Jude Law in “The Order”: «We look to the past to understand today»

THEthe consummate FBI agent Terry Husk (played today by Jude Law), protagonist of The Order, he is a character somewhere between threatening and disturbedof those who drink relentlessly, are often drunk, but still preserve a watchful and sharp eye like Sherlock Holmes in solving the most complex cases. Partly out of bitterness, partly out of desperation, Husk lives only like a dog: in short, he is one of those detectives who are the joy of crime story readers, noir lovers and old thrillers from the 70s and 80s.

The Order it is the story of tragic events that actually happened about forty years ago: Terry Husk is on the hunt for the charismatic leader (played by an impeccable Nicholas Houltnow on the big screen in Juror number 2 by Clint Eastwood), of a group of white supermatists (The Order in question) who in the early 1980s robbed banks and even murdered radio host Alan Berg. A story that has, at the same time, a bitter taste of déjà vu and a tragically current resonance. In fact, this is how the British actor sees it: «It seemed like a story worth telling, with a global impact. Having read the script, it wasn’t even conceivable that I could say no. In fact, I also wanted to be the producer.”

Jude Law, between cinema and TV

Two Oscar nominations, Law has worked with highly prestigious directors and has a string of cult films behind him: from The talent of Mr. Ripley in Gattaca, AI-Artificial Intelligence, Return to Cold Mountain, Grand Budapest Hotel by Wes Anderson, as well as blockbusters such as Fantastic animals And Captain Marvel. With the role of Pope Pius XIII in The Young Pope And The New Pope by Paolo Sorrentino then also won over the television audience. Now he returns to the small screen with the space saga Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (broadcast on Disney+), defined by the Guardian as “great fun”, and in a few months it will be the turn of his new miniseries for Netflix, Black Rabbit (he is, once again, the executive producer).

«Maybe I no longer have the enthusiasm of my 20s, but on the other hand I have greater experience, and, moreover, I am able to decide what I want or don’t want to do.” Terry Husk arrived at the right time. Law has the scruffy look of an ordinary man, an image light years away from the one he projected on the screen, in life, and on the pages of the tabloids for almost 30 years: handsome and sly, irresistible heartthrob, even “the sexiest man in the world” according to the millions of readers of People Magazine.

For the actor that image had become a sort of curse: he, who had cut his teeth on the stage in London, wanted to shake it off once and for all. Today, at almost 52 years old, with Agent Husk, the star of Ripley questions, even subverts that image, while pushing us to reflect on the pressing social and racial tensions of our moment. Also long gone are the years of the paparazzi who relentlessly besieged him, and the editors of glossy magazines who chased him everywhere: divorce from wife Sadie Frost – they were a supercool couple – became, not only in England, an event of national importance; not to mention the stormy relationship with the actress Sienna Miller.

Today, father of seven children, Jude Law says he is happy and finally satisfied with Philippa Coan, his psychologist wife, whom he met shortly before filming The Young Pope. A loose, cream-colored ribbed knit cardigan over a white t-shirt, short hair artfully tousled over a broad forehead, Law smiles about his latest project – and his role – with evident enthusiasm. In Hollywood there are already those whispering his name for the Oscar season.

In Venice with The Order

The Order it is a project that is particularly close to her heart. Is it because of the story it tells? Or were you attracted to the idea of ​​playing an FBI agent?
Once I read the script, I immediately understood the potential the film had. Not only because the story is in the tradition of a cinematographic genre that I love very much, but for its warning about certain contemporary events. Director Justin Kurzel then insisted on the physical and emotional weight of the character Husk, his shattered marriage, the need to consume a lot of alcohol and cigarettes, in short to burn himself. I remember that we talked with the director about his profound exhaustion, and I liked the idea that the audience had to doubt that, in this condition, he could do it. Will he ever succeed?, I wondered too. Husk’s body is broken, he has heart problems, a stent for which he also takes other pills… You see, all these elements gradually accumulated to describe the character. And so, gradually his story gripped me.

The investigative book The Silent Brotherhood. Inside Americas Racist Undergroundby Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt, on which the film is based, was released in 1989, and recounts events from at least 40 years ago. Do you still find it current to talk about white supremacism today?
I believe it is very important and I also believe it is the task of every storyteller not only to entertain but also to stimulate discussion, and make people reflect on human behavior. In my opinion the best way to do this is to look at our past to understand what is happening today. Justin is excellent at storytelling, he sees people with a sincere and honest eye, deconstructs their behavior, and subtly describes the community around him. I am convinced that all this allows us to reflect on how and why we arrived at today’s social and political situation.

Since our last meeting in Venice for the promotion of The Young Popeyou shot one film after another, produced several projects, worked in television series and miniseries. Do you still feel the same enthusiasm as when you took your first steps in this industry?
It’s been an interesting journey, today I have more control over the acting process, I know how to get in and out of my side, and it’s very rewarding. The production company I set up also allows me to have control over the roles, which I can now choose. You always have a slight sense of helplessness as an actor, because you wait to be hired by someone who chooses you, and also decides for which role. Now it’s the opposite: I can create my own work and offer possibilities to others. This is certainly the most radical change, because then, to be honest, you cannot have total dedication for 30 years in a row: there are moments of great excitement alternating with others in which you think you have lost all ability/ability and motivation, then suddenly the enthusiasm returns. (smiles).

Do you think about returning to the stage every now and then, right where your journey began?
Absolutely yes, the last time was eight years ago when I acted in a play based on Visconti’s Ossessione and since then I have continued to think about wanting to return to acting in the theatre. At the moment, however, I have endless projects for my company, and I enjoy immensely collaborating with writers and directors, developing new ideas. No, I don’t think it will be possible for me to return to the stage anytime soon, but it will certainly be something I will do throughout my life (wink, again). In my future I see that I will spend time doing theatre: there are several classic roles that attract me, and wonderful directors I would like to work with. Not to mention the fact that I feel at home in the theater.

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