Prohibition is a hot topic in
Hollywood these days. Unless you have been living in a cave for the last few
years you will have undoubtedly heard about the smash HBO show Boardwalk
Empire, set in Atlantic City in the early years of prohibition. Running with
the popularity of the show, Matt Bondurant’s 2008 novel The Wettest County in
the World has been adapted by musician Nick Cave for the big screen. Lawless,
as it’s called, stars Shia La Boeuf, Tom Hardy and Guy Pearce to name but a
few. Set mostly in 1931 it tells the tale of three country brothers who run a
moonshine business.
And well, that about sums it
up. The casting is strong and the
main performers make this film an enjoyable watch but somewhere along the way
you can’t help but feel it could have been something more. Guy Pearce has an
excellent turn as an old fashioned baddie and Tom Hardy (cardigan and all) puts
in another great performance to add to the list but Shia La Boeuf gets lost in
a muddle of mumbling lines and unlikability.
Fans of the HBO show will have an altogether too familiar
feeling watching Lawless, we have been there and seen it all before. Not that
that’s a bad thing but it lacks the bright lights big city feeling that
Boardwalk Empire is so good at capturing. Lawless is perfectly good
entertainment, well shot and beautifully made but it’s a bit on the throwaway
side of things. Nothing new is brought to the table and certain facets of the
story aren’t as well explored as they should be. But if it’s a good old-fashioned
story you’re after then Lawless is your man.
xxx
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