LAWLESS

US, 2012, 115 minutes, Colour.
Shia La Boeuf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman, Mia Wasikowska,
Directed by John Hillcoat.

The original title, from the book by one of the descendants of the three brothers, Bondurant, was ‘The Wettest Country in the World’, a story about Prohibition days and moonshine smuggling. However, after watching the film, Lawless does seem a much more appropriate title.

While there have been films about moonshine in the 1920s and 1930s, the emphasis on the city gangsters or the outlaws who drove around the US robbing banks has been a bigger staple of crime thrillers about the period. However, while there is reference to Al Capone, this is a story of the Virginia mountains and a family (based on a true story) that brewed, delivered and sold around the county (with a wink from some of the police).

We are introduced to the Bondurant brothers as boys, with Jack, the youngest, unable to shoot a pig on the farm. The oldest boy, Howard, drinks a lot but is under the sway of the middle brother, Forest, who had harsh experiences fighting in World War I. The action of the film takes place in 1930 and stays in the small town, in the brothers’ home, on the roads and local bridges and at the still. Chicago takes an interest and some gangsters come down to throw their weight around but to buy from the brothers.

But, the law is interested. The law is embodied by one of the most detestable agents we have seen on screen, in demonically ruthless and relentless pursuit of the brothers. He is a fashion dandy with perfume, bow tie and suit, polished black hair, parted in the middle – and no eyebrows. He can beat people brutally. He resents any implications when he is referred to as a nance. He orders attacks on stills but has little personal loyalty from the police and his deputies. In many ways he steals the show in Guy Pearce’s near or over the top performance.

While Shia La Boeuf has the main role as Jack, somewhat timid, brutally beaten, wanting to be a someone in the business, meanwhile attracted to the daughter of a pastor in charge of a closed and traditional community, it is Tom Hardy as Forest who is more interesting. Hardy has proven himself in the last five years to be a versatile actor (and handy with American accents). He is quiet but what one might call indomitable, especially when slashed, beaten and shot so often. Jason Clarke is Howard.

There are only two main women in the film, Jessica Chastain as a dancer who has fled from Chicago, and Mia Wasikowska as the pastor’s daughter. They have limited screen time but do establish their characters strongly. Gary Oldman has some scenes as the gangster from Chicago.

Filmed in Georgia, the film looks good. The cast is solid. The screenplay, by Nick Cave (who also wrote the score, as he did with John Hillcoat’s The Proposition) is stronger on characters than offering a complex plot.

The Bondurant brothers were not exactly lawless. They lived outside the law. Their vicious pursuer is much more lawless, exploiting the law on his side. There is a quiet epilogue which reminds us that Prohibition was repealed and so many of the bootleggers settled down to respectability by the time that World War II broke out, another era.

1. A piece of Americana? Prohibition and its aftermath? The true story? The photo of the brothers at the end? (The Australian contribution to the film, director, writer, cast members?)

2. The 1930s, the mountains and hills, the terrain, the distilleries, the town, streets, homes, the cafe and accommodation? The feel of the period? Costumes and decor? The musical score?

3. Jack and the voice-over, his perspective, admiration for Forest, the acceptance of bootlegging, the way of life? His experience of violence?

4. The brothers, the introduction, their ages, attitudes, relationships with each other? Forest as the oldest, leadership? Howard in the middle, relying on Forest? Jack as the youngest? The stills, the deliveries, the cafe? The reality of Prohibition, their attitudes? Attitudes to of the law? Lawlessness?

5. The violence, the prohibition criminals? The Prohibition criminals? Floyd Banner, driving into town, the machine gun, shooting the car? Ruthlessness? The later encounter with Jack? Talking with him? Tasting the liquour? The deal, doing business? His henchmen, confronting Jack, taking him to Banner? And bashing him? Banner and the police and the powers that be?

6. Forest, silent, big, strength of character, driving the truck, the deliveries, the encounters with the police and his disregard? The arrival of Rakes? The confrontation? Maggie’s arrival, asking for the job, his acceptance? The men attacking him, slitting his throat, Maggie returning, taking him to hospital? His being saved? The brothers visiting him in hospital? His confronting and warning Jack?

7. Howard, the second brother, tough and rough, involved in all the action?

8. Jack, the focus, his age, inheriting the business and the attitudes? Cricket as his friend? Seeing Bertha, going to the church, his hat, the washing of the feet, running away, the pastor sending his shoe back? The confrontation with Rakes, the brutality of Rakes’ bashing him? Forest and his attitude? Jack and his friendship with Cricket, the inventions, the engine for the car and its speed? Encountering Floyd Banner? The deal? The dress for Bertha, changing into it, their love for each other? Rakes taking advantage of Jack, the pursuit, going into the stills, the violence, the destruction and explosions, Rakes following Cricket into the woods, killing him? Jack ultimately confronting Rakes, being shot, despite the wounds, pursuing Rakes and killing him?

9. The local police, the double standards, violence, their stances, ambiguous, against Rakes at the end?

10. Rakes, his appearance, hair and eyebrows? Deputy? The corrupt boss giving him orders? Rakes and his arrogance, attitude towards the law, doing his job? His address, his vanity? The brutality towards Jack? His defiance? Following Jack, the destruction of the stills, his killing Cricket? With the girl in his room, the mirror, his vanity? The final confrontation, the stands, shootings, his being wounded, fleeing across the bridge, the confrontation with Jack, his death?

11. The character of Cricket, having rickets when he was young, clever, designing the stills, running them, designing the engine, a simple young man, his death?

12. Bertha, religious, her father, playing at the dance, playing in the church, the washing of the feet, meeting Jack, the discussions, his buying the dress, her being in danger and Jack getting her to flee?

13. Maggie, coming from the city, going to Virginia, asking for the job, hearing Rakes, coming back, discovering Forest, taking him to the hospital? The sexual relationship? Her work, observing? Wanting to leave, staying?

14. The political background, the establishment of Prohibition, administration of the law, the role of the criminals and crime waves?

15. The final confrontation, shootings, Forest wounded (and recovering)?

16. The ending of Prohibition? The families, 1940, the boys or married, leading an ordinary life, jobs? Howard settling down and his wife and children? Maggie and Forest? Bertha and Jack and their children?

17. Urging Forest to dance, going out, on the ice, dancing, falling in, getting out, his past extraordinary survivals, dying of pneumonia?

18. A picture of life in the 30s – and the transition to the period of World War II in the 1940s?