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| LaBeouf and Hardy as bootlegging brothers. |
Directed by John Hillcoat
Produced by Michael Benaroya, Megan Ellison, Lucy Fisher, and Douglas Wick
Written by Nick Cave (screenplay); Matt Bondurant (book)
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, and Guy Pearce
***
Hillcoat's new film tells the story of the infamous bootlegging Bondurant brothers: Jack (LaBeouf), Forrest (Hardy), and Howard (Clarke). The year is 1931, and the boys are quite successful at moonshining in Franklin County, Virginia. Being the eldest, Forrest and Howard run the business, while Jack drives the merchandise. Everything changes when Deputy Charlie Rakes (Pearce) moves in from the city and tries to intimidate them. The two oldest brothers stand up to him, which sparks a war that soon drags Jack into the fight. In the midst of this battle, Forrest and Jack find love interests in Maggie Beauford (Chastain), a former dancer from the city, and Bertha Minnix (Wasikowska), the preacher's daughter. Blood is repeatedly shed on both sides, and the three brothers must take a stand to bring down Rakes once and for all.
This film plays like a potboiler concerned with characters, but it doesn't allow them to shine. Many of the scenes are dry and lifeless. In terms of plot, the narrative is divided between Forrest and Jack, as both are kicked down again and again by the law. There's no clear focus on where this film wants to go, but a resolution manages to come out of all this violence. If this is a faithful adaptation (I haven't read the book.), then this story probably works much better in the literary format. Still, the film contains solid performances from the innocent LaBeouf and the stoic Hardy, and Pearce and Oldman (as gangster Floyd Banner) give scenery-chewing performances in their small roles. Though the rest of the cast is good, they don't have much to do in their underwritten parts. It may seem like I'm putting the film down, but it's still got a lot to offer. Beautifully shot and wonderfully crafted, this could be a film that only improves with additional viewings. For now, I'd recommend it with the note that it's a slight letdown and might not be for everybody.
This film plays like a potboiler concerned with characters, but it doesn't allow them to shine. Many of the scenes are dry and lifeless. In terms of plot, the narrative is divided between Forrest and Jack, as both are kicked down again and again by the law. There's no clear focus on where this film wants to go, but a resolution manages to come out of all this violence. If this is a faithful adaptation (I haven't read the book.), then this story probably works much better in the literary format. Still, the film contains solid performances from the innocent LaBeouf and the stoic Hardy, and Pearce and Oldman (as gangster Floyd Banner) give scenery-chewing performances in their small roles. Though the rest of the cast is good, they don't have much to do in their underwritten parts. It may seem like I'm putting the film down, but it's still got a lot to offer. Beautifully shot and wonderfully crafted, this could be a film that only improves with additional viewings. For now, I'd recommend it with the note that it's a slight letdown and might not be for everybody.
Oscar Potential: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design
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