Lawless (2012)

If anyone thought Nick Cave would be adding a lighter side of life to his screenplays than his music: Look no further. This script is so bleak it might turn your stomach at times. The violence is absolutely grueling and the callousness absolute. It's been a while since I saw a film with such total disregard for human life and emotions. So good times then!

Though the script's main story isn't particularly original, it flows nicely, letting the story itself as well as the characters develop naturally. It also has nice internal logic. I like that. Furthermore there is no lollygagging and guys in pajamas whirling about with fancy weapons. Only mean men with fists, (rather dull) knives and guns. The end game reflects perfectly on that as a group of men stand in cover, fire every now and then, and die every now and then. It might not be mesmerizing in its effects but it is realistic and it adds perfectly to this film.

Why oh why... In a film where Tom Hardy is absolutely fantastic with his stoic calm, underplaying his
characters viciously violent tendencies, and Jason Clarke is so solid as his aggressive shortsighted brother. Where Guy Pearce is so evil you seriously can't believe he once was a four-eyed wimp begging Russel Crowe to stop pounding him. Pearce simply displays an utter disdain for the rednecks surrounding him and takes gleeful joy in hurting them in very sadistic manners. Where Mia Wasikowska shows she can be so much better than as Alice and where Gary Oldman, Noah Taylor and Jessica Chastain so aptly adds a little to almost every scene they're in. Why? Why would you add the absolutely, positively untalented Shia LaBeouf to that mix? He only has a single expression he can do perfectly: Dumbfounded. And he only needs it once. LaBeouf has been running around looking stressed and cowardly in three different Transformers installations, and despite all the dames he has probably nailed as a consequence of his fame and wealth, he still can't act to save a fish from... Hm. Whatever a fish needs saving from. Bigger fish I suppose. There's hardly a single scene that he brings anything to and quite frankly I'm amazed that the other actors are able to get anything from the scenes he's in (most of them).

As for scenes, there is a little standout-moment between Hardy and Chastain. A quiet, short scene of realization and great anguish for both. It really is a slight streak of genius from director Hillcoat, and I thank him for it.

A small deduction will have to be made for the character of Floyd Banner. Though crucial to the storyline, he drowns a bit and it seems strange that he needs to be there at all. I have to bring it up again, though. Tom Hardy is astonishing here and makes the film worth it all alone. So calm before the storm, without any buildup whatsoever before he dishes out the most brutal of punishments, well beyond what is necessary. But they cast LaBeouf  in the biggest part and that sinks this movie in many aspects. That and the stupid and extremely unnecessary voiceover in the last ten minutes.

Too bad. This could have been a truly great little western.

6/10