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Lawless

R Released Aug 29, 2012 1h 55m Crime Drama List
67% Tomatometer 221 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Va., run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business, bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is the brain of the operation; older Howard (Jason Clarke) is the brawn, and younger Jack (Shia LaBeouf), the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman (Guy Pearce) from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.
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Lawless

Lawless

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Critics Consensus

Grim, bloody, and utterly flawed, Lawless doesn't quite achieve the epic status it strains for, but it's too beautifully filmed and powerfully acted to dismiss.

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Critics Reviews

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J. Hoberman ARTINFO.com Lawless wants to be something larger than life, but it's too joyless to be a tall tale and too self-satisfied for tragedy. Feb 22, 2019 Full Review Nicolas Rapold Film Comment Magazine Hillcoat makes a foray into Virginia's Prohibition-era moonshine country. But the adaptation (by Hillcoat compadre Nick Cave) is a hokey piece of pop history that wearyingly insists upon its own mythos like a comic-book blockbuster. Jul 1, 2013 Full Review David Thomson The New Republic It's slight and casual to the point of laziness, but it's straight fun, done with knowledge and a laconic pleasure. You could do far worse. Jun 14, 2013 Full Review Iván Kazi EscribiendoCine The percentage of elevated violence impregnates and propels almost every facet of the protagonists' life. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 8/10 Apr 12, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review There isn't much dimension to these proceedings and not an inkling of greater meaning beyond the story at hand, but it’s such a well-made picture that one can hardly protest. Rated: 3/4 Oct 3, 2022 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies “Lawless” is a tough, bloody, and violent action picture that’s very honest in what it’s trying to be. The story is simple and nothing will catch you by surprise. But it’s also compelling and the characters are easy to invest in. Rated: 4/5 Aug 23, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A movie that will drive you to drink. A good cast is wasted playing unlikable characters with violent Tendencies and dull love lives. A thoroughly unemployable film. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 05/20/24 Full Review Drums n Bass I How do you mess up a movie with such an amazing cast? Well, in this case they did it with a disjointed storyline and plot holes you could drive a load of moonshine through. And cartoonish characters with retched dialogue, such as the Special Deputy. Even the great Guy Pierce couldn't salvage that monolithically evil role. Not sure I've ever seen a character as one dimensional, with the possible exception of Spongebob Squarepants (who's infinitely more entertaining, by the way). As usual, Tom Hardy showed absolute planetary gravitas and just became his terrifying character. Just his performance makes it worth a watch and is basically the only reason I gave it even two stars. As an individual performer he gets five, but sadly even that wasn't enough to elevate this beyond a "meh." Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Sps D Strong cast, successful acting and a gripping story, it's definitely a must watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/30/23 Full Review bash k Patronising at best, guy Pearce is the super villain who cannot be killed and even when killed is done in the dark taking away all pleasure from viewers for chance of justice being done, 1 star simply because couldn't give 0 Rated 1 out of 5 stars 11/03/23 Full Review Bruno V Filme com proposta de filme, mas que infelizmente que se arrasta e cansa a certo ponto. Logo pensei que estava assistindo uma série. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/07/23 Full Review Jon C It's well written and solid acting. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Lawless

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Cast & Crew

Lawless

Lawless: Official Clip - I Gotta Watch You Die Again Lawless: Official Clip - I Gotta Watch You Die Again 2:47 Lawless: Official Clip - Moonshine Raid Lawless: Official Clip - Moonshine Raid 2:58 Lawless: Official Clip - Church Hymn Lawless: Official Clip - Church Hymn 2:34 Lawless: Official Clip - Did You Put Gas In The Truck? Lawless: Official Clip - Did You Put Gas In The Truck? 1:59 Lawless: Official Clip - White Lightning Lawless: Official Clip - White Lightning 2:35 Lawless: Official Clip - Special Deputy Rakes Lawless: Official Clip - Special Deputy Rakes 2:58 Lawless: Official Clip - Going for a Ride Lawless: Official Clip - Going for a Ride 2:58 Lawless: Official Clip - Bridge Shootout Lawless: Official Clip - Bridge Shootout 2:51 Lawless: Official Clip - Maggie Beauford Lawless: Official Clip - Maggie Beauford 1:29 Lawless: Official Clip - Floyd Banner Lawless: Official Clip - Floyd Banner 2:01 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Va., run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business, bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is the brain of the operation; older Howard (Jason Clarke) is the brawn, and younger Jack (Shia LaBeouf), the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman (Guy Pearce) from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.
Director
John Hillcoat
Producer
Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Megan Ellison, Michael Benaroya
Screenwriter
Nick Cave
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Production Co
Annapurna Pictures, Blumhansonallen Films, Douglas Wick/Lucy Fisher
Rating
R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Language|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 29, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$37.3M
Runtime
1h 55m
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