Lawless
Directed by: John Hillcoat Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Mia Wasikowka Running Time: 1 hr 55 mins Rating: R Release Date: August 29, 2012
“Come on Jack, just pull the damn trigger.” That’s the opening line, which brings you in to a world where the Bondurant brothers are not to be messed with.
Based on a true story and adapted from the novel by Matt Bondurant (notice the last name), Lawless tells the story of a bootlegging family in the hills of Virginia in the 1930s. Moonshine flows, death lurks, and a quiet arrogance oozes out of every pore of the Bondurant brothers. Forrest (Tom Hardy) believes they are untouchable, and you’re right there with him, rooting them on.
Deputy Rakes … sorry, Special Deputy Rakes (Guy Pearce) comes to town to gain control and kickbacks, but Forrest doesn’t take kindly to strangers from the big city coming down to these here parts and interfering. He doesn’t have the same issue with Maggie (Jessica Chastain) when she comes from Chicago, but can you blame him? Chastain once again fits perfectly in a period piece... READ the rest of Jeff Bayer's "Lawless" review