"Lawless" finds order in chaos

After the release of "Gangster Squad" got pushed out to next year, I consoled myself with the knowledge that I could still get my old-timey ne'er-do-well fix off of "Lawless."

Sure, Depression-era Virginia wilderness isn't quite the substitute for the glamorous L.A. glory years, but watching Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and Jessica Chastain chew the scenery (which is rife with bootlegging, corruption and backwoods intrigue, might I add) for just under two hours can't possibly be too much of a let-down.

Sadly, I think I may have put this bottle of movie moonshine on too high of a pedestal. Its spirits are well-intentioned, but it has all the ups and downs of a rail alcohol bender. I didn't wind up with a headache, but I did leave the theater wondering what happened to that attractive, intriguing film I thought I was spending my time with.

Based on a novel/true story from Depression-era Franklin County, Va., "Lawless" is the story of the supposedly indestructible Bondurant brothers and their bootlegging ring. After their steady local enterprise falls into conflict with corrupt Chicago deputy Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) and the encroaching influences of gangster magnate Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman), Jack (Shia LaBeouf), Forrest (Tom Hardy) and Howard (Jason Clarke) fall deeper into the illicit world and its deadly consequences.

With all these characters running around getting into trouble, the plot was bound to be a mess. An ably managed mess to be sure, but a mess nonetheless. "Lawless" focuses mainly on Jack – even taking him as a narrator when necessary – as he rises in the family ranks from timid shipment driver to a showboating wheeler and dealer. The problem with this approach, however, is two-fold.

First, he doesn't make for a very interesting or relatable character. Almost all of Jack's success is made on dumb luck and rash judgements, but he plays it off like it was all part of the plan – in particular to his trusting friend and partner Cricket (Dane DeHaan) and love interest, Bertha (Mia Wasikowska). Second, he leeches screen time away from Rakes' and Banner's storylines, which reduces them to bit parts that are roughly explained and consequently end up clogging up the film's progression.

It's a shame the plot is forced to jump around so much between characters to keep things going. At its heart, "Lawless" is a good story with quality performances. Despite the sheer amount of stuff going on, director John Hillcoat ("The Road") keeps the frenetic pace in check and still manages to paint a rich picture of the era. Tom Hardy continues to log esteem with his turn as Forrest, and Chastain's role as the enigmatic Maggie Beauford adds a touch of high-class luster to the rustic backdrop.

In spite of its shortcomings, "Lawless" emerges strong, thanks in no small part to the sheer prowess of its cast. The film is a lot like a spinning plate show – if any one of the plates go down, the show turns to chaos and the act is ruined. But, its many actors manage to keep a firm command of their characters and carry the plot through to the end (regardless of the length of their time on screen). It's a tenuous balance, but it's just enough to prevent "Lawless" from crashing to the ground.
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During the Prohibition Era of the 1920’s & 1930’s, things were really bad. Gangsters ran the streets in the cities (especially Chicago) and when they started to make their way out to the rural areas that export moonshine, that’s when it got really, really ugly. In Franklin County, Virginia, dubbed by one fictional reporter as the “Wettest County in the World” (for the kids that don’t know, wet in this sense is not like going into the pool, unless that pool is made of booze), the Bondurant brothers dominated the moonshine business. Eldest brother, Forrest Bondurant (Tom Hardy), was the ringleader of the operation; middle brother Howard (Jason Clarke), was the brawn and youngest brother Jack (Shia LaBeouf) was the driver. Jack always wanted to run his own operation and make some real money but Forrest saw him as weak. That is not entirely true but when a test of strength would present itself, Jack would always submit to the opposition.

The Bondurants and the lawmen of Franklin County had an understanding, as long as they law got their share, they could operate. That all changed when Special Deputy Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) rolls into town to crack down on the bootleggers of the land. Hailing straight from Gangster Town, U.S.A (a.k.a. Chicago), Rakes made a beeline to the Bondurant boys to show them who’s in charge. Forrest does not yield to anyone, making him enemy #1 on Rakes’s list.

Another gem that rolled in from Chicago looking to start anew (and a job), is sassy vixen, Maggie Beauford (Jessica Chastain). She blindsides Forrest into giving her a job at the family diner, which now puts her in danger from the ones that want to bring the Bondurants down.

When Forrest is viciously attacked one night by some out of town thugs that tried to hurt Maggie, Jack and Howard are left to keep the family business going. Will Jack be able to use this as an opportunity to break free from Forrest? Will Rakes be able to take down the Bondurants for once for all? Will Franklin County take back control from the mob that has invaded their area or will it fall into dangerous hands?

When a film that’s based on a true story/book adaptation comes out, it either can be really good or really bad. Lawless is one of those films that hovers in between good and bad, it’s just average. Based on the true story of the Bondurant family in the book “The Wettest County in the World”, written by Jack’s grandson Matt Bondurant, the book is told from 3 perspectives rather than just one (Shia LaBeouf’s) in the film. There’s nothing particularly outstanding in terms of groundbreaking filmmaking, as the pacing of the story is a tad on the slow end, but the acting performances as an ensemble are superb. Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pierce and Gary Oldman, all give knock out performances but Shia LaBeouf’s character, although supposed to be the weak brother, was too inept. The most under utilized character was Gary Oldman’s mobster Floyd Banner. Oldman is such a fantastic actor, it was a shame they didn’t have more back-story included in the final cut.

What would have been really cool, is to go into the history a little more about the bootlegging and what stems from today out of that era. I remember seeing recently a documentary series on the History Channel about Prohibition and how what we know as NASCAR started back then from the bootlegger’s supped up cars, racing them on the weekends. This film is heavy on the violence, not sure if they were trying to make it more Scorsese – esq, but it does show a lot of blood.

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Lawless critics review

The action in the film is set in the American South during Prohibition and the Great Depression. The game's story - the family Bondurant, three brothers, Jack, Forrest and Howard, are engaged in prohibited while business bootlegging. Optimistic Jack, the youngest of the brothers, hoping to earn money through bootlegging and impress his girlfriend Bert. At the same time, Forrest, on the contrary, set up very dark, it is silent and suspicious, and Howard also often have to deal with the enemies of the illegal family business, which act in the face of corrupt local police.