Lawless MOVIE REVIEW

An amazing cast along with a great villain help make this film one of the best dramas of the year.

Based on the book "The Wettest County in the World", Lawless is about a group of bootleggers who are about to have problems when a new deputy and a few others want a cut of their profits.  The movie is set during the late stages of the prohibition era and centers on three brothers, the Bondurant Boys (Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Jason Clarke).  Our main characters begin to have troubles when a new deputy (Guy Pearce) shows up and threatens the brothers which leads to some physical and bloody violence.  Shia LaBeouf definitely shows how good of an actor he can be when he is stripped from being in a CGI filled action movie.  Tom Hardy, who keeps getting better continues to shine.  His character is very humble and soft spoken and is the more physical of the brothers in this film.  Guy Pearce, who plays the new deputy Charlie Rakes, is excellent in the villain role.  From his first scene in the movie, you already know he is going to cause trouble and he does not disappoint.  It is one of the best villain characters I've seen on film in a while.  The rest of the cast, including star in the making Jessica Chastain (who shines in every scene she is in), the great Gary Oldman (who is not in it enough), and Mia Wasikowska are all top notch.  Lawless has a few pacing issues but it is still a good movie with a great cast
... AND SIMPLY PUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  B+


Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Guy Pearce, Mia Wasikowska, Dane DeHaan
Director: John Hillcoat
Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity
Lawless out August 29 is Now in Theaters.