‘Lawless’

 

Directed by John Hillcoat

Written by Nick Cave from “The Wettest County in the World” by Matt Bondourant

 

With Guy Pearce, Thomas Hardy, Shia La Beouf, Jessica Chastain, Jason

Clark, Gary Oldman, and Mia Wasikowska

 

The impressively executed “Lawless” tells the true life tale of three brawling brothers, Forrest (Thomas Hardy), Jack (Shia La Bouef) and Howard (Jason Clark), who were infamous during Prohibition.

It all happens in Franklin County, Va., where the three Bondourant brothers brewed and sold high-quality hooch. “Lawless” brings together just about everything you could want in a story:  corruption, avarice, family loyalty, envy, pride, revenge, outlaws and, yes, even a love story or two.   

It is based on the book, “The Wettest County in the World” written by Matt Boudorant, the grandson of one of the brothers and gives a graphic look at their dangerous lives.

In 1931, Franklin County, Va., was a major supplier of bootleg booze to the thirsty citizens of prohibition America. The Bondourant brothers made the best, even selling it to the local sheriff and his men. All is fine until Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) arrives, a federal deputy who comes to wipe out the trade, but really only wants a part of the profits. It would be hard to find a more detestable character than Charlie Rakes, a dandy who has spotless leather gloves, perfectly pomaded hair, and a bow tie.

A mobster, Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman), appears on the scene, also wanting a cut. The local deputies quickly join forces with Rakes and Banner.

The brothers decline to share their profits with Rakes. So begins the violence.

Terrifying scenes of shoot outs, raids, neck slashings and face bashings follow. The police become the villains and the outlaw brothers become the heroes. The oldest brother, Forrest, becomes involved with barmaid Maggie (Jessica Chastian) and Jack is besotted by Bertha (Mia Wasikowska), a Mennonite preacher’s daughter. There are delicate scenes of the tenderness of both couples.

“Lawless” is a superb character drama. The dynamic of the three brothers is explored. The stoic Forrest makes the decisions, Howard is quick to execute violent means, and Jack is more timid and emotional. Charlie Rakes is a true villain, a psychopath. Although both Maggie and Bertha are the supportive caring women, their characters are also fleshed out.

The production values of “Lawless” are simply outstanding. The rural Virginia scenes

are beautifully filmed. An interior shot of a hospital is all white and pure, a counterbalance to the mayhem of what is been going on outside in the Moonshine Wars.

Director John Hillcoat has impressively executed a film both of  great beauty and  startling uses of force. All of the violence actually fits into the story line, however, and “Lawless” has memorable characters, a story that pulses, as well as honeyed scenes of Virginia as it was in 1931. And it is based on true events, providing an absorbing and thrilling history lesson about the days of bootlegging.