Review of Lawless (2012) by Pete S — 17 Apr 2013

Based on true events "Lawless" is a twentieth century western telling the tale of three brothers running moonshine out of Virginia during the prohibition years.

When approached by corrupt authorites in the shape of a manic Charley Rakes(Pearce) eldest brother Forrest(Hardy) refuses to cut them in. Forrest long believed in a legend that he and his brothers were 'indestructible', he'd never paid anyone off before and wasn't about to start now. Along side him is tough strong arm Howard(Clarke) and the younger less burly Jack(LaBeouf). Jack is still learning he ropes, trying to prove himself mostly unsuccessfully to brother Forrest.

The movies opens in quite a searing manner & gives the impression that it's going to brood for sometime. This is briefly interrupted by one of Gary Oldman's noisy appearances. Oldman really is under used here. Jack witnesses Oldman slaying an enemy & is in inspired.

From this point it just becomes a lot of posturing from both sides. This conicides with some milling about involving the female interests, mostly Chastain as Maggie. This, however, just slows the whole thing down and the film seems to lose it's focus.

After that though it comes to the boil very quickly as the element of revenge rears it's head. Having said that it's a brief conclusion rather than the gunfight at the OK Coral.

To summarise it's a decent film but one that could have given so much more. A good cast play parts well as you would expect but it just lacks the thunder and lightning to make it great.