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Lawless

Play trailer Poster for Lawless R 2012 1h 55m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 217 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Va., run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business, bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is the brain of the operation; older Howard (Jason Clarke) is the brawn, and younger Jack (Shia LaBeouf), the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman (Guy Pearce) from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.
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Lawless

Lawless

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Critics Consensus

Grim, bloody, and utterly flawed, Lawless doesn't quite achieve the epic status it strains for, but it's too beautifully filmed and powerfully acted to dismiss.

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Critics Reviews

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J. Hoberman ARTINFO.com 02/22/2019
Lawless wants to be something larger than life, but it's too joyless to be a tall tale and too self-satisfied for tragedy. Go to Full Review Nicolas Rapold Film Comment Magazine 07/01/2013
Hillcoat makes a foray into Virginia's Prohibition-era moonshine country. But the adaptation (by Hillcoat compadre Nick Cave) is a hokey piece of pop history that wearyingly insists upon its own mythos like a comic-book blockbuster. Go to Full Review David Thomson The New Republic 06/14/2013
It's slight and casual to the point of laziness, but it's straight fun, done with knowledge and a laconic pleasure. You could do far worse. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Jul 20
3/5
"Lawless" has its easily definable good guys, bad guys, and, most crucial of all, the morality play that plugs in emotion to a foreign and past barbaric time. Go to Full Review Iván Kazi EscribiendoCine 04/12/2023
8/10
The percentage of elevated violence impregnates and propels almost every facet of the protagonists' life. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 10/03/2022
3/4
There isn't much dimension to these proceedings and not an inkling of greater meaning beyond the story at hand, but it’s such a well-made picture that one can hardly protest. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leaburn O @RT35452347 Nov 3 It’s actually a good addition to the gangster genre after I thought we’d previously done this theme to death. Syrupy ending aside, I really enjoyed. Watched on DVD. See more Oaklee D @ODie63 Nov 3 An entertaining crime film, which is bold and at times brutal, worth watching at least once. See more Daniel N @RT24087858 Sep 1 Cool story, very entertaining, nice mix of drama, action and romance. See more scott M. @smiller_6 Aug 10 loved it……………………………… See more Paul C @RT68421373 Aug 2 The only movie I’ve seen in recent times worse than this Pyle of crap is the Irishman. It’s like watching paint dry. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 20 Success in 1 hour and 55 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Some Sexuality/Nudity, Language and Strong Bloody Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $37,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
Lawless

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Cast & Crew

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John Hillcoat

Director

Shia LaBeouf

Jack Bondurant

Tom Hardy

Forrest Bondurant

Jason Clarke

Howard Bondurant

Guy Pearce

Charley Rakes

Jessica Chastain

Maggie Beauford

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Lawless

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Va., run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business, bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is the brain of the operation; older Howard (Jason Clarke) is the brawn, and younger Jack (Shia LaBeouf), the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman (Guy Pearce) from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.
Director
John Hillcoat
Producer
Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Megan Ellison, Michael Benaroya
Screenwriter
Nick Cave
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Production Co
Annapurna Pictures, Blumhansonallen Films, Douglas Wick/Lucy Fisher
Rating
R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Language|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 29, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$37.3M
Runtime
1h 55m
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