Lawless

Set in the prohibition era of America's 1920s, Lawless is the true story of three brothers who defy the law.  Brewing alcohol in glass jars, they are led them into violent conflict with the corrupted society of Chicago.

The depiction of masculinity is predominantly framed within the bildungsroman of Shia LaBeouf's character, Jack Bondurant.  LaBeouf produces an unexpectedly endearing turn as the youngest and most fragile of the brothers, desperate to prove his worth.  Tom Hardy delivers an outstanding performance as Forrest, an almost silent and imposing figure, redolent of violence.  The credible chemistry between the actors allows their relationship as brothers to feel indisputably genuine.   A fleeting appearance by Gary Oldman, however, illustrates how the film also has the tendency to too quickly sideline several of the most engaging characters.

The chaos of the city, ridden with violence and death, spills out into the country and threatens the Bondurant brothers.  This is led by Guy Pearce as the sinister Chicago special agent, Charlies Rakes, with slickly parted hair and an acid demeanour.  The disorder is illustrated through the brutal acts of violence, as the plot is consumed by indeterminate morality and authority.  The costumes and sets allow a sense of authenticity, bringing alive this vivid period of '20s America.  However, the quietly spoken southern accents demand concentration and made the dialogue at times difficult to follow, as did the continual introduction of characters, which caused the plot to fall into uncertainty.

Lawless depicts the themes of masculinity, family and authority through convincing performances.  However, there was something indefinitely missing from the plot, which prohibited the film from proving truly satisfying.