Lawless is a 2012 American crime drama film directed by John Hillcoat and produced by Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick, Megan Ellison and Michael Benaroya. The screenplay was written by Nick Cave and is based on the book ‘The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant.
Rated: R (movie contains strong bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity)
Run Time: 1h 56min
Release Date: August 29, 2012 (USA)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
Director: John Hillcoat
Studio: The Weinstein Company and FilmNation Entertainment
Budget: $26 Million
Box Office: $54.4 Million
Lawless stars Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Dane DeHaan, Gary Oldman and Bill Camp.
Lawless is the story of the Bondurant brothers, who run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business, bootlegging in Franklin County, Virginia in 1931. Middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is the brains of the operation while older brother Howard (Jason Clarke) is the brawn and younger brother Jack (Shia LaBeouf), is the lookout. At the height of Prohibition, ambitious country boy Jack dreams of becoming “Public Enemy #1” while reaping the benefits that go with the gangster lifestyle. By expanding his family’s moon shining business, he plots to launch a vast criminal empire while winning the heart of Bertha (Mia Waskiowska), a beautiful Amish girl. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman named Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurant’s operation.
Movie Quotes
“You got no goddamn vision Howard!” – Jack Bondurant
“Jack, look at me. We’re survivors. We control the fear. And without the fear, we are all as good as dead. Do you understand? Do you?” – Forrest Bondurant
“Why do your friends call me a nance?” – Charlie Rakes
“I ‘dunno, I guess it’s cuz you smell kinda funny.” – Cricket Pane
“It is not the violence that sets a man apart. It’s the distance he’s prepared to go.” – Forrest Bondurant
Official Movie Trailer
Movie Stars
Shia LaBeouf as Jack Bondurant
Tom Hardy as Forrest Bondurant
Jason Clarke as Howard Bondurant
Guy Pearce as Charlie Rakes
Jessica Chastain as Maggie Beaufort
Mia Wasikowska as Bertha Minnix
Dane DeHaan as Cricket Pate
Gary Oldman as Floyd Banner
Bill Camp as Sheriff Hodges