Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, we’re counting down our favorite movies starring Jude Law, who plays the titular Dumbledore! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
Steven Soderbergh’s pandemic thriller, Contagion, is infamous now for its uncanny prediction of our current world. It is also known for its impressive ensemble cast. The film follows several protagonists as the world faces the daunting task of fending off a deadly disease. The CDC and WHO lead the efforts while cautiously maneuvering the media and public perception. Jude Law plays the face of a movement that is bent on turning the aforementioned organizations into apathetic, money-hungry boogeymen in the public eye. Law’s performance is one of the many aspects of this film that hit much harder in 2022. You’ve probably seen this exact archetype on the news over the past few years. He occupies a grey area in a world dominated by the value of information. Is he capitalizing on the fear of the public for selfish gain? Yes. But it’s important to realize that he gained his platform by highlighting a genuine fear held by a powerful, vocal minority in the world. Law does a fantastic job of bringing a little humanity to an extremely hatable and dangerous figure. Overall, Soderbergh and company created an incredibly engaging thriller that tackles the vast sea of ethical dilemmas that arise in the midst of an epidemic. The main flaw of the film is that it seems to bite off a bit more than it can chew. However, I believe Law earns his screen time with an arc that plays directly into the message of the film. (Jack Grimme)
Name a World War II film circa 2001 with incredible intrigue, amazing casting, and absurd rewatch value. I can stop you right there and tell you that Jean-Jacques Annaud’s drama Enemy At The Gates hits all those marks. Featuring a cast of none other than Jude Law in all his Lawfulness, the perpetually ageless Rachel Weisz, and Bob Hoskins, Enemy at the Gates tells the story of how young Vasilli (played amazingly by Law) grows through the ranks during a hellacious war to take on Major Konig (played amazingly threateningly by the great Ed Harris)! I grew up watching this film every winter and it remains a staple in my viewing schedule! (Matt Lawson)
Sherlock Holmes is a tale old as time, but in 2009, Guy Ritchie got his hands on it and gave his spin on the “bohemian” detective. Ritchie’s film starts with the beginning of what should seem to be the end of Holmes and Watson’s (played by Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, respectively) partnership as they take on one more case. Downey Jr. as the eccentric Holmes is unhinged, over the top, and quite brilliant. With Law’s reserved turn as Holmes’ partner Watson, he’s the voice of reason to Holmes, but Watson’s always there whenever Holmes is in need. Along with the two leads, we have Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Kelly Reilly, and Eddie Marsan to round out the ensemble with impressive performances as well. The movie is balanced with comedy, action, and a little bit of the supernatural. Downey Jr. and Law’s performances as the duo is the standout of the film. Their amazing chemistry throughout the movie made you feel as if the two men have actually known each other for years. This modernized twist on Sherlock Holmes is one of the best in the last decade. (Chantal Ashford)
Can you imagine a Stanley Kubrick film in the hands of Steven Spielberg? The dark and distant creations of Kubrick mixed with the sentimentality of Spielberg. What a combination. That is exactly what audiences get in the form of A.I: Artificial intelligence (Spielberg directed, while Kubrick was heavily involved in developing the film for literal decades). This science fiction film finds a small robot made in the image of a child. He is rebuked by his new family and must venture out into the crazy world that Spielberg creates. A twist on Pinocchio lore, this film features Haley Joel Osment at the height of his popularity as this artificial protagonist who meets plenty of interesting figures along the way. Among this impressive cast includes the ever-charming Jude Law as Gigolo Joe, who really knows how to make a woman feel alive even if he is not. His charm pops off the screen along with the likes of William Hurt, Brendan Gleeson, and others. This incredible journey is not perfect but there are few films out there with such a unique world and an ambitious journey. (Shane Conto)
The Aviator is admittedly a bloated biopic about a businessman, aeronautics aficionado, Hollywood producer, and fearless pilot. Yet despite the pomp and circumstance (or perhaps because of it), I find myself compelled to watch every time I find it playing due in large part to the several magnificent set pieces to savor. One sequence in the film sees its subject, Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), flight-testing one of his own designs, resulting in a spectacular plane crash that rips through the rooftops of Beverly Hills. Director Martin Scorsese also explores Hughes’ tumultuous romances with Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale), and his exhausting battle with Pan Am chief, Juan Trippe (Alec Baldwin), who was determined to put the aviator’s TWA airline out of business. It also includes our man of the hour, Jude Law, in a relatively small role. The way the story fits together, spanning decades is enormously entertaining and the cinematography is excellent, capturing the fashion, the sights, and the sounds of the early to mid-twentieth century. Hughes’ life provides plenty of opportunities for dramatic depiction, a life that ultimately gave way to mental illness, forcing the visionary to live many of his remaining years as a recluse. The Aviator compels its audience to be fascinated by this larger-than-life historical figure, while at the same time recognizing him as a desperately flawed individual. (Jonathan Fedee)
The ‘90s were really good to Matt Damon. He breaks out with School Ties, The Rainmaker, and Courage Under Fire. He hits it big and wins an Oscar for Good Will Hunting, and becomes a superstar and has the titular role in Saving Private Ryan. His star continued to rise when 1999’s The Talented Mr. Ripley was released. Based on the Patricia Higsmith novel and directed by the late Oscar winner Anthony Minghella, Damon stars as Thomas Ripley, who accidentally finds himself on an Italian adventure when he is mistaken for a former Princeton classmate of Dickie Greenleaf, the son of a shipping magnate, portrayed brilliantly by Jude Law. After Ripley convinces him they were classmates, he and Dickie begin a deep and intense friendship, which is then sullied by Dickie’s other friend, Freddie Miles (Philip Seymour Hoffman). In a way, Law’s character is the crux of this film; Ripley wants to be him and will do anything to have his life, resulting in some deliciously dark twists. Also featuring Gwenyth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and James Rebhorn, The Talented Mr. Ripley holds up as a thrilling, captivating drama from the ‘90s. (Jacob Kinman)
Gattaca is one of those absolutely amazing movies that has unfortunately been missed by many movie fans. I’m here to unequivocally state that this is a mistake, and more people need to get their eyes on it! Set in the near future where genetic programming is possible, parents are able to scientifically breed their most physically and intelligently gifted children possible. Unfortunately, Ethan Hawke’s character Vincent was not given superior genes from his parents. He is not able to pursue the career path he dreams of, reaching the stars and becoming an astronaut. But you know who does have the genetic code to justify being an astronaut? Jude Law. When these two get together, it puts into motion a series of events that will have you on the edge of your seat. If you want to experience a masterful cerebral thriller, then I cannot recommend Gattaca enough. It’s truly amazing, and you will not be able to see the twists in this movie coming. Just remember that when you push yourself in life to reach for an unattainable goal, don’t hold anything back for the return trip. Keep pushing for your goal. (Heath Lynch)
What I really enjoy about Jude Law’s filmography, is every once in a while, he’ll show up in what amounts to little more than a glorified cameo. Case in point: Hugo. Martin Scorsese’s love letter to cinema follows the titular orphaned youth as the clock winder in a Parisian train station. Law plays his father, who instills a love of tinkering and puzzles in his son. As with most Scorsese projects, this cast is stacked with a ton of familiar faces doing what is required of them — no matter how substantial their role. Law, in just a few scenes, is able to provide the needed emotional drive for Hugo. The boy’s goal? To figure out the puzzle at the center of the plot by finishing their final mysterious project. No matter how small his role, Law always gives it his all. This is no exception. (Jake Bourgeois)
If you have seen Road to Perdition, I bet you didn’t know it was technically a comic book movie. It is based on the Max Allan Collins graphic novel of the same name. The film tells the story of mob enforcer Michale Sullivan (Tom Hanks) whose son Michael Sullivan Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin) witnesses him killing, so men for the mob must go on the run after the mob comes after them. This is truly an epic journey of a father and son coming to care for one another as their already strained relationship is put to the test. Hired to hunt them down is Maguire (Jude Law), a grotesque rodent like person who is truly terrifying. Law is really phenomenal in this film, but so is everyone else, who seem to really dig into their roles. Big name people show up here like Paul Newman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Daniel Craig, Stanley Tucci, and Ciarán Hinds, and they are all excellent. Sam Mendes directs and shines here, whether it’s the heartbreaking story, the breathtaking shots and camera work, or his ability to bring the best out of his actors. I know this is a list about Jude Law who is an antagonist here, but I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about not only how great Hanks is as a gangster, but how great he and Hoechlin are together, which is a true highlight. I cannot recommend this movie more. (Austen Terry)
Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel is in serious contention for the most visually pleasing movie ever made. Anderson’s storybook aesthetic perfectly complements the whimsical adventures of his impressive cast of characters. Though the film’s marketing may give Grand Budapest the impression of a pretentious arthouse film, those who have seen it can vouch for the fact that Grand Budapest is pure fun from start to finish. In many ways, the plot is a throwback to straightforward crime capers of old with its backstabbing, creative chase sequences, and delightfully deadpan sense of humor. Few directors flex harder than Anderson when he casts legends like Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Jude Law, Tom Wilkinson, F. Murray Abraham, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, Jeff Goldblum, Owen Wilson, Saoirse Ronan, and Edward Norton in supporting roles that often require less than five minutes of screen time. In spite of Grand Budapest’s utterly insane supporting line-up, the incomparable Ralph Fiennes manages to rise above them all, delivering what might be my favorite comedic performance of all time. Whichever Academy members chose not to submit Fiennes’s name on their nomination ballots deserve high-ranking spots on the FBI’s most-wanted list for their crime against cinema. Backed by a transcendent score from Alexandre Desplat and featuring top-notch production design and set decoration, Grand Budapest is at once quirky, hilarious, and strangely quotable (“Take your hands off my lobby boy!”). There are few movies I would consider to be masterpieces, but The Grand Budapest Hotel undoubtedly qualifies. (Foster Harlfinger)
I Heart Huckabees
Maybe it’s the incredibly impressive assortment of supporting actors mixed with the absurd, quirky humor, but I Heart Huckabees feels a lot like a Wes Anderson movie. But in reality, it’s an early-stage David O. Russell film. Following Albert (Jason Schwartzman) as he tries to find a reasonable explanation to a repeated coincidence in his life, this film is an exploration of order, chase, and meaning in the world. Are we all connected? Is everything random? Is it something in between? These are the questions that Albert finds himself asking as he hires “existential detectives,” meets new friends who challenge his worldview, and attempts to navigate a rivalry with Brad from work (Jude Law). The film’s biggest strength is that it puts Albert in contact with just about every possible perspective as he’s trying to figure out his own. That, and the quirky and fun performances from every member of the cast. This is a breezy watch that will have you thinking deeper at the end than you were expecting to going in. (Robert Bouffard)
Closer
Closer is one of those movies that gives the performers a chance to really shine. There’s no action, no dynamic or exotic set pieces, and there’s no comedy to break the tension. What the screenwriters/playwrights give us is scenery-chewing dialogue that is hard to watch as we see couples unravel before our eyes. Jude Law plays Dan, who is dating Alice (Natalie Portman). Dan meets Anna (Julia Roberts), who’s dating Larry (Clive Owen). Law has a tough task being one of the male leads, but he’s the lead that we hate for what happens between him and Alice, and who you semi-empathize with at the end when he ends up with nothing. Law not only has to bring desire and lust to his role, but also has to bring anguish, anger, and hurt. His acting goes all over the place, which shows a great deal of range for someone I feared would be type-cast as the pretty guy during this time. This is one of the first movies I saw where I thought, “Wow this guy can legit act.” Closer helped open the door for Law’s earlier films in addition to looking forward to his newer ones in the future too. (Mike Hilty)
Spy
A surprisingly hilarious and entertaining espionage comedy emerged in 2015 simply titled, Spy. Melissa McCarthy is delightful as the aspiring field agent, Susan Cooper who is beginning to be stifled in her role as a CIA Analyst. She is responsible for guiding and lending advice to Agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law); they do a great job of illustrating how integral her services are in the success of Fine’s Missions. It is comical how inept he is in most cases without the much needed help from Cooper. The strong supporting cast, which includes Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Jessica Chaffin and Miranda Hart just to name a few, lends a lot of the laughs as well. Especially Jason Statham as Rick Ford, who plays your typical overcompensating and over the top secret agent. He goes out of his way to overcomplicate every scenario with his complex antics to get simple missions done. Writer-director Paul Feig is in top form here and seems to allow his cast utilize their talents accordingly. Spy has a ton of laughs and has entertaining commentary about the spy genre as a whole. (Joe Vargas)
Side Effects
Side Effects might be one of the most underrated films by Steven Soderbergh. I remember seeing it in the cinemas and being thrilled by everything, from the performances of all our four main performers (Jude Law being one them) to the surprising (?) ending that worked for me. Nobody does atmospheric, “small” film like Soderbergh and here, it feels like he’s going “back to the basics.” But not in terms of storytelling; he won’t comprise there. Side Effects has everything you might possibly want from a movie like this — it’s dark, twisty, has four brilliant performers, and when Steven is behind the camera, you know you are in for a treat. (Luke Burian)
Rise of the Guardians
I only recently discovered 2012’s The Rise of the Guardians while looking for something to watch for family movie night. I remember not being particularly impressed with the trailers and making a “Holiday Avengers” joke before completely forgetting about it. I wish I had given it the time of day back then because this will definitely be added to the holiday rotation moving forward. It’s a fun family adventure starring Chris Pine as Jack Frost, a magical being who is offered to join the Guardians consisting of Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) and the Sandman. The Guardians exist to make the people of the world happy, especially children, as their powers exist and grow stronger the more people believe in them. This is all thrown out of whack when Pitch Black (Jude Law), or the boogeyman, starts invading the dreams left by the Sandman and turns them into nightmares. The animation is impressive for 2012 and stands up next to the best of that year. The story has ups and downs that endear us to Jack Frost and his tragic backstory which takes him on a journey of self-discovery from just a holiday prankster to a true Guardian. (Nick Ferro)
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Now, I know many people don’t like A Series of Unfortunate Events, as it does diverge quite heavily from the books. If that’s the most important part of the adaptation for you, then I would direct you to the Netflix series that’s as faithful as faithful can be. However, this, as its own beast, is something to be reckoned with. Jude Law plays the titular Lemony Snicket, relaying the cautionary tale of the Baudelaire Orphans. As the distant narrator, Law does a great job of framing the story and inserting himself enough so as to have an impact. However, the real coup de grace here comes from the man himself — Jim Carrey as the infamous Count Olaf. Conniving, evil, and just dang entertaining, he is the perfect person to play such a dastardly role. He honestly makes the movie, and the movie he makes is one that still holds a special place in my heart years after it’s initial release. (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
If there is a better selection out of modern stars than Jude Law to play John Watson, I do not know who it is. His blend of sarcastic wit, intelligence, and near constant state of annoyance pairs him very well with Robert Downey Jr.’s titular character in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. While the great detective is certainly the star of the show, he would go nowhere without Watson, as Downey Jr.’s performance would seem ridiculous without Law’s straight man. The inclusions of Jared Harris as the legendary Professor Moriarty and Noomie Rapace as the cunning gypsy Sim increase the strength of this ensemble cast as well. The plot follows Holmes and Watson as they run from their nemesis in an effort to stay one step ahead of him and uncover a plot to start a world war. The stakes have certainly been raised from our heroes’ last adventure. On a recent rewatch I was shocked and how much foreshadowing can be found throughout this movie. RIght away from the beginning it feels like a much serious and foreboding conflict is incoming. But the charm and dynamic between Law and Downey Jr. keeps the affair easily digestible. In my opinion, this is an underappreciated gem in Law’s filmography. (Sam Nichols)
The Holiday
Can a Christmas movie celebrate not just Christmas, but also movies? The Holiday asks you that question, and I think it manages to answer it too. As a film, this is just pure delight, from the leads (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black), the contrast of settings (from the sunny Los Angeles to “not so sunny” London) to the unexpected celebration of films, The Holiday has it all. It’s one of those rare romantic comedies that can 100% justify being over two hours long. I have seen it couple of times now and it never bore;, it always to manage to put a smile on my face. But I will admit, I “might” be biased as Cameron Diaz is one of my all time favorite actresses, and the plot line involving Eli Wallach always makes me smile. It’s also nice to see Jack Black being a simple movie fan who knows everything music related. Plus, this film made me watch The Mission, so job well done there too. If you haven’t seen this yet, I would strongly recommend it — it’s one of your easy-to-watch, delightful films with a great cast, tons of laughs, some love here and there, and it’s all underlined with a celebration of movies. And it somehow, always worked for me. (Luke Burian)
Captain Marvel
With the assortment of talent being pulled into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was only a matter of time until Jude Law got his call. Law’s appearance came in 2019’s Captain Marvel. He portrays a Kree commander (Yon-Rogg), who takes Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers under his wing. The relationship between mentor and mentee is one of the many explored with the character of Danvers, and the duo have some fun interactions. While I don’t think anyone’s going to argue this one belongs among the MCU’s top tier, it’s a solid entry into the studio’s catalog and there’s plenty of entertainment to be had here — particularly with the nostalgic ‘90s setting. (Jake Bourgeois)
Also See: Bent, Wilde, Cold Mountain, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Anna Karenina, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Repo Men, Vox Lux
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