Advance Movie Review: Lawless
Studio: The Weinstein Company/Yuk Films and Benaroya Pictures
Release Date: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 *(check local theater listings)
MPAA Rating: R
Run time: 110 minutes
Rating:
“It’s not the violence that sets a man apart; it’s the distance he is willing to go.” —Forrest Bondurant
The Bondurant Brothers (Howard (standing), Forrest (passenger), and Jack (driving))
Based on Matt Bondurant’s fictionalized account of his family, “The Wettest County in the World,” Lawless takes you to the dusty, moonshine soaked hills of Franklin County, VA where three brothers, Howard (Jason Clarke), Forrest (Tom Hardy), and Jack (Shia LaBeouf) run a moonshine business. But when prohibition enforcement rears its ugly head, in the form of Special Deputy Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce), things take a devastating and life altering turn for the three Bondurant boys.
The acting is what resonates long after seeing this film at an advance screening several weeks ago. Co-starring with the aforementioned cast is Jessica Chastain as the mysterious red-haired vixen Maggie; the sweet Mia Wasikowska as Bertha, a preacher’s daughter who’s caught the eye of young Jack Bondurant; and the enigmatic and superbly talented Gary Oldman, who plays the feared and respected gangster, Floyd Banner. The cast is absolutely stellar as each character delivers something that ends up becoming a catalyst to the Bondurants’ moonshine business.
From the background scenery—filmed on location around Peachtree City, GA (a suburb outside Atlanta, GA)—to the clothing and accents the actors use, Lawless transports you to a place and time steeped heavily in tradition and old-fashioned southern values, sometimes unyielding and uncompromising just like the Bondurant brothers. Howard, though the eldest, doesn’t run the business. He miraculously survived the Great War but instead of being scarred by the brutality of it all, he comes back unflinching. Clarke embodies a man who lives dangerously close to the edge of life, dipping his toe into the murky waters of death. You get the sense that Howard doesn’t have a care in the world but when his brothers are in trouble, he comes running.
L-R: Shia LaBeouf as Jack Bondurant and Tom Hardy as Forrest Bondurant
Forrest, the middle son, runs the small restaurant and moonshine business. Hardy’s performance is outstanding. The subtleties of his mannerisms—like mumbling and low grunts—are part of his charm and provide some humorous moments throughout the film. Hardy is definitely a man to keep your eye on. I’ve loved him since Rock and Rolla (“Handsome Bob”) and I’m so glad he’s reached this pinnacle of success so others can bask in his brilliance. Forrest’s fascination with the beautiful Maggie, who comes to Franklin County trying to escape her former life and find solace in the backwoods, is quite endearing. Forrest is not the kind of man to aggressively pursue a woman but he does make his interest known in other, sometimes confusing ways. And young Jack, impetuous and very impressionable, wants to contribute to the success of the family business in light of Rakes’ cutthroat and dirty tactics to crack down on moonshiners. So Jack, along with his good friend Cricket (Dane DeHaan) decide to take matters into their own hands. They don’t realize they’re about to alter the balance of things, both good and not so good, for everyone involved. DeHaan makes Cricket so damn lovable. Don’t let his plain country attire fool you; he’s smarter than he looks but sadly, too gullible as well.
Pearce does an amazing job of portraying Rakes as the spineless bully who hides behind his badge. A big shot from Chicago, he comes to Franklin County thinking he’s going to have everyone cowering and paying him off but when he meets Forrest and the other Bondurant brothers; he gets a hell of a surprise. Although he gets the better of Jack, it only fuels the sleeping beast that lies just beneath the surface. Jack is on the verge of transforming from a boy to a man. His time with Floyd influences him, sometimes making him a little too cocky, but it helps to shape him into the man he wants to become.
The confrontation between prohibition law enforcement and moonshiners comes to a violent head and Jack takes his stand
LaBeouf is really growing into his acting chops. I know he gets flack for the Transformers movies, but I find him very interesting to watch. From his younger years on the Disney Channel, and early movies such as Holes, LaBeouf continues to grow and challenge himself. I think this role pushes him even further.
And when an actor makes me loathe their character, they’ve done their job and done it well. Pearce is Rakes. With his gloves, smoking a cigarette, and combing his strangely cut hair, Pearce epitomizes the role of the pretentious lawmen of that era who thought they were above the law and country folk were simple-minded morons. The confrontation of prohibition and ‘shiners comes to a violent head and those who were previously against the Bondurant brothers rally to take up arms with them against the law.
There was a scene I thought was a bit unnecessary. Frankly, they didn’t need to show Chastain completely nude. I think it detracts from the moment when she finally confronts the “huh, hmm” grunting Forrest about his feelings for her. While she has a beautiful body, her nudity is a bit gratuitous; it adds nothing to the film. I’m not opposed to nudity; quite the opposite actually, but there’s a time and place for it.
Other than that, Lawless is truly engaging, entertaining, and a whole host of other incredible adjectives. I cringed, I laughed, I was angered, I was saddened, and I was moved. The love these brothers have for one another redefines sibling loyalty. So if you’re looking for a good old-fashioned moonshine, shoot’em-up movie, Lawless is a step above that. However, I warn you—if you’re not big on blood, this movie doesn’t spare any expense. With bullets flying and knives slashing, blood doesn’t get spilled, it pours.
For more on the film, go to http://lawless-film.com/
Like Lawless on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lawlessmovie
Follow Lawless on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lawlessfilm
[nggallery id=419]
Photos: © 2012 The Weinstein Co., LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Judy Manning
Latest posts by Judy Manning (Posts)
- Review: THE CHANGELING – Apple TV+ New Drama Is Extraordinarily Perplexing - September 8, 2023
- Trailer: THE CHANGELING Starring LaKeith Stanfield Premieres Sep 8 on Apple TV+ - August 8, 2023
- CLEAN SWEEP Series Review – Sundance Now’s Addictive and Dynamic New Drama - June 22, 2023
- CITY ON FIRE Review – Apple TV+ Hypnotic Music Driven Mystery Full of Intrigue - May 12, 2023
Follow Us!