- Film Review
- Reviewed By Trevor Johnston
-
2 out of 5
During Prohibition, in the backwoods of Virginia, a family of bootleggers led by an imposing Tom Hardy are pitted against the combined might of county sheriffs, including Guy Pearce's ruthless special deputy. The outcome is very bloody, as one might expect from director John Hillcoat, who made the similarly themed The Proposition. Shia LaBeouf more than holds his own as the least brawny of the moonshine-pedalling brothers, the period detail is painstaking, it's beautifully photographed, and there's a swampy, rootsy score by Nick Cave (who also wrote the screenplay). It's a great shame then, that the storytelling is so muddled, extracting only moderate impact from the escalating mayhem. Ultimately, the film falls down on clarity, only finding impetus in scenes of down 'n' dirty confrontation between the stars. Hardy is a fierce anti-hero, well matched against the manic, leather-gloved Pearce, but Hillcoat just cannot bring order to the chaos.
Plot Summary
Three brothers run an underground bootlegging operation in Depression-era Virginia. However, as their criminal activities become increasingly successful, a corrupt deputy sheriff demands a cut of the profits, forcing them to fight to defend their livelihood. Crime drama, starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman and Guy Pearce.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Jack Bondurant
- Shia LaBeouf
- Forrest Bondurant
- Tom Hardy
- Floyd Banner
- Gary Oldman
- Bertha Minnix
- Mia Wasikowska
- Maggie Beauford
- Jessica Chastain
- Howard Bondurant
- Jason Clarke (2)
- Cricket Pate
- Dane DeHaan
- Charley Rakes
- Guy Pearce
- Danny
- Chris McGarry
- Gummy Walsh
- Noah Taylor
Crew
- Director
- John Hillcoat
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