Lawless
2012 · Directed by John Hillcoat
Original language: English
- crime
- drama
- western
The story
In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Virginia, run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business — bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest is the brain of the operation; older Howard is the brawn, and younger Jack, the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.
What it’s like
Dusty, sun-bleached Appalachian hollows under a grey-green haze, with the film's palette leaning toward amber lamplight, muddy browns and the blood-dark red of spilled liquor. Director John Hillcoat frames much of it in long, unhurried compositions of rough wooden buildings, dirt roads and wide woodland, and the camera holds steady through quiet domestic moments before cutting to sudden, startling violence. The score is sparse and drony, with strings that swell low and mournful beneath long silences, and gunshots land with a flat, sharp crack. Its vibe is gritty, melancholy and tense, a slow-burning Depression-era gangster drama with a sour, fatalistic edge. Pacing is deliberate, building through long stretches of tension before bursts of graphic brutality, including beatings, stabbings and several shootouts with real gore. Tone is grim and bleak, with corruption and loyalty tested among brothers, and the arcs follow men hardening under pressure and a young man learning what the family business costs. Violence is frequent and often brutal, and the sexual content is limited. It suits viewers who want a moody, character-driven crime western with a strong sense of place, not a light or comforting watch.
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