LAWLESS (B)

Bottom Line: A minimalized MILLER’S CROSSING minus the off-beat, exuberant creativity meets a toned-down THE UNTOUCHABLES sans the star-wattage flash. LAWLESS is a well above average, mostly riveting, slow-burn prohibition era potboiler – with gritty scenery, brutal violence and solid acting: Tom hardy keeps things sturdy, Guy Pearce brings the slimy and Shia LaBeouf adds the youthful, street-smart sly (plus he’s not running around yelling at giant, transforming robots for a change…which is refreshing). It’s been decently received thus far by critics – but true to their praise-heavy form, this movie is not one that’ll appeal to the mass audience mentality. It’s good, just a little too methodical for my tastes – a little too lifeless as times. One-note in tone, LAWLESS is not flawless but it’s a respectable flick nonetheless…

Starring: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska and Gary Oldman
Directed by: John Hillcoat (THE ROAD and THE PROPOSITION)
Rated: R
Running time: 115 minutes
Story: Lawless is the true story of the infamous Bondurant Brothers: bootlegging siblings who made a run for the American Dream in Prohibition-era Virginia. In this epic gangster tale, inspired by true-life tales of author Matt Bondurant’s family in his novel “The Wettest County In The World”, the loyalty of three brothers is put to the test against the backdrop of the nation’s most notorious crime wave. (The Weinstein Company)

Trailer: www.lawless-film.com