2012
Director: John Hillcoat
Director: John Hillcoat
Writer: Nick Cave (Screenplay), Matt Bondurant (Novel)
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman
Set in crime-ridden Virginia during the United States’ prohibition era, Lawless tells the true story of the bootlegging Bondurant brothers as they attempt to keep their illicit pursuits hidden from the corrupt law.
Inspired by novel “The Wettest County in the World” in which Matt Bondurant writes of his grandfather and great-uncles’ unlawful ways, Lawless brings together screenwriter Nick Cave and director John Hillcoat (The Road), for the first time since 2005’s The Proposition. Add the stellar cast including the likes of Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce and Jessica Chastain to name but a few, and Lawless has the makings of becoming a modern crime classic.
Shia LaBeouf, previously known for his teenage and action roles in Transformers, puts in a credible performance as the youngest Bondurant sibling, Jack, who strives for respect from his older brothers, especially the disgruntled Forrest (Hardy). Speaking in mainly grunts and deep undertones, Hardy masters the South-Eastern accent and the audience slowly warms to his violent ways throughout. It is with these two men, though, that the film reaches its first flaw: who is our protagonist? Who are we rooting for? With LaBeouf supplying the narration, he is presented as the lead but many scenes shift their focus onto the formidable and intriguing Forrest (placed in the forefront of the above promo poster), whose romance with ex-dancer Maggie (Chastain) garners more attention that that of his younger sibling’s with the innoncent Bertha (Wasikowska).
Then comes our villain, Chicago agent Charlie Rakes (Pearce) who aims to stamp out all illegal activities in the area with his eyes sharply focused on the Bondurant boys. Nauseatingly mean, he brings the film its much needed tension but often over plays on theatricality compared to the courageous and invincible Bondurants.
Visually pleasing and stylishly photographed, the era is caught perfectly on screen with these riveting and (almost) perfectly cast characters, yet their screen-time is often unbalanced. Eldest brother, Howard (Clarke), seems to be merely a space-filler and Oldman’s Floyd Banner, the notorious bootlegging big-shot, is mistakenly under-used.
The film principally falls short on this lack of direction; the plot, the protagonist, the tone. The dialogue offers some refreshing laughs, particularly courtesy of Forrest, and anxiety builds in the second half but the narrative is lost in the opening hour. When we meet Jack’s innocent friend Cricket (DeHaan) and the Bondurants rise to their heyday, the pace quickens and scenes flow together more harmoniously. The romances are touching but kept rightfully brief so not to steal away from the crime but the outbursts of violence, though impressive and appropriately horrific, are placed sporadically throughout the story and contribute to this rather muddled narrative. Had the tension that we see in the film’s climax been sustained throughout the entire two hours and the dialogue been tightened, Lawless would have been a great watch.
Verdict: With style in cinematography and fine performances by the cast, Lawless
could have been one of this year’s best films but is, unfortunately, let down but its lack of focus and disorganised plot.
7/10
