At the Theater - Lawless - This 1930's Prohibition-Era (based upon a true story) tale of Virginia bootleggers ends up somewhere between good and very good but nowhere near great- it's much better filmed and acted than written or directed. That said, this is Director John Hillcoat's (The Proposition- liked it, The Road- didn't care for it) most accessible work of his limited feature film efforts. Viewers will undoubtedly remember Guy Pearce's (Memento, L.A. Confidential) scene-stealing performance as a sadistic "Special Agent Man" - a couple more extended scenes featuring his reptilian presence might have propelled him amongst the ranks of the all-time infamous greats. The dude oozes evil here and that wide part he sports down the middle of his hair is killer.
While I'm not much a fan of the young Actor, Shia Labeouf once again displays an undeniable talent- he portrays the impressionistic "Jack Bondurant" here, the youngest sibling of three real-life, moonshine-running brothers. Although he'll never be able to shake the boyishness to be believable as a pure action star (I mean, c'mon, can you ever really see him kicking ass alongside Jason Statham?) there should be a wealth of quality dramatic roles in his future. His character is likable enough, and much more involving than any other in the film.
I couldn't shake the notion that Tom Hardy's ("Bane" in The Dark Knight Rises, as if you didn't know) character is a bit of a contradiction- his grumbling "Forrest Bondurant" (the leader of the three brothers) is presented as some kind of legendary, unstoppable enforcer/brute that can't quite muster the heroic goods in two defining sequences where he ends up more of a hapless victim than anything else. He dishes out some old-fashioned "justice-with-a-mean-streak" here and there, but not when it really counts- those hoping for a substantial confrontation between his and Pearce's slimy villain will be let down. I understood the reasoning (it sets the stage for a more "innocent" character to shine through in the clutch) but couldn't get past it's uneven and predictable execution.
Gary Oldman fans might also find themselves disappointed- the actor only shows up in a few scenes as a flashy Gangster that "Jack" wishes to pattern himself after. I felt Oldman's character lacked a dynamic- he simply isn't given the material or time to truly shine in what amounts to a decidedly trivial role. It's rather frustrating that seasoned veteran greats like Oldman are having to settle for smaller bit parts. Yeah, it's a paycheck, but those who've seen the Actor's performances in The Professional or Romeo Is Bleeding should understand.
Jessica Chastain (The Help, The Debt) looks prettier than ever- she's quite good here (in yet another underwritten role) as a Chicago dancer mistakenly looking for a change of pace as a backwoods bartendress. Mia Wasikowska is the "farmer's daughter" that young "Jack" courts- the naturally pretty actress is solid and should have a massive 2013 (she has five films slated for next year). Jason Clarke (Rabbit Proof Fence), playing "Howard Bondurant", and Noah Taylor (Almost Famous) round out the familiar faces. Something about newcomer Dane DeHaan (Chronicle), a teenaged bootlegger friend of "Jack's", reminds me of a young Leonardo DiCaprio.
The countryside cinematography is very nice (though Georgia is subbing for Virginia here) while the period clothing, vehicles and set pieces all feel authentic. Expect some rather graphic violence and bloodletting throughout- it's appropriate for the subject matter and I wouldn't have it any other way. The third act of the film (which includes my aforementioned issues with Tom Hardy's character) is my chief complaint- it feels disjointed and rushed, almost a bit bizarre in it's lack of emotional punch given what's come before. It's another film where the buildup is far better than the payoff. I liked it, but it's not nearly as good as similarly themed films like The Untouchables, Road to Perdition, Public Enemies or Miller's Crossing.
7.5 out of 10
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