Jack (Shia LaBeouf), Forrest (Tom Hardy) and Howard (Jason Clarke) are brothers selling illegal alcohol during America’s prohibition era in the 1930’s. Making a fortune with their activities they rule their area with an iron fist. When Deputy Sherriff Charley Rakes (Guy Pearce) arrives all hell breaks loose. Refused a cut into their lucrative business, Rakes aims to bring them down. What follows is tale of savage vengeance as the brother’s fight for every last scrap of their hard earned existence.
Laced with magnetic performances and strong script, ‘Lawless’ feels like a classic Western. There are no heroes as such with every character indulging in sadistic opportunism. It’s a tough and bloody existence they inhabit and almost mirrors director Sam Pekinpah’s famous shoot ‘em ups from the 1970’s. Perhaps this was the atmosphere the film-makers were aiming for – if so, they’ve done a great job. They successfully enable an understanding of their character’s motivations with their actions defining them.
A more coherent production than ‘The Proposition’, Cave revels in providing much period detail. His efforts are helped by the great cinematography and soundtrack capturing the danger and passion the era evoked. The violence of the times is very full-on making the screenplay more honest in its depiction of events. How physical intimidation played an important role for the brothers in controlling and using fear to their advantage is also effectively conveyed.
Cave and Hillcoat hit their stride with ‘Lawless’. An arresting and well-paced movie, their next joint venture is one admirers of this work will be waiting for with eager anticipation.
Movie Review Rating out of 10: 8
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
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