Quick Hit: See immediately if you enjoy: sensible action, loyalty in brotherhood, being a badass, crime/western films, and solid acting.
A Deeper Dig: Lawless is focused on three bootlegging brothers in small town Virginia during the Prohibition. They are led by the eldest, Forrest (Tom Hardy), a man's man with one hell of a gritty voice. Some will catch hints of Hardy's previous work and the trademark voice of Bane, the leading villain from The Dark Knight Rises). Jack, the youngest, is played by Shia LaBeouf. When compared to his older brothers, he is easily the weakest with the most to prove. Yet, while he starts off slow, he shows some remarkable growth throughout the film that you're likely to appreciate.
There were also some surprise supporting roles performances in Lawless. Guy Pearce is truly disturbing as a menacing and deranged federal agent from Chicago. Some will likely not even recognize Pearce in this role, for his appearance is far from normal and makes him almost unrecognizable. Pearce certainly left his mark this summer with unusual roles when considering not only his work in Lawless, but also Ridley Scott's sci-fi thriller Prometheus. Pearce was in Promethus?? Yes, just Google it.
Another strong costar, Mia Wasikowska absolutely sizzles in this film. Her subtle and reserved portrayal goes perfectly with Tom Hardy's performance. Her graceful and delicate beauty soothes Hardy's rough and worn persona. Hardy's speaking lines are sparse throughout the film's duration, yet he manages to convey more than any other character with his perfected physical acting.
You may have noticed I've focused a lot of time on Hardy's work in Lawless, and it's because I find the film's biggest flaw to be his lack of screen time. I found myself rooting for his character more than any other. His development and story certainly deserved more time, and it's a damn shame he didn't get it.
All in all, this flick earns its keep. Highly entertaining, excellent portrayal of an interesting era, great acting, and lots of grit. Go see it.
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