Lawless
Go! Lawless? certainly. Flawless? No.
Bootlegging brothers' belligerent battle.
Prohibition era USA - what would filmmakers have done without it?! Loads of people were violently murdered back from of all the crime and bootlegging and whatnot, but apparently always in an extremely entertaining manner. Lawless is no exception - particularly as it is based, reasonably accurately, on a true story. As is typical, lots of people die, brutally, but as always with this kindathang, you'll happily be rooting for the moonshine-makers (the three Bondurant brothers) like your own blood flowed through their lovably naughty, 64%ABV veins.
The heaving, muscular heart of this film is played by the indomitable Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises). Hardy is a throbbing lump of brawny flesh marinated in talent. Here, he comfortably plays the strong, quiet familial protector who epitomises the legend that the Bondurant brothers are indestructible. People try to kill him... People fail. In a strange way, he is perhaps too good at the role - growling like an intense mountain cat on cue; smashing in skulls like an angry bear; then being caring, emotional and respectful like a little faun. Without many other woodland creatures to compare him to, the point is that a mountain cat-bear-faun probably doesn't exist. The fact that Tom Hardy can play one doesn't mean he should.
The heaving, muscular heart of this film is played by the indomitable Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises). Hardy is a throbbing lump of brawny flesh marinated in talent. Here, he comfortably plays the strong, quiet familial protector who epitomises the legend that the Bondurant brothers are indestructible. People try to kill him... People fail. In a strange way, he is perhaps too good at the role - growling like an intense mountain cat on cue; smashing in skulls like an angry bear; then being caring, emotional and respectful like a little faun. Without many other woodland creatures to compare him to, the point is that a mountain cat-bear-faun probably doesn't exist. The fact that Tom Hardy can play one doesn't mean he should.
On the other side of the story is the seething, slick-haired Guy Pearce (Memento) as the corrupt cop assigned to the hillsides of Virginia to shut down the bootleggers. He leaks unpleasantness from every mouldy pore, crackles with grotesqueness and is very obviously the bad seed that screenwriter (and musician) Nick Cave grew fictionally from the reality of the original book. Pearce is so rotten, it's a wonder that we don’t see him eating puppies and reading back-issues of the News of the World while working in a City bank. Again, the actor executes the role with tremendous accuracy, but a lack of nuance means that the believability slips away as the film rolls on.
Smack bang between those two polar opposing characters is the spritely Shia Le Boeuf. Here “The Beef” graduates from his charming, giddy Transformers safety-net to something more weighty. His character's story is probably the most predominant, and predictable - he falls for the cutesy preacher's wife, but his thirsty ambition takes him to the edge of destruction. On the way there, we travel his journey from gutless to gallant. Again, it is all too easy - too on the mark.
Smack bang between those two polar opposing characters is the spritely Shia Le Boeuf. Here “The Beef” graduates from his charming, giddy Transformers safety-net to something more weighty. His character's story is probably the most predominant, and predictable - he falls for the cutesy preacher's wife, but his thirsty ambition takes him to the edge of destruction. On the way there, we travel his journey from gutless to gallant. Again, it is all too easy - too on the mark.
This following of convention haunts the film – because it's everything we think we would want it to be... it ends up failing to be. The characters become caricatures and the story lacks direction; placing too much reliance on clever lines of isolated dialogue and brutal violence. For example, if you’re not fond of, say, live castration, this movie may not be for you. Nevertheless, there is plenty of excitement and energy to be distilled from its component ingredients, which is particularly notable considering its roots in a true story and its modest $12 million budget.
Altogether, it is one of the better films of the year so far, but perhaps missed out on its potential to be among the best. Oscar season is now virtually upon us, and like Tom Hardy running at full pace, the good flicks are set to arrive thick and fast. Expect it to slip down the 2012 rankings, but go, because Lawless still makes for a very enjoyable brew.
Altogether, it is one of the better films of the year so far, but perhaps missed out on its potential to be among the best. Oscar season is now virtually upon us, and like Tom Hardy running at full pace, the good flicks are set to arrive thick and fast. Expect it to slip down the 2012 rankings, but go, because Lawless still makes for a very enjoyable brew.
#lawless #cinema #moviereview #filmreview #movies #films #godontgo