by Georgie Gyde
Every so often you’ll be lucky enough to watch a film that manages to surpass expectations, for me, that was new release, Lawless. A film that is grossly undersold by its trailer, it follows three brothers-come-bootleggers during the prohibition era in Virginia and the new authorities that want a slice of their profits.
The aspect of this film that works the most is the characters; empathy for each of them is near instantaneous, particularly for Shia LaBouef’s portrayal of the youngest brother, Jack, and his older brother and maternal-cardigan-wearer Forrest, who is played by Tom Hardy. I mentioned those dastardly authorities earlier, and they come in the shape of the downright terrifying Charlie Rakes; a man who left his niceties back in Chicago with his shaved off eyebrows. There is no sympathy for this man of course, but he is played wonderfully by Guy Pearce (or should I say, GuyBROW Pearce) who seems to be making a well-deserved come back to the film industry.
There are also some great supporting actors here, including Jessica Chastain as a kind hearted Moll, Gary Oldman as possibly the coolest gangster since Al Capone and Mia Wasikowska as a preacher’s daughter with an eye for a bad boy. Lawless is a brilliant film, with just the right amount of surprise-bloody violence to keep you on the edge of your seat and enough heart-warming moments to make you want to cuddle up inside Forrest’s cardigan – definitely worth a watch.
(FREE @ Glos Guildhall in October!)
RATING: 4/5