What the Hell Happened to Jude Law?

Jude Law has been on the edge of breaking out onto the A-list for the last decade.  And yet, he’s never quite made it.  This is in spite of the fact that for a while there it seemed like Law was in every other movie made.  In 2004, Law starred in no less than 6 movies!

(I bring this up partially so I can add the disclaimer that I’m not going to cover every single movie Law has appeared in.  Otherwise, this article would become a book.)

Since then, Law’s rising star has cooled a little.  What the hell happened?

jude law - gattaca

Jude Law’s first major movie role was in the 1997 sci-fi film Gattaca opposite Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman.

Gattaca is a very smart science fiction story about a future in which genetic tests determine one’s social standing.  Hawke starred as a man who wanted to be an astronaut but was not deemed genetically fit for the job.  To overcome this limitation, he borrows genetic material from Law whose DNA is perfect.

I think that perfection is part of why Law has never really caught on with a broad audience.  He’s too good looking.  Men find him threatening.  And unlike Brad Pitt who can convince us he’s one of the guys with movies like Fight Club, there’s something about Law that distances him from a lot of men.  We’ll see it in the roles he plays.  He’s played a lot of “perfect” men.

Anyway, Gattaca got really good reviews.  But audiences took a pass anyway.

jude law - midnight in the garden of good and evil

In 1997 Law also appeared as a male prostitute in Clint Eastwood’s adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Kevin Spacey and John Cusack co-starred.  The movie was not a hit with audiences or critics.

It should be noted that Law also played an unusually high number of male prostitutes over the course of his career.

leigh - existenz

In 1998, Law appeared in three films, but the odds are you have never seen or heard of any of them.  In 1999, Law appeared in David Cronenberg’s film eXistenZ.

eXistenZ is a trippy little movie starring Jennifer Jason Leigh  as a game designer in the near future.  As can be expected from a Cronenberg movie, the games include an organic element.  There are questions about reality and the nature of existence.

Like Gattaca, this movie got mostly positive reviews but may have been “too smart” for general audiences.  If you enjoy Cronenberg, it’s worth checking out.

the-talented-mr-ripley

Later that year, Law had his break-out role in The Talented Mr. Ripley.  The movie was based around the premise that Jude Law is so good looking and charming that both Matt Damon and Gweneth Paltrow want him.

As filmed by Anthony Minghella in gorgeous Italy, Law comes across as the the most handsome and charming man in the world.  Eventually, Law’s character spurns Damon’s Ripley and Ripley kills him in a fit of jealous rage. Apparently, Jude Law is so amazing that those who can not have him are compelled to murder.

The Talented Mr. Ripley got good reviews and was a hit at the box office.  It scored a number of nominations come award time including a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Law.

jude law - enemy at the gates

Unfortunately, Law was unable to capitalize on the attention Ripley brought him.  His next major role was the World War 2 drama, Enemy at the Gates.

Enemy  didn’t make much of an impression with critics or audiences and is largely forgotton.

jude law - AI

In 2001, Law also appeared in Stephen Spielberg’s Stanley Kubrick-inspired sci fi film, AI.  I love Spielberg and I love Kubrick.  But apparently, they are not two great tastes that taste great together.  I hated AI!

Law plays yet another male prostitute.  Gigolo Joe is a lovebot who helps Haley Joel Osment’s adorable robotic Pinocchio in his journey to find the Blue Fairy.  This time, Law’s perfection is so complete that he isn’t even human.

I’m not going to spend a lot of time talking about AI because it invariably causes me to rant about the multiple endings – each less satisfying than the one before it.

AI was supposed to be the movie that made Law into a star.  Critics were mixed though most praised Law’s performance.  Law was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.  Audiences (myself included) were frustrated by it.

road to perdition

2002’s Road to Perdition represented a change-up for Law.  Instead of playing another perfect specimen of humanity, Law got ugly for his role as an assassin hired to kill Tom Hanks but ends up killing his wife played by Jennifer Jason Leigh.

The movie was a mild hit and got pretty good reviews.  But most of the talk was about Hanks’ turn as a hired killer, a rare performance by Paul Newman and new-comer Daniel Craig who just about stole the movie.  Law’s supporting role kind of got lost in the shuffle.

jude law - cold mountain


Law re-teamed with Ripley director, Anthony Minghella for the Oscar-baiting Cold Mountain in 2003.

Law played a Confederate soldier who deserts so he can return to his true love, a Southern belle played by Nicole Kidman.

Cold Mountain was a hit and garnered mostly positive reviews.  It scored 7 Oscar nominations including one for Jude Law for Lead Actor.  Co-star Renee Zellweger won for Best Supporting Actress and stole most of the buzz.

jude law - I heart huckabees

2004 was a big year for Law.  He was teetering on the brink of the A-list.  With 6 movies in 2004, it seemed certain that one of them would put him over the top.  David O. Russell’s all-star ensemble, I Heart Huckabees was definitely not that film.

The film got mixed reviews and failed to recoup its costs.

jude law - sky captain and the world of tomorrow

The visually stunning Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow sure seemed like it would be the movie to make Jude Law a household name.

Law believed in the picture so strongly, that he became a producer and recruited co-star Gweneth Paltrow.  The retro sci-fi filme used advanced (for the time) special effects to create a unique visual style.

In spite of largely positive reviews, audiences just didn’t take to Sky Captain.  The movie opened at number one, but ultimately ended up as a box office failure.

alfie

Perhaps the biggest disappointment of 2004 from a star-making point of view was Law’s remake of Alfie.

Alfie really hinged on Law’s star power.  Sure, the movie was weak.  But an A-list star can bring people into a movie like Alfie on star-power alone.  Alfie got poor reviews and bombed at the box office confirming that as far as audiences were concerned, Law was not a box office draw on his own.

jude law - closer

Closer was yet another ensemble film for Law in 2004.

Mike Nichols’ intimate and provocative drama got mostly positive reviews and was a sleeper hit at the box office.  But once again, Law’s co-stars got all of the attention.  That’s to be expected with Julia Roberts.  But Clive Owen was a hot newcomer and Natalie Portman’s star was on the rise.  Law got eclipsed by the other three.

aviator_wideweb__430x293

Just because audiences hadn’t gotten enough Jude Law in 2004, he also appeared in Martin Scorese’s The Aviator as the dashing Errol Flynn.

I think it says a lot about how Law was viewed that he was cast as Flynn.  It’s like being cast as Michelangelo’s David.  Once again, Law effortlessly fits into the role of the guy who is just too damn perfect.

Then again, Gwen Stefani appeared in The Aviator as Jean Harlow.  So I’m probably making too much of what is basically a cameo.

Speaking of cameos, Law also appeared as the voice of Lemony Snicket in Lemony Snicket’s Unfortunate Series of Events.  It’s really not worth mentioning except to illustrate just how much Jude Law audiences were exposed to in 2004.

jude-law-sienna-miller

This is as good of a time as any to mention Jude Law’s status as tabloid fodder from 2003-2005.

I don’t really follow this sort of thing, but it was absolutely unavoidable.  First, Law split with wife Sadie Frost amid rumors of infidelity.  Then he took up with Sienna Miller and got engaged on Christmas Day 2004.  In 2005, there were scandals involving Jude Law and a nanny.

I’m sure those of you who are interested already know all this.  I’m just backing up my theory that Law was overexposed during this time.  I know, I’m not really going out on a limb there.

After a whirlwind 2004, Jude Law did not appear on the big screen in 2005.  But he came back with a vengeance appearing in 3 films in 2006.

jude law - all the kings men

Steve Zailian’s adaptation of All the King’s Men was supposed to be a high profile Oscar picture.  But the all-star cast couldn’t win over critics or audiences.  It was a failure in both respects.

Law also teamed with director Anthony Minghella yet again for 2006’s Breaking and Entering.  This was the least successful of their collaborations.

jude law - the holiday

Finally, Law appeared as part of yet another ensemble in Nancy Meyer’s The Holiday.

The Holiday got mixed reviews, but was a hit with audiences.  Which brings me to another point about Law’s career.  He appears in a lot of “all star” ensemble pictures.

This raises the question of how big of a star Law actually was.  When he wasn’t surrounded by Julia Roberts or Cameron Diaz, was he ever actually a box office draw on his own?

Some people went to see The Holiday for Jack Black or Kate Winslet.  But how many actually bought a ticket to see Jude Law?

sleuth

In 2007, Law went back to the Michael Caine remake well that failed him with Alfie.  This time, he remade Caine’s 1972 film, Sleuth.

Law played the Caine role and Caine played the role originally played by Lawrence Olivier.  Unfortunately, even Michael Caine himself couldn’t save the remake.  Like Alfie, Sleuth got negative reviews and bombed at the box office.

jude law - my blueberry nights

Law also appeared in My Blueberry Nights alongside singer Nora Jones, Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman.

Blueberry Nights was the first American film for Chinese director Wong Kar Wai.  Unfortunately, the highly anticipated American debut disappointed critics and was ignored by audiences.

jude law - imaginarium of dr parnassus

In 2009, Jude Law was one of three actors to fill in for the late Heath Ledger in Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.

Ledger died during filming, however the dream-like nature of the film allowed for a creative solution.  Ledger played the character as he appeared in the real world using footage completed before his death.

Within the Imaginarium, his character was portrayed by Law, Collin Farrell and Johnny Depp.  Like a lot of Terry Gilliam’s recent work, Dr. Parnasus got mixed reviews and didn’t earn much at the box office.

jude law - Sherlock Holmes

Law had gone from a hot rising star to over-exposed to a character actor without ever having qualified as a star in his own right.  It seemed like his time had past.  But after a string of misfires, Law finally had another hit.

Guy Ritchie’s 2009 update of Sherlock Holmes capitalized on Robert Downey Jr’s. post-Iron Man career.  Law played Watson to Downey’s Holmes.  The film got mostly positive reviews, but was a smash at the box office.

jude-law-repo-men

In 2010, Law has appeared in the American-Canadian sci-fi thriller Repo Men.

The movie got mostly negative reviews and was a bomb at the box office.  If you haven’t written an article about the career of Jude Law, odds are you’ve never heard of it.

With only one movie released in 2010, Law was slipping.

CONTAGION

In 2011, Law was back in force with three major releases.  The first was Stephen Soderbergh’s medical thriller, Contagion.

Law played a scumbag journalist who tried to make money off an epidemic the threatens to bring down civilization.  Contagion got good reviews and was a hit at the box office.  But once again, Law was part of an ensemble and got little credit for the success of the film.

jude law - hugo

Law also appeared in Martin Scorsese’s 3-D ode to silent movies, Hugo.

It’s probably not a huge surprise that an ode to silent movies wasn’t a huge hit.  Then again, The Artist came out about the same time and proved to be successful.

While Hugo got good reviews, it was outrageously expensive.  Even low estimates have Hugo costing north of 150 million dollars.  It grossed just 73 million in the US.

Fortunately for Law, he couldn’t be blamed for Hugo‘s failure any more than he could be credited with Contagion‘s success.  Scoreses ended up taking the blame for Hugo.  It should be noted that Hugo did turn a profit overseas.

jude law - sherlock holmes 2

Law ended 2011 with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Like the first film, Guy Ritchie’s sequel got mixed reviews.  And it ended up being a big hit at the box office.  But it actually stumbled out of the gate.  The opening weekend in the US was a major disappointment.  Over time, Game of Shadows made up for it’s weak opening.   And it did great worldwide.

A third film in the series is in production.

Law - Grand Budapest Hotel

In  2014, Law appeared in the Wes Anderson movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Ralph Fiennes starred as a concierge in a European hotel who befriends a young lobby boy.  The cast included F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton and of course Bill Murray.

The Grand Budapest Hotel received positive reviews and has been nominated for several awards.  It was a hit at the box office although it performed better in the UK than it did in the US.  It was Anderson’s first number one movie in the UK, but it opened in 6th place in the US.

There is still hope Jude Law could one day crack the A-list.  He’s still an actor very much in demand as is evidenced by the many, many movies he appears in.  But Law has seemed to be on the cusp of breaking out since Ripley in 1999.  After a decade on the B-list, it seems like Law’s moment may have passed.

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remembertheredskins
12 years ago

Hey, thanks for covering Jude Law! I think you are probably right about his appeal with audiences. While some men might have been alienated by his ‘pretty boy’ image, it seems like even most people who like him still view his presence in a film as a very pleasant bonus, not as the main reason to see the film.

Garner
Garner
12 years ago

I just remembered – you owe me 97 minutes of life back for recommending eXistenZ back in the day. I had dreams of assembling a gun out of my own dental work just to shoot you with. You will pay. Oh yes, you will pay.

remembertheredskins
12 years ago

Then again, just because somebody else doesn’t like a movie does not mean it’s no good. I have often sat someone down to watch a film I really like, only to start seeing it through their eyes, and understanding why the person and the movie were not a good match. I still like those movies, but I’ve gained a better understanding of what to reccommend to that person. The reverse is true. Just because a critic likes some films I don’t does not make them a poor critic.

wtfhappenedtomyreallife

Jude Law seems to be always the groomsman never the groom. I think that his day will come. There are a great many actors out there that never really seemed to break through until they were older. I will say that I loved Gattaca and still watch it every time I get the chance. I very much enjoyed The Holiday (Yup I have breasts, so this is normal) and I found him delightful as Watson. Repo Men seemed to be a non-musical rip off of Repo: The Genetic Opera (Which I loved 🙂 ) I think some movies just try… Read more »

ThommyMac
12 years ago

I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes. My father loved the books and I grew up reading them many, many times. The Basil Rathbone Nigel Bruce films, though enjoyable, were cartoons of the characters. I am no Jude Law fan but it was GREAT to see Doc Watson portrayed closer to the AC Doyle’s Watson. A combat surgeon is no dummy and a Victorian veteran of Afghanistan is no wuss. Man, it was worth seeing the flick JUST to see the good doctor get his balls and brains back. Bravo, Mr. Law. OK, The Enemy at the Gates. My family is from the… Read more »

ThommyMac
12 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Thanks! Coming from a skilled writer, that is a true compliment! Have a great week.
T

ThommyMac
12 years ago

PS I still get chills thinking of when the Russian soldiers were issued weapons and ammo. One gets a rifle, one gets rounds. When you see someone drop, get their rifle.

ThommyMac
12 years ago

Newest SH trailer:
http://sherlockholmes2.warnerbros.com/index.html?adid=1011CRMSHK2&src=EMKSHK2
Nope, not a fanboy, just want this blog to have it all & doing me part 🙂

peter
peter
11 years ago

Please write about Jennifer Jason Leigh, though I may be the only person who wants this!

babette
babette
10 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

I still chuckle when I think of Jude Law’s duck-walking through his male whore role in Eastwood’s soporific, meandering mess “Garden.”
Jude the Duck.
Great work, as always, Lebeau.
Thanks.

babette
babette
10 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Not worth putting yourself through abominable torment merely to watch Judy do the Duck. Seriously, how is one supposed to believe this bland, wispy, forgettable dude throwing hissy fits all over the place is the most delectable “piece of ass” in New Orleans or some such nonsense?
Come on.
Heck, Tilda Swinton has portrayed more desirable males!
Thanks again, Lebeau.

Jake
Jake
11 years ago

I thought “A.I.” was as fascinating & as frustrating to watch as “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Entertainment Weekly said it best when it called Law’s character a cross between the Tin Man in “Wizard of Oz” & Malcolm McDowell in “Clockwork Orange.”
The only thing I liked about “Enemy at the Gates” was the nice view of Rachel Weisz (sp?) during the love scene.

RB
RB
11 years ago

Thinking that Jude Law’s career may have gone exactly the same way with or without the tabloid coverage. Not sure how to phrase this but in his younger days his face was almost too perfect to be a serious actor with the versatile, mesmerizing star power to open movies on his name alone, In fact he seemed to get much more attention in the tabloids, than he got for his acting, which has to be frustrating. However, as you’ve pointed out, he is always working. It’s possible that in time, he will get the right breakthrough part. But even if… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
11 years ago

Whenever I think of Jude Law, I can help but think of Chris Rock poking fun of him when he was hosting the Academy Awards back in 2005. Rock basically wondered why a “Tom Cruise-lite” like Jude Law was receiving so much hype for what seemed to be no reason. This naturally, upset Jude’s “All the King’s Men” co-star Sean Penn, who reminded Rock that “Jude Law is one of our finest actors”.

Greekfreak
Greekfreak
11 years ago

Some more suggestions: Alec Baldwin Kevin Bacon Ralph Macchio Ray Liotta Anne Heche Chevy Chase The former is exceptionally ripe for ridicule, considering his long fall from grace, and his more recent public squabbles with the TV show “Community”, and the aborted “Fletch” re-boot with Kevin Smith. Anne Heche is a particularly good one; she held her own against Johnny Depp in “Donnie Brasco” and was really good in “Walking And Talking” (an indie fave of mine–really worth watching), and “Wag the Dog”. But she had a Margot Kidder type of public meltdown and watched her career flush down the… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
11 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Is Alec Baldwin really a strong “What the Hell Happened to…” candidate (even in light of “30 Rock” just ending)? I mean, he’s more relevant and popular at this point in time than his “Bettlejuice” co-stars (i.e. Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder”) or his ex-wife, Kim Basinger. I think the problem w/ somebody like Ralph Macchio is that his youthful/boyish appearance (even for a guy who is now 50, Ralph still looks much younger) made him hard to cast in adult roles once the “Karate Kid” series (Ralph was pushing 30 by the time the third movie rolled… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

I’m now really beginning to reconsider my stance or opinion on whether or not Alec Baldwin should get a WTHHT down the road:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/11/15/msnbc-alec-baldwin-talk-show
“Up Late” will not air tonight and next Friday following Baldwin’s latest homophobic remarks. “I want to apologize to my loyal fans and to my colleagues at msnbc – both for my actions and for distracting from their good work,” Baldwin said in a statement. “Again, please accept my apology.

Terrence Michael Clay
11 years ago

Which of These Five Actors at the Highest Risk for Overexposure?: http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_random_lists/which-of-these-five-actors-at-the-highest-risk-for-overexposure-.php Back in 2004, Jude Law was in six major films released that year (and a seventh was released at the trail end of 2003). It was that prolific period that so overexposed Jude Law that it nearly killed his career; he didn’t have another hit until Sherlock Holmes, and even that was mostly thanks to Robert Downey, Jr. (though, Law was quite good in Holmes). Clearly, Law learned nothing from that earlier experience because, now that his name is hot again, he’s lined up six more projects over… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
11 years ago

When Star Power Becomes Too Much: 15 Celebrities Who Should Take A Break:
http://styleblazer.com/128284/when-star-power-becomes-too-much-15-celebrities-who-should-take-a-break/3/
In 2004, Sherlock Holmes star Jude Law outstayed his welcome with audiences by appearing in six films. Of these, only one, The Aviator, was a major financial success. Keep in mind, Law only appeared in that film in a supporting capacity. This perhaps prompted the actor to take two years off from working before re-emerging in 2006.

Terrence Michael Clay
11 years ago

10 Underrated Actors Who Don’t Deserve The Hate: http://whatculture.com/film/10-underrated-actors-who-dont-deserve-the-hate.php/11 1. Jude Law All men are jealous of Jude Law. There, I said it. Oh, but he comes across as smug and superior, with a hairline perishing faster than the Happisburgh coastline? Well, maybe, but he’s also rich, successful and your girlfriend fancies him more than she’ll ever fancy you. That’s reason enough for some people to hate Jude Law, but the man also seems to attract malice due to the onset of ageing, his well-publicised hair loss both aggravating admirers and comforting haters with the knowledge that even the most… Read more »

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago

COMMENTARY TRACKS OF THE DAMNED:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/alfie,22306/
Crimes
Filling cinemas with yet another pointless remake
Illustrating through example why it’s almost never a good idea to have a character talk directly to the camera, especially for a big chunk of the film
Blaming its commercial failure on the conservative cultural climate of the George W. Bush years, not on its all-around crappiness.

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago

8 OF THE MOST OVERRATED AND OVERPAID MOVIE STARS: http://guyism.com/entertainment/movies/most-overrated-and-overpaid-movie-stars.html Jude Law is considered an A-List leading man. He’s certainly paid like one, like Aniston raking in somewhere between eight to ten million dollars every time he makes a movie. Here’s the problem – he’s never – NEVER – actually been the leading man in a movie that’s been a hit. Sure, he’s played second fiddle in the Sherlock Holmes movies but for ten million dollars, you kinda expect to get someone who can carry a film, which Jude Law never has. Not once. I guess The Holiday sort of… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

have to say, enjoying Law in “Holiday.” maybe Jack Black is the bigger name, but I can’t cotton to him as the leading man type when he is so solidly one of the frat pack group of actors. Ever since Gattaca you can’t deny Law has the acting chops.

RB
RB
10 years ago

OK “The Holiday” has me squarely in its camp as a huge fan of the film, director and cast. So much so, I just watched a movie with no real surprises in it, twice! in a word… wow! For anyone who hasn’t seen it…. SEE IT! how did this escape my notice in 2006? THIS is exactly the type of role that Jude Law should be pursuing. As for the Jack Black character, yes he was cast against type, and evidently, in one interview he stated he’d even said as much to the director, Nancy Myers. Who, by the way,… Read more »

RB
RB
10 years ago

It’s too obvious for me to say that Kate Winslet can act, it’s just like saying Meryl Streep can act. But if you like Winslet, The Holiday might be one of the romcoms that you actually enjoy, because she is fabulous in it. She mentioned in interviews for the film that she didn’t think she was able to play funny, as Cameron Diaz could. Well, she nailed it, her timing and physical comedy were superlative. On top of what she can do with her expressive face, may she never ruin it with surgery! And just to drag this back on… Read more »

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