Lawless
(2012/Anchor Bay/Weinstein Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture: B/C Sound: B/C+ Extras: B Film: B
Bootlegging
has been a subject endlessly discussed, but rarely have any good films been
made of it and it usually is incidental to other activities in Depression-era
Gangster films. John Hillcoat’s Lawless (2012) is an amazing film based
on the real-life Bondurant Family who were among many in West Virginia back during The Great
Depression to be moonshine producers, continuing even when prohibition kicked
in. That only made their product more
valuable and when some people with governmental power thought this was a time
to squeeze and extort “protection” money out of these independents, the
Bondurants said no and that is where our story gets real interesting.
The
amazing Tom Hardy is the head of the family, keeping them together and making
sure they do not get messed with, aided by his big brother (Jason Clarke) and
looking out for their younger brother (Shia LaBeouf in a comeback performance
that announces the return of the real actor who has disappeared in recent
years) who is interested in being in the business, as well as a young local
(Mia Wasikowska) who is the daughter of a strict religious figure.
Their
nemesis will be a sadistic city dandy (the ever underrated Guy Pierce) who
intends to get his money and kicks no matter what the cost or what laws he’ll
break looking down on just about everyone he comes into contact with. That leaves the Bondurants with their
greatest threat and a county where things may never be the same again.
An
extremely well written, well acted, well made motion picture overall, Hillcoat
continues to be one of the most underrated directors around and it is amazing
how all of this coheres so naturally and amazingly. He is reunited here with music legend Nick Cave
(see Ghosts… Of The Civil Dead on
DVD elsewhere on this site) who has delivered a stunning screenplay adaptation
as well as scored the film!
Also
among the outstanding cast is Jessica Chastain as a pretty gal from Chicago who
starts working for the Bondurants to have a simpler life and the amazing Gary
Oldman as a legendary gangster in another classic turn where he steals almost
every scene he is in. Definitely one of
the year’s must-sees, no best films of 2012 list is complete without it.
The 1080p
2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer is stylized to look and feel
somewhat like a past that is a bit colorless, but we still get good color,
definition and detail for a work shot on an Arri Alexa HD camera. Director of Photography Benoit Delhomme,
A.F.C., creates a very palpable look that only enhanced the mood, feel and
narrative sense of being there as the story unfolds resulting in one of the
best HD shoots of the year. The anamorphically
enhanced DVD is much softer and not as engrossing, so see it on Blu-ray over
the DVD if you can.
The
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix may have some silent moments
reflecting the sometimes quieter times of the 1920s, but even those moments
have nice ambience ands the soundfield is rich and warm throughout. Add the action scenes and use of music
(including songs vocalized by Country Music legends Willie Nelson and Emmylou
Harris) and you have one of the smartest, most professional, most well recorded
and edited motion picture mixes of the year.
The lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 on the DVD is fairly good, but no match for
the DTS-MA version on the Blu-ray.
Extras
include a Digital Copy for PC, PC portable and iTunes able devices, plus Willie
Nelson Music Video for “Midnight Run”, Deleted Scenes, feature length audio
commentary track by Director Hillcoat and Author Matt Bondurant and three
featurettes: The True Story Of The
Wettest County In The World, Franklin
County, VA: Then & Now and The
Story Of the Bondurant Family.
All in
all, Lawless is one of the year’s
best films and highly recommended.
- Nicholas Sheffo
