British actorJude Lawbegan his career in theater before working intelevision, then transitioning to film. His career began to take off in the late'90s, and his success continued throughout the2000s, making him one of the biggest and busiest stars inHollywood, and his work spans genres and even character types. His skill as anactorhas earned him critical acclaim, including twoAcademy Awardnominations and threeGolden Globenominations.
Law’s film credits through the 2000s remain among his most well-known and acclaimed.The decade serves as something of a microcosm of his career, showcasing his versatility as an actor through the numerous and vastly different characters he’s played, something he’s continued to do in the two decades since. In that time, he also worked with some of the best directors and actors in the industry—there’s seemingly no one he hasn’t shared a screen with.
19’Sleuth' (2007)
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
InSleuth, the lives of mystery writer Andrew Wyke (Michael Caine) and struggling actor Milo Tindle (Law) become connected when Andrew’s wife leaves him for the much younger Milo. Desiring revenge,Andrew invites Milo to his large estate equipped with the latest technology and begins playing mind games with him. The film was based on the play of the same name, andCaine starred as Miloin a 1972 adaptation.
Caine and Law play well off each other and are great to watch inSleuth, a movie about the lengths each man is willing to go to defeat the other. Given the nature of some of the changes,the movie isn’t so much a remake of the original as it is a reinterpretation—it makes some changes to the plot while staying true to its themes and the characters' motivations.
On his sprawling country estate, an aging writer matches wits with the struggling actor who has stolen his wife’s heart.
18’Breaking and Entering' (2006)
Directed by Anthony Minghella
Landscape architect Will (Law) hopes to redevelop a neighborhood in London while in the midst of a midlife crisis and is in a dead-end relationship with Liv (Robin Wright) inBreaking and Entering. A break-in at his office leads him to Amira (Juliette Binoche), a refugee from Bosnia whose son is the culprit and whose husband was killed in Sarajevo.Will begins to reevaluate his life and has an affair with Amira.
Breaking and Enteringis also notable for being Minghella’s final film before his death.
Breaking and Enteringmarked the second time Law worked with directorAnthony Minghella, with the first being the critically acclaimed Civil War dramaCold Mountain.Breaking and Enteringis also notable for being Minghella’s final film before his death. It’s more serious fare than Law is known for,with its exploration of social issues, particularly those surrounding class and gentrification. And while it’s not perfect, its greatest strength is in its interesting characters.
17’Alfie' (2004)
Directed by Charles Shyer
Law stars as the titular ladies' man inAlfie, who uses his job as a limousine driver in New York City to seduce and sleep with women, frustrating his girlfriend, Julie (Marisa Tomei). Everything changes when he learns one of the women he has slept with is now pregnant, and he decides to try monogamy. The movie was inspired bythe British film of the same name, released in 1966.
Law is his usual charming self as Alfie, even as the character’s behavior is questionable, and he has great chemistry with the women he shares the screen with. The movie combines humor with sincerity—things take a bit of a sad turn for Alfie as he’s forced to face the consequences of his choices, including the fact thathe’s damaged his chances at having meaningful relationships with everyone, from his best friend to casual girlfriend Julie.
16’All the King’s Men' (2006)
Directed by Steven Zaillian
Political dramaAll the King’s Menfollows the rise and fall of Willie Stark (Sean Penn),an idealistic lawyer who becomes governor of Louisiana and eventually succumbs to corruption. Law plays young journalist Jack Burden, who ultimately ends up working for Stark and is asked to dig up dirt on a judge. The movie was based on the novel of the same name byRobert Penn Warrenand loosely based on the life of Louisiana’s GovernorHuey Long.
All the King’s Menis an interesting but bleak drama about political power and corruption. Penn stands out as Stark, playing him with great charisma, but Law also shines as Burden, who struggles with his conscience throughout the film. It makes some changes from the novel and 1949 film adaptation, most notably changing the setting to the ’40s and ’50s, but despite this,it remains as relevant and timely as ever.
All the King’s Men
15’Rage' (2009)
Directed by Sally Potter
Law stars in the satirical mysteryRageas supermodel Minx.The film unfolds as a series of interviews—essentially monologues—shot by an unseen and unheard blogger for a New York fashion housebehind the scenes of a fashion show in Manhattan, in which an apparent accident on a catwalk turns into a murder investigation over the course of a week. The movie was originally released as seven episodes rather than a full feature-length film.
Rageis an interesting film experimenting with a genre its creators called “naked cinema”.
Rageis an interesting film experimenting with a genre its creators called “naked cinema”.The simplicity of its format—structured as interviews with no sets or interaction between actors—highlights the talent of each member of the cast, particularly Law. In some ways, it was ahead of its time, particularly in the way writer and directorSally Potterintended for it to be watched on a smartphone, and its 15th anniversary was marked by a release on Instagram.
14’My Blueberry Nights' (2007)
Directed by Wong Kar-wai
Law appears inMy Blueberry Nightsas café owner Jeremy, who leaves customer Elizabeth (Norah Jones) clues to help her discover her boyfriend of five years has been cheating on her.Devastated, she sets out on a road trip, supporting herself by working as a waitress. She meets a number of interesting characters along the way, including a cop with a drinking problem (David Strathairn) and his cheating wife (Rachel Weisz), all while continuing to send postcards to Jeremy.
Law is as charming as ever and is a standout of the cast inMy Blueberry Nights, a sweet, underrated movie about love, relationships and self-discovery. The filmis often considered inferiortodirector Wong Kar-wai’s other films, but it’s still an entertaining watch with great cinematography, which wonderfully captures America as Elizabeth travels. The movie also features a great cast of supporting characters—musician Jones also impresses in her first acting role.
My Blueberry Nights
After her boyfriend of five years breaks up with her, Elizabeth (Norah Jones) consoles herself by consuming creamy confections at a sympathetic cafe owner’s (Jude Law) eatery. She sets out on a road trip, supporting herself as a waitress along the way. Elizabeth meets a host of interesting characters on her journey, including an alcoholic policeman (David Strathairn), his unfaithful wife (Rachel Weisz), and a gambler (Natalie Portman).
13’Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow' (2004)
Directed by Kerry Conran
InSky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, set in an alternate, technologically advanced 1939, Sky Captain Joe (Law)enlists his private air force to fight gigantic flying robots which attack New York City. Meanwhile, his ex-girlfriend, reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow), has been investigating the disappearance of the country’s best scientists. Suspecting the incidents are connected, Joe and Polly work together to find answers and set out to find Dr. Totenkopf (Laurence Olivier), the creator of the robots.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrowis an ambitious but fun sci-fi epic with stunning visuals, thanks to its groundbreaking effects—it was the first film shot entirely on blue screen. As a result, some of the performances suffer, but the movie still tells an interesting story that’s a throwback to classic sci-fi. Although it didn’t perform well at the box office, it has become a cult classic in the years since.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
12’Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events' (2004)
Law lends his voice toLemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Eventsas the film’s narrator, Lemony Snicket. The film tells the story ofthe three Baudelaire children, who are orphaned after a fire breaks out in their homeand sent to live with their distant relative, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey). But the scheming Olaf is only interested in the inheritance the children are set to receive. The movie was based on the first threeA Series of Unfortunate Eventsnovels.
With his warm British accent,Law makes the perfect narrator to bring to lifeA Series of Unfortunate Events. From the first moments of his voiceover, he does an excellent job ofsetting the tone for the film, and he adds to its emotion throughout—it’s hard to imagine the film without him. The film is also a fairly faithful adaptation, although it does tone down some of the book’s darker elements.
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
11’Enemy at the Gates' (2001)
Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud
Law stars inEnemy at the Gatesas Vassili, a young Russian sharpshooter who becomes something of a hero after being included in a propaganda campaign by an officer (Joseph Fiennes). During the Battle of Stalingrad,Vassili becomes part of a gameof cat and mousewith an elite German sniper (Ed Harris). The movie was based on the bookEnemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad.
Law impresses in one of his early leading roles as Vassili,particularly as the character deals with the moral weight of killing people. The fight between the two snipers is thrilling as they try to both outsmart and outshoot each other, and the film focuses on the fight between Russia and Germany, which isn’t often explored in World War II films. The movie has been criticized for being historically inaccurate, however.
Enemy At The Gates
10’Love, Honour and Obey' (2000)
Directed by Dominic Anciano and Ray Burdis
Postman Johnny (Jonny Lee Miller), increasingly unsatisfied with his life, thinks his childhood friend, Jude (Law), has a much better life than him and convinces him to let him join the gang run by his uncle, crime boss Ray Kreed (Ray Winstone), in dark comedyLove, Honour and Obey. ButJonny makes one mistake after another, and eventually, he inadvertently starts a war with the South London mob, led by Sean (Sean Pertwee).
Love, Honour and Obeyis notable for having been largely improvised by the cast, who are also referred to by their own names rather than character names. But it’s also an underrated gem satirizing gangster movies and the way the lifestyle can be romanticized. The shootout scene between two rival gangs is particularly memorable and is often cited by fans of the film as one of its best and funniest moments.
