Lawless - My Review

Lawless  -  2012  -  Directed by John Hillcoat

"Lawless" is the supposed true life story of the 3 Bondurant brothers (Shia Labeouf, Tom Hardy and Jason Clarke) in 1930's Prohibition who run an illegal moonshine empire that becomes threatened when a new Deputy (Guy Pearce) comes to town with his own brand of justice. I use the word supposed as I find it hard to believe that when the Bondurant's were alive that their lives were this bland.

Hardy plays Forrest, the leader of the clan, Clarke his muscle, and Shia is the younger brother ill-equipped to deal with his family's business. When Pearce asserts his dominance over him and Forrest doesn't come to his rescue it leads him into a headfirst path into his family's fight.

When I first heard about this film I was ecstatic about the prospects. A bloody true life cops and robbers saga involving one family against a town? Check. Starring Gary Oldman? Check. Jessica Chastain? Check. 

So what went wrong? The casting of Shia and Hardy. Both are one note actors at their best. Shia with his incredulous look of what just happened and Hardy with his glare of you must fear me kill any possible emotion and tension and ultimately derail this unsatisfying film.

Rating: 4 out of 10