BrianSez's Review

Summary - Really Great 4.5

Lawless is a really great period film about the moonshine business in the hills of Virginia. And it was lawless indeed. The liquor business was so lucrative during prohibition that the big time crime bosses from Chi,cago came down to get a piece of the action. Soon to follow were the big time crime fighters – so be prepared for lots of shoot-em-up action, and some gruesome realities of the time, including what I’m told is the birth of NASCAR with the bootlegger’s souped up cars – build to outrun whatever chases them. Bottom line is that lawless is a winning bundle of great story, great acting, and edge of your seat drama and action. Unexpectedly, there is even a bit of humor around the fact that Howard Bondurant lives on like the energizer bunny.

Acting - Really Great 4.5

Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Jason Clarke are great as the Bondurant brothers. Shia fits well as the younger and too full of himself and cocky to know better brother. Tom Hardy is great as the liquor crazed middle brother, and Tom Hardy is both stoic and funny at times as the brother that keeps the gag together. Jessica Chastain won’t disappoint as the very attractive Chicago girl who jumps from the frying pan into the fire. Dane Dehaan is very respectable as the crippled and slightly slower friend if the family. Loved Gary Oldman as the successful crime boss everyone looked up to. My pick for the movie is Guy Pearce as the honestly scary Charlie Rakes who attempts to the the Bondurant’s nemesis.

Film - Really Great 4.5

Edge - Horrid 3.6

Reality - Glib 1.7

1 Comment

• Wick Sep 3, 2012 8:30PM

  Regarding BrianSez’s Review
  “Jessica Chastain won’t disappoint as the very attractive Chicago girl who jumps from the frying pan into the fire.” Good line.

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