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Lawless (2012)

 -  Crime | Drama  -  29 August 2012 (USA)
7.3
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Ratings: 7.3/10 from 88,153 users   Metascore: 58/100
Reviews: 222 user | 306 critic | 38 from Metacritic.com

Set in Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by a new deputy and other authorities who want a cut of their profits.

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(screenplay), (novel)
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Danny
Tim Tolin ...
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Deputy Jeff Richards
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Sheriff Hodges
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Tizwell Minnix
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Storyline

In 1931, in Franklyn County, Virginia, Forrest Bondurant is a legend as immortal after surviving the war. Together with his brothers Howard and the coward Jack, the Bondurant family has a distillery and bootlegging business. When the corrupt District Attorney Mason Wardell arrives in Franklyn with the unscrupulous Special Deputy Charles Rakes, the Bondurant family refuses to pay the required bribe to the authorities. Rakes pursuits the brothers and unsuccessfully tries to find their distillery. Meanwhile Forrest hires the waitress Maggie, a woman with a hidden past in Chicago, and they fall in love with each other. Jack courts the preacher's daughter Bertha Minnix and deals a great load of alcoholic liquor with the powerful gangster Floyd Banner. Jack shows off in Franklyn attracting the attention of Rakes that finds the location of their distillery. When he kills the crippled Cricket Pate, the locals join forces to face the corrupt authorities. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

When the law became corrupt, outlaws became heroes.

Genres:

Crime | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

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Country:

Language:

Release Date:

29 August 2012 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

The Promised Land  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$10,001,566 (USA) (31 August 2012)

Gross:

$37,397,291 (USA) (21 November 2012)
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Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

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Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor Shia LaBeouf drank moonshine in order to gain as authentic an appearance as possible. By his own admission his drinking and over-aggressive attitude caused co-star Mia Wasikowska to try and leave the film. See more »

Goofs

Throughout the movie, Spanish moss is shown. The movie was shot in Georgia, which has Spanish moss. Franklin County, VA does not. See more »

Quotes

Jack Bondurant: Tell your daddy I said "hi".
See more »

Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.193 (2012) See more »

Soundtracks

"So You'll Aim Towards the Sky"
Written by The Bootleggers
Performed by Emmylou Harris / The Bootleggers
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Bondurant Family Values
2 April 2013 | by (Buffalo, New York) – See all my reviews

Lawless is the story of the three Bondurant brothers from Franklin County, Virginia, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, and the runt of the litter Shia LaBoeuf. Before World War I the Bondurants made a good living selling moonshine, but now Prohibition has arrived and there are new problems on the horizon for those in that business.

One of the most colossal pieces of stupidity that America ever indulged in was Prohibition. We actually amended our constitution so that we could regulate morals. A good lesson for those who think regulation of one's personal behavior is a desired thing. What the Bondurants have to deal with is law enforcement which is in the form of a corrupt District Attorney Tim Tolin.

An idea like Prohibition is sure to bring out the corruption in many who see it as a way to take bribes. Tolin is one of those and he has a special deputy in Guy Pearce ready to enforce the law and those who don't bribe. That would be the Bondurants and we have the makings of an old fashioned mountain feud brewing.

LaBoeuf has a lot of trouble living up to the legend his brothers have created. In fact his weakness is the cause of a lot of problems. But when a young mountain kid Dane DeHaan is murdered by Pearce that gets a war started.

Both LaBoeuf and Pearce deliver some standout performances in Lawless. This is based on a novelization of some real incidents by a descendant of the Bondurant family. The recreation of Prohbition era rural Virginia is well done. Definitely worth a look.


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Tom Hardy is one of the best actors out there. Travisvsherrill
Tom Hardy's voice the_spiral
Sorry But never gonna believe anything shot on digital is the past jboxer11111
Doesn't Cricket look like a young DiCaprio? craig-msn
Guy Pierce's ButCut wranglerd
Why did Maggie (Jessica Chastain) return to the bar? kElevrA7
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