Lawless (2012)

Directed by: John Hillcoat | 115 minutes | drama, crime | Actors: Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Dane DeHaan, Chris McGarry, Tim Tolin, Gary Oldman, Lew Temple, Marcus Hester, Bill Camp, Alex Van, Noah Taylor, Mark Ashworth, Tom Proctor, Bruce McKinnon, Eric Mendenhall, Toni Byrd, Robert T. Smith, Jake Nash, William J. Harrison

They are unapproachable, since time immemorial. The legendary image of the Bondurant family is one of immortality. Wars, epidemics, where the rest of the population could not escape, none of this has crushed this family, central to John Hillcoat’s ‘Lawless’, over the past few decades. It is because of this that they have acquired the image of invincibility in their hometown. The group’s leader is Forrest (Tom Hardy). The Bondurants also consist of older brother Howard (Jason Clarke) and the youngest of the three, Jack (Shia LaBeouf).

‘Lawless’ is set in the 1930s in the American countryside of Virginia. The Bondurant brothers lead a fine life, profiting from their self-established illegal liquor trade, with which they earn good money. However, when a new sheriff comes to town (played by Guy Pearce), this life quickly changes. Sheriff Rakes is determined to put things in order. In his view, one of the biggest problems in the neighborhood is the Bondurant family with their illegal activities. He is also one of the few who does not believe in the myth that hangs around the rather lame young people in his eyes (the joke of the myth is used nicely by the makers during the film and provides the much-needed humor). While the rest of the village soon surrenders to Rakes, the Bondurants are the only ones holding out, despite a number of harsh measures from the sheriff, who, as it turns out, is not averse to a game of mats.

And so a conflict arises that actually forms the basis of the film. ‘Lawless’ is basically a cat-and-mouse game between the Bondurant family on the one hand and Sheriff Rakes and his minions on the other. Although Forrest is clearly the leader of the Bondurants, the leading role is still reserved for the young Jack. Soon in the movie, when his brothers are more preoccupied with their fight against the sheriff, Jack decides to start his own alcohol business. Together with his buddy Cricket (Dane DeHaan) he makes deals with other villages to transport the alcohol. Incidentally, this transport takes place in a nostalgic old-timer that fits perfectly into the setting. Shia LaBeouf, although mainly known for the ‘Transformers’ series, certainly stands up to the other (big) names that are present in ‘Lawless’.

‘Lawless’ has therefore become an above-average western/gangster film. It is a film that does a lot of good, such as the setting, actors and the great pace of the film, but despite this it just lacks something to be called a topper. That something lies in the fact that ‘Lawless’ just lacks some depth, both in terms of story and character development. Unfortunately, the story is not much more than the aforementioned conflict and could have used a surprising twist here and there. Now it’s all just a bit too dull and too neatly worked out. Still, ‘Lawless’ has besides its shortcomings to offer enough to anyone who likes a nice, not too complicated action film.

Martijn Scheepers

Rating: 3.5

Cinema release: November 15, 2012
DVD and Blu-ray Release: April 4, 2013