Displaying items by tag: Jude Law

THE ORDER

US, 2024, 116 minutes, Colour.

Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tyler Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, Walter Slezak, Odessa Young Alison Oliver.

Directed by Justin Kurzel.

The events in this investigative thriller took place in the 1980s. But, a film about extreme right-wing groups in the United States in the 2020s will immediately alert audiences to the attack on the American capital, January 6th, 2021. And, in fact, at the end of the film, the link is made.

The name, The Order is taken from the 1977 novel by William L.Pierce, the Turner Diaries, seemingly intended for younger readers but something of a manual for an uprising against the state, and how it is achieved in stages. This book features in the film highlighting its influence. Already, in 1988, there was a film about these events, Betrayed, directed by Costa Gavras and featuring Tom Berenger and Debra Winger. Early in 1989, the book on which this film is based was published. Its title, The Silent Brotherhood: Inside an American Racist Conspiracy, by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt. Kevin Flynn is noted in the credit as a consultant for the film.

The film has been directed by Justin Kurzel, well noted for his crime dramas and his skill in portraying mentally and emotionally disturbed men – especially in Australia, The Snow Twown, The True Story of the Kelly Gang, Nitram (and not forgetting his Macbeth).

The framework of this story is the investigation by FBI agent, Terry Husk, a fine role for Jude Law, one of his best (his role before this one as the ageing Henry VIII in The Firebrand). He works in collaboration with an earnest young deputy, Jamie Bowen, played by Tye  Sheridan, and a local agent played by Jurnee Smollett. The setting is Washington State – so much of the scenery, the mountains, filmed beautifully as background.

At the centre of the brotherhood is a young enthusiast, all-American, Bob Matthews. This is a very interesting and different performance by Nicholas Hoult who resembles closely the photos of Matthews himself, at times baby faced, an innocent despite the prejudices and violence he is spouting (scenes of his intensity in close-up looking like Nicholas Hoult more than 20 years earlier as a boy in About the Boy). The actual Bob Matthews, we find there is a strong resemblance between him and Nicholas Hoult.

Terry Husk has his own personal problems, his long career, sometimes an intense recklessness in pursuing the criminals. Matthews has the support of his wife, of his pregnant girlfriend, of a lot of the Proud Boy types of the 1980s, moving to bank robberies, explosions to distract from the robberies, a Bricks job on the highway, building up his coffers to start a militia. The screenplay also emphasises the biblical underlining of this Brotherhood, the transfer of promised land to the Jews (to be taken away from them), to the white Americans who see themselves as God’s chosen people, ready to rise up against any immoral society and a two-permitting government.

The pace is strong. The characterisation powerful. The issue is more than challenging. And, while it is a reminder of movements in the past, The Unibomber, bombings in Oklahoma, Waco… It is a sober alert to movements, beliefs, conspiracy theories in Trump’s America.

1. The title, the reference to the book, The Turner Diaries, the manual for insurrections and the group called The Order?
2. The film based on fact, the 1980s, the book basis for the film, The Silent Brotherhood? The popularity of white supremacist groups at this time? The Reagan era? The social standing of members of the group, white groups, the biblical basis, church preachers, neo-Nazi attitudes, the active leaders and insurrection, turning to crime to finance militias?
3. The settings, Idaho, Washington state, the beauty of the mountain scenery? The city sequences, the streets, banks, porn cinema and explosions, homes, the church, the highways and robberies?
4. The focus Terry Husk, Jude Law’s performance, FBI background, moving to Idaho, the phone call and the separation from his wife and daughters, his long experience, long friendship with Joanne Carney, working with her, her authority and jurisdiction, tested by Husk and his taking initiatives? The work together, investigations?
5. The focus on the group, Richard Butler, as a church minister, his ideology, preaching, the Bible, white supremacist presuppositions about the land, anti-Semitic, swastikas and neo-Nazi attitudes? His meetings with Bob Matthews, the threats, Matthew standing up to him at the gathering, his withdrawing?
6. Bob Matthews, his background, age, manner, relationship with his wife, relationship with his girlfriend, her pregnancy? His friends, their thug background? Interviewing the Mexican who pretended he was Spanish for racial supremacy? His hold over the men, his leadership? Later, the arrest and Husk interviewing and getting information?
7. The decision to rob banks, the money, for themselves, but for funding a militias? The sequence of the robbing of the bank, intimidation, the driver and the getaway, his gun on the policeman outside, their exhilaration? Matthews and his wife and his girlfriend? The planting of the bomb in the cinema, a distraction, the robbery of the van? The bigger plans, the Brinks van, on the highway, the hold-up, cars on the highway, the chain across the road, their effectiveness, the dangers, guns and shooting, escape?
8. The local police, the chief, rather more easy-going, Jamie Bowen, his earnestness, relationship with his wife, children? Giving information to Husk? Husk relying on him, going to the motel, the stakeout, the gun, Jamie freezing, Husk and his reaction? His change, becoming more involved, going into action? Husk and the interview with his wife and her fear of him? The confrontation, the shootout, the chase, Jamie shot, his death? The funeral, Husk, Jamie’s wife?
9. The focus on Bob Matthews, his personality, relationships, his plans, his wife, unable to have children, the young girlfriend and the birth of the child, the money for them? Husk and his interview, getting information, the location for hide out?
10. The impact of the church gathering, Butler speaking, Matthews intervening, powerful speech, bigotry?
11. The hideout, the thugs, guard, the FBI attacked, the siege, the shooting? The fire, Bob Matthews staying, Husk going into the building, withdrawing, the collapse of the building, Matthews’ death?
12. Husk and his achievement, Joanne Carney and her work, the regrets for the death of Jamie Bowen? The atmosphere of uprisings in the 1980s?
13. The final information, the references to January 6th, the siege of the Capitol, The Proud Boys and other groups, imprisonment, President Trump pardoning them – and the future during the second Trump presidency?

FIREBRAND

UK, 2023, 121 minutes, Colour.

Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Simon Russell Beale, Eddie Marsan, Sam Riley, Erin Doherty, Junia Rees, Patsy Ferran.

Directed by Karim Ainouz.

There is always something interesting and arresting in any story about Henry VIII. And, this is the case here, Henry VIII at the end of his life, returning from battles, throwing his (heavy) weight around, acting on whims, up and down relationship with his wife, Katherine Parr, and caught up in political machinations, especially with the Seymours, the brothers of his late wife, Jane Seymour, uncles of his heir, the boy to be Edward VI. And, there are ecclesiastical intrigues, strong-minded promoters of Protestant theology, ambiguous Catholic prelates like Stephen Gardiner, and, especially the death of Henry VIII.

While this film is supposed to be a history of Katherine Parr, it is a fiction based on a successful series of novels by Elizabeth Fremantle. At this point, it is worth recommending another series of novels, those of the barrister, Matthew Shardlake, long but engrossing books by C.J.Sansom bringing this period vividly to life.

There is a difficulty with the title here, Firebrand. This is not exactly firebrand storytelling. There are some sparks but, rather, this is a somewhat dark and claustrophobic story, mainly confined within the palace. Nevertheless, it reminds us that Katherine Parr was a strong woman even if in the various stories of Henry VIII, she comes at the end of his succession of six wives. And she survived him (though, with a touch of fiction, Henry VIII in this film does not survive her.)

Katherine Parr is played by Alicia Vikander, an intelligent woman, a writer, collector of prayers, committed to the Protestant cause, in contact with a strong female evangelist who experiences the ire of the King. Katherine has served as regent while Henry has been away at the wars. She has been successful, also a strong stepmother young Elizabeth and the young Edward. At this stage, Mary, with her fiery Spanish background from her mother, Katherine of Aragon, is a young adult at the court.

But, while the film shows Katherine as strong, the performance is not quite as attention commanding as intended. Jude Law is pompous, vulgar, festering leg injury, callous in terms of his lustful roving eye, a monarch of whims, Law certainly holding audience attention. As does Simon Russell Beale as Stephen Gardner, reminding audiences of the complexities of the break from Rome, of the role of the Catholics, of the role of the emerging Church of England. Gardiner machinations, intrigues, has the ear of the king, is hostile to Katherine Parr, the scenes of the film concerning him the most active.

While Katherine Parr survived and married Thomas Seymour, the last part of the film highlights the Tudor history to come in drawing attention to the young Elizabeth, her character, her emerging self-assertion.

Firebrand does not stand out amongst the film is about Henry VIII but, the subject matter is always interesting and intriguing.

1. The title? As applied to Katherine Parr, the historical role, author, promoter of the Protestant cause, relationship with the Seymours, the last wife of Henry VIII? Not so much of a firebrand in this version?
2. Elizabeth Fremantle and her Tudor novels? Adapted, historical interpretations, inventions, the film’s screenplay and further interventions and interpretations?
3. The period, the last year of Henry VIII’s life? His return from the wars? His reputation, Katherine of Aragon and the divorce, the clash with Rome, wanting the male heir, execution of Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth, Jane Seymour and her death, Prince Edward? The marriage to Katherine Parr, her being Regent during his absence, stepmother to his children?
4. The portrait of Katherine Parr, her age, her past, marriages and widow, relationship with the Seymours, the political implications? Her concern about her books, her prayers and compositions, publishing? Her skills, as Regent, the relationship with Elizabeth, good stepmother? The marriage to Henry VIII, a loving relationship, tolerating the relationship, personal, sexual, political? His ability to turn against those closest to him? The execution of two of his previous wives?
5. Katherine Parr, the connection with Anne Askew, the scenes with Anne Askew, her preaching, her beliefs, the Bible, strong Protestantism? Katherine Parr’s support? The gift of the heirloom and its later been used against her?
6. Jude Law’s interpretation of Henry VIII, big, ageing, jovial, hedonistic, whims, narcissistic, back from the war, his past, his children, his hold over them, trusting Katherine Parr, his relationship with her, his vigorous and violent sexuality? Food? His health, the infection on his leg, the doctors treating him, in close-up? The sores, the smell?
7. The King’s behaviour, his whims, erratic, the banquet, his eyeing of the young woman and interviewing her, getting her to sing, all in the presence of his wife? The expectations of the time for the king and women? His relationship with the Seymours? His relationship with Stephen Gardiner, Gardiner’s advice, machinations, against Anne Askew, against the Queen?
8. The Seymours, Katherine’s relationship with Thomas, the planning of Edward, the era of the king, the king suspicions about Thomas, the accession of Prince Edward, Edward and advising Thomas to betray Katherine for their political safety?
9. Stephen Gardiner, Catholic background, in the service of Henry VIII, the fluidity of Catholic prelates and Protestant prelates, the absence of Thomas Cranmer from this film, Gardiner, Catholic attitudes, against Anne Askew, interrogating the Queen, his visits, interviews, his political and religious names?
10. The portrait of Mary, speaking Spanish, memories of her mother, her age, attitude towards Elizabeth, in the presence of the king, the banquets, her relationship to Katherine?
11. The portrait of Elizabeth, strong minded, her age, coping in the court, her attitude towards her father, the memories of her mother’s death? Reliance on Katherine Parr?
12. Prince Edward, his age, heir to the throne, the Seymour’s? His role in the court, his father’s attitude?
13. Katherine Parr, the pregnancy, and invention for this story, the experience of the pregnancy, the king’s reaction, the miscarriage, the blood, the consequences?
14. Katherine, the arrest, in prison, the release, her going to visit Henry, invented aspect of her responsibility for his death? Fiction?
15. The enclosed nature of this story, within the walls of the Castle, some views of the building from outside, but the claustrophobic effect? And in the confines of this Tudor world?