LAWLESS

     

     What I can assume to be loosley based on a true story, Lawless tells the story of the Bondurnant brother's exploits during the prohibition in Frankilin County West Virginia. Jack, Howard, and Forrest Bondurant are bootleggers. The best in Franklin County. Even the police in the area know the score and let the brothers operate. Like all good things it comes to and trouble begins when corrupt Commonwealth Attorney Mason Wardell  brings in special deputy Charlie Rakes to get the moonshine business under control.
     Although seemingly a gangster film, Lawless' story isn't just a violent shoot em up. The Bondurant's are a tight knit group of brothers and it is their relationship that holds the story together. What could have become a period piece gangster film filled with tommy guns spraying, Director John Hillcoat tries to bring some humanity to the Brothers Bondurant. The love story elements that Hillcoat and writer Nick Cave put in place are secondary to the bond the brothers share. You really feel that Forrest and Howard are looking out for their younger and impressionable little brother Jack by trying to push him away from what they do.
     Technically the film looks fantastic. Hillcoat's films are never flashy and Lawless is no different. For a film about gangsters Hillcoat keeps the tommy gun mayhem to one small scene. The rest of the violence up until the end of the movie is blunt and to the point. Violence in Lawless is fast and grotesque, much like Hillcoat's first feature, The Proposition. Nick Cave's screenplay moves briskly with no wasted dialogue.   
     While Shia Lebouf gets top billing in Lawless it's Tom Hardy and Guy Pierce who steal the show. It really isn't Lebouf's fault. He's a kid star with name power put into a room with real actors. You never doubt for a second that Guy Pierce is Charlie "fuckin" Rakes. You never doubt for a second that Tom Hardy is Forrest Bondurant. Similar to Leonardo DiCaprio in Gangs of New York, Lebeouf just can't hold his own in the ring with the other cast members. At least not yet.
     Lawless is a fine film. While Lebouf's Jack brings the film a bit, the rest of the cast and crew are in top form. The biggest flaw is that there are some story elements that are almost unnecessary. Gary Oldman is wasted as gangster Floyd Banner. But some Oldman in any film is better than no Oldman at all.