hoult is good here as the unsettlingly bland Bob as is Law as the agent hunting him. Attempts to draw emotional parallels between the characters is a mistake but can be forgiven. Tye Sheridan as a young cop recruited to help the FBI does solid work as he's caught up in the violence but the women characters are a little underused. Overall this is an entertaining crime thriller with a nice blend of story and action and it's well worth watching.