Lawless

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Lawless
Released 8/29/12, now in theaters


Outlaws rule in the gangster-style film, Lawless. Directed by John Hillcoat (The Road), the film stars Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wassikowska, and Guy Pearce. It is based on the true life events of the Bondurant brothers from Franklin County, Virginia.  The movie is adapted from author and Bondurant descendent, Matt Bondurant's, novel The Wettest County in the World.

　

The Bondurants (Howard (Clarke), Forrest (Hardy), and Jack (LaBeouf)) run a successful moonshine and bootlegging business in the hills of Prohibition era Virginia. They are assisted by their strange, but, inventive friend Cricket. The brother trio runs a bar as a front for their illegal activities. The Bondurants are feared by most and respected by all, including mobster, Floyd Banner (Oldman), who becomes a regular client later in the movie. People have good reason to fear Howard and Forrest as both are tough as nails. Jack, however, is not, as evidenced when Special Agent Charlie Rakes (Pearce) shakes down the brothers’ operation and brutally beats Jack caught alone without his siblings. Two of his agents also gravely injure Forrest in an ambush and rape bar waitress, Maggie (Chastain). Jack, however, has more business savvy and style and, along with Cricket’s assistance, really begins to make the business pay off and begins courting preacher’s daughter, Bertha Minnix (Wassikowska). But Agent Rakes is determined to shut the brothers’ down completely. When he perpetrates one last indignity on Cricket, the Bondurants are out to get final retribution in the bloody finale.

　

As I was watching Lawless, I couldn’t help but think that Howard and Forrest would have been much better off without Jack. Oh sure, Jack always meant well but he really wasn’t that good at taking care of himself. That said, Lawless, is an entertaining film that does have gory violence at times. Pay particular attention to the scene where Forrest and Howard hunt down the men that ambushed Forrest. Pay more attention to what they send Rakes as a souvenir.

　

There are strong performances from Tom Hardy and Guy Pearce. Hardy speaks in a soft, simple manner that disguises that he is quite adept at brutish violence. He has caved more than one enemy’s face with brass knuckles in his life. And let’s not leave out that Forrest’s toughness is off the charts and reaches legendary, tall tale status amongst the locals. Pearce is sardonically evil. He’s one of those villains you want to see die horribly. And I’ll give this much away. He doesn’t disappoint.

　

Lawless is a moderately paced gangster movie that will never be confused with classics the likes of Godfather and Goodfellas, but it is very entertaining. It’s one of the better movies of the summer.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***1/2 stars

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.