Old country westerns and gangster flicks are and will forever be a part of the fabric of Hollywood films in some way, shape or form. There’s plenty of them to watch and there done in all types of styles. The film Lawless is a little different from the Hollywood norm, because it meshes both genres together. It’s also loosely based on actual events from the family members of novelist Matt Bondurant.
In Lawless, the Bondurant brothers (Tom Hardy, Shia Labeouf and Jason Clarke) run an illegal business selling moonshine during the prohibition-era in Virginia. Because of their line of work and their fierce reputations, they run into threats from multiple angles that include rival gangsters and a group of corrupt cops who want a piece of the action. The brothers have to sift through this dangerous terrain while supporting each other and going through many of life’s trials, tribulations and experiences both together and apart.
Lawless is based on the 2008 Matt Bondurant novel entitled The Wettest County in the World. It tells a story that’s done in an interesting fashion that we don’t really get much of a chance to see or hear about. It’s based on Bondurant’s grandfather, two of his great uncles and other real people and real events from that time, but it also contains a lot of fiction from the mind of Bondurant himself.
One of the things that I found interesting about this movie was the fact that it’s essentially a Depression era gangster movie that’s aptly disguised as a western. When you think about gangster movies from this era, you probably think of them being held in cities like Chicago and New York, but this one is set in Franklin County, Virginia. Because of this, Lawless certainly contains something that’s difficult to find in films. It has just about all of the familiar elements that you might recognize, but it also has its own feel to go along every common piece of the film.
While this is a picture where you’re sure to see people get shot up and taken out, there isn’t a ton of violence in it. They use the fights and gun play whenever it’s called for, but it’s never overdone and it’s not something that they appear to want to hang their hat on. Whenever the violence does become prominent within a specific scene, you will take notice and it can get quite brutal and bloody. It’s a necessary portion of the film that’s used, because it tells some parts of the story.
The strength of Lawless is seen in its storytelling and character development more than anything else. These might be the most important things you’re going to see in the film and that’s exactly what they wanted. As they attempt to tell the story right off the bat, they also immediately begin to establish the personalities of every significant character that graces the screen.
When looking at the story itself in Lawless, there’s another element that is interesting and stands out as well. If you were to look at the hierarchy within an ordinary group of brothers, you’d think of the oldest brother being the leader, but that’s not the case here. Being played by Tom Hardy, Forrest is the leader of the group even though he’s the middle child. He’s strong in his mentality, his demeanor and the physical aspect of life.
Hardy brings a silent strength to his character that’s easy to see. He doesn’t say much, but that’s because he doesn’t have to. You know that Forrest means business and his aggressive reputation precedes him. Despite being known for his violence and toughness, Forrest is a leader who’s very business like in how he deals with things and he wants to run their operation with as little trepidation as possible. He wants to maintain a low profile and requires that his two brothers to do the same.
While Forrest generally keeps to himself and shows no outward emotion for the most part, he does manage to slide into a relationship with Maggie who is played by Jessica Chastain. She’s introduced into the movie early on and we learn a small bit about her and her past. She and Forrest develop a certain emotional chemistry with one another that appears to be more spiritual than anything else. Hardy and Chastain are able to illustrate this connection while never stretching out their characters into multidimensional people. There’s a certain bond that they share on-screen and it feels legitimate.
Jason Clarke’s character is another one of the brothers and he’s someone who is the opposite in ways. He’s actually the older brother, but he can’t seem to keep his hands off of the bottle enough to take the role as the leader of the trio. Out of everyone who is in the film, Clarke was probably the best fit in a group where everyone fits their roles well. It looks as if his performance in Lawless is effortless as he hovers in the background.
The third and youngest brother is also the most important brother in Lawless. He’s played by Shia Labeouf and is the true star of the film. While playing Jack, Labeouf really put some quality acting out there for all to see. He has the largest role and it consistently develops over time as the film goes on. Pretty much all of the other characters are straight forward and one dimensional with the exception of the role given to Labeuof. As Jack, he wears many masks and is asked to be serious, funny, charming, timid and angry at various times throughout the film.
This trio of brothers couldn’t go without someone to pose a threat to them and that is where Guy Pearce steps in as Special Agent Charlie Rakes. Pearce plays a very good villain in Lawless. His portrayal of Rakes shows a determined man who’s very orderly, but with a nasty and sophisticated mentality. His character fits what you would expect from a 1920′s period film and he does it well. After seeing him in action in his first couple of scenes, you’ll know without a shadow of a doubt where he stands. Pierce brings a villain to the table that is
Despite having a host of one dimensional characters in Lawless, director John Hillcoat and the actors involved still manage to bring a large quantity of personality to the film in their various ways. Everyone is properly cast here and they’re able to pull off there roles extremely well when asked to do whatever it is that they’re asked to do. Because of these elements being fused with a credible story that’s part fiction and part non-fiction, you have an entertaining flick that’s easily watchable.
