John Hillcoat's previous directing duties include: The Proposition, which - from what I remember - was a really good movie. And: The Road, a depressing and unimpressive film of a great and unadaptable Cormac McCarthy novel. His latest movie, Lawless (not a Lucy Lawless biopic), shows a little more spirit than his previous work, but lacks the sparkle of a great film.
Lawless takes place in the most ridiculous time in American history - Prohibition. The one thing the prohibition era gave us were great gangster/outlaw characters like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. Lawless is about the moonshine bootlegging brothers of Franklin County, Virginia - the Bondurant brothers (no, they don't drive a '69 Charger).
There are excellent performances out of absolutely everyone in the cast, but, unfortunately, the characters don't really go anywhere. Jack Bondurant (Shia LaBeouf) is the focus of the film, and the other characters - more importantly their relationship with Jack - go underdeveloped.
Guy Pierce makes a horrifying antagonist as the special deputy from Chicago looking to lay down the law. He looks ridiculous with shaved eyebrows, a wide parting of his hair, and funky sideburns. He's maniacal - which is great - though at times it's too comical and over-the-top.
Gary Oldman plays gangster Floyd Banner and is awesome for the few minutes you see him; he's so great, in fact, that you wish the whole movie was just about him.
Tom Hardy seems a little lost in this movie with his awkward mumbles and groans. You expect more from his performance due to his current resume, but a lot of the blame is surely due to the lack of definition in his character; there definitely could have a been more fleshing-out of his relationship with younger brother Jack, a key part of the film.
Hillcoat's great at setting a somber tone, then surprising you with action and violence - a signature he uses tactfully in Lawless. The characters are established well, there's lots of great drama built - in turn building momentum - but ultimately culminates with no payoff. The final act of the movie has a lot of build-up but leaves you without closure.
A story is only as good as it's ending, and Lawless has one of the most hilariously dumb endings, ever. It not only leaves you without satisfaction, but is utterly laughable (the moral: don't succumb to the urge of dancing).
The Bottom Line: Great acting, though underdeveloped characters, and rich drama with no resolve. A bold undertaking, and although it comes close, lack of direction prevents Lawless from being a great movie.
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