Rating of
3/4
Good, Brutal Drama
Alex - wrote on 09/16/12
Story: I have an interest in U.S. history, particularly from 1915 to 1940. This movie falls in line perfectly with that time frame. Many have seen at least one episode of Boardwalk Empire which takes place in the New Jersey area. This movie takes place in Virginia, on the west side in a rural area. Having a few hard nosed brothers control a town through smuggling moonshine around the county in a brutal fashion makes for a good story.
Musical Score: Nick Cave wrote most of the music. It does a good job of fitting in to the atmosphere. Some of the songs feel a tad out of place and aren't truly hillbilly enough. But, I liked it better than most and it actually helped the movie.
Acting: Surprisingly solid though Oldman's part is almost a waste of space. He isn't in it much and doesn't add a whole lot to the story. Shia LaBouf does not ruin the movie, which is hard for him to do lately. Guy Pearce is absolutely nails as a bad guy and Tom Hardy continues his sweep Hollywood.
Cinematography: Looks gorgeous. Very well done. Not as long of shots as a Terrance Malick film, but if you have seen John Hillcoat's other movies, you can expect the same quality. Bootleggin in Virginia never looked so good. Even the costume and set designs look real. Impressive.
Overall this is a very solid 3 star movie. My only gripe is that it doesn't have enough depth to become a great film. Its a brutally simple movie that doesn't over do it but still succeeds in telling a great story.
Recent Comments
MzLovin - wrote on 09/27/12 at 11:32 PM CT
Lawless Review comment
This Is now my favorite movie!!!!!
