Lawless... I saw the gangster drama two days ago, and I must say, Tom Hardy has nine lives! (I'll resist the urge to lamely joke that he should've played Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises because of this.) Lawless is based on a true story, but I think it's safe to point out that the filmmaker (John Hillcoat) embellished the moments where the outlaw named Forrest Bondurant, who's played by Hardy, came so close to death in the movie. Shia LaBeouf, who plays Jack, Forrest's brother, did a good job portraying the young naive sibling who strives for greatness—even if it's as a bootlegging criminal during the Prohibition Era—after he witnesses a mob hit committed by the ruthless gangster Floyd Banner, portrayed by Gary Oldman. Kinda weird to see Oldman in a villainous role once again after playing Commissioner James Gordon in The Dark Knight trilogy, but it was awesome (though seldom) to see him weld a Tommy Gun as he nonchalantly laid waste to enemies in nondescript Virginia locales. Guy Pearce was cool as special agent Charlie Rakes, who kicks ass before taking names...even if he does wear a bow tie while trying to lay down the law. Mia Wasikowska, who played Alice in Tim Burton's 2010 version of Alice in Wonderland, was constrained (appropriately so) but lovely as the preacher's daughter named Bertha Minnix. Jessica Chastain, in contrast, was all-out seductive as Maggie Beauford, a dancer from Chicago who wants to find some peace and quiet in a small forest town. Just ask Forrest Bondurant.
Film critics have pointed out that cinematography-wise, Lawless is visually bland. And I agree with them. From the looks of it, the movie was shot digitally, since it looks nowhere near as crisp as another mob flick like say, 2007's American Gangster (directed by Ridley Scott and featuring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe). Or The Godfather. Definitely not like The Godfather. Or even Scarface. But you get the idea... Carry on.
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