Lawless (2012) is a gritty crime drama directed by John Hillcoat and written by Nick Cave, based on the historical novel The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant. The film tells the violent and gripping story of the Bondurant brothers, infamous bootleggers in Prohibition-era Virginia, who go to war against corrupt law enforcement.
Detailed Summary
The Bondurant Brothers and Their Empire
The film opens in Franklin County, Virginia, during the Prohibition era. The Bondurant brothers — Forrest (Tom Hardy), Howard (Jason Clarke), and Jack (Shia LaBeouf) — run a successful moonshine business. Their reputation as untouchable outlaws stems from an almost mythical belief that the Bondurants are invincible. Forrest, the eldest, is stoic and commanding; Howard is violent and often drunk; and Jack is ambitious but inexperienced.
The Arrival of Special Deputy Charlie Rakes
Trouble begins when Special Deputy Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) arrives from Chicago to enforce new government control over illegal liquor production. Unlike local lawmen, Rakes is vain, sadistic, and corrupt. He demands a cut of the Bondurants’ profits, but Forrest refuses. This defiance sets off a brutal conflict between the brothers and Rakes’s corrupt task force.
Love and Loyalty in the Midst of Violence
While the brothers battle Rakes, two women complicate their lives. Maggie Beauford (Jessica Chastain), a former dancer from Chicago, arrives to work at the Bondurants’ bar and slowly develops a relationship with the emotionally guarded Forrest. Meanwhile, Jack falls for Bertha Minnix (Mia Wasikowska), a preacher’s daughter. Jack wants to prove himself to her by expanding the business and living lavishly — buying fancy cars and clothes to impress her and the town.
Betrayal, Revenge, and Brutality
After Forrest is nearly killed in a surprise attack by Rakes’s men, Jack believes his brother is dead. Enraged, he teams up with his friend Cricket Pate (Dane DeHaan) to take revenge. Jack’s recklessness leads Rakes directly to their operation, resulting in Cricket’s brutal death. Forrest survives his attack — almost miraculously — and vows revenge.
The Bondurants’ Retaliation
As the violence escalates, Rakes burns down the Bondurant distillery and kills several of their associates. The brothers unite for one final showdown, storming Rakes’s checkpoint in a bloody gunfight. Forrest, despite being badly wounded, pursues Rakes to a bridge where they face off. In a desperate struggle, Forrest stabs Rakes multiple times, killing him, but not before being shot again.
Movie Ending
In the film’s conclusion, the Bondurants survive the bloody war against Rakes and the authorities. Despite his wounds, Forrest recovers once again, reinforcing his near-mythical toughness. Years pass, and the brothers move on from their criminal pasts as Prohibition ends. Jack narrates how life in Franklin County changed, though he still views his brothers as legends.
The final scenes show the family gathered for a peaceful moment, celebrating a wedding and sharing laughter — a sharp contrast to their violent history. But the film ends with a somber note: years later, Forrest dies of pneumonia after falling through the ice while drunk, not in a gunfight or gang war, but through an almost absurdly human accident. Jack reflects on how even the toughest men are vulnerable to time and fate.
It’s a bittersweet, reflective ending — emphasizing that while the Bondurants may have defied death and the law, they couldn’t escape mortality.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Lawless does not have any post-credits scenes. The story concludes fully before the credits roll, offering closure to each major character.
Type of Movie
Lawless is a crime drama / historical thriller, blending the realism of Boardwalk Empire with the grit of No Country for Old Men. It’s part gangster saga, part family drama, and part survival story.
Cast
- Tom Hardy as Forrest Bondurant
- Shia LaBeouf as Jack Bondurant
- Jason Clarke as Howard Bondurant
- Jessica Chastain as Maggie Beauford
- Mia Wasikowska as Bertha Minnix
- Guy Pearce as Special Deputy Charlie Rakes
- Gary Oldman as Floyd Banner
- Dane DeHaan as Cricket Pate
Film Music and Composer
The haunting score was composed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, blending blues, folk, and Appalachian sounds to capture the rural grit of the 1930s. The soundtrack features tracks by Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, and Willie Nelson, giving the film a timeless American outlaw feel.
Filming Locations
Filming took place mainly in Georgia (USA), particularly around Peach County and Coweta County, chosen for their resemblance to 1930s rural Virginia. The lush forests, rustic roads, and decaying farmhouses play an important role in creating an authentic Appalachian atmosphere — a character in itself within the movie.
Awards and Nominations
Lawless received several nominations, including:
- Palme d’Or Nomination at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival
- Best Supporting Actor nominations for Tom Hardy and Guy Pearce in various critics’ circles
While not a major awards darling, it earned strong praise for its performances and production design.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Tom Hardy based Forrest’s gruff, almost mumbling voice on a mixture of his own grandfather and real Appalachian dialects.
- Shia LaBeouf intentionally got drunk on set several times to understand Jack’s impulsive nature.
- Guy Pearce’s look (shaved eyebrows, slick hair, perfumed gloves) was his idea to make Rakes more unsettling.
- Director John Hillcoat and writer Nick Cave previously collaborated on The Proposition (2005), another violent, atmospheric period drama.
Inspirations and References
The film is based on Matt Bondurant’s novel, which itself was inspired by true events and real people — the author’s own ancestors, the real Bondurant brothers. Many of the film’s major events are fictionalized versions of documented moonshining operations in Franklin County, known as the “Moonshine Capital of the World.”
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Several scenes were reportedly trimmed from the final cut to maintain pacing. A longer ending originally showed the brothers’ later lives in more detail, including Forrest’s declining health, but Hillcoat opted for a quicker, more poetic close. No alternate ending significantly changes the story’s outcome.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The film stays true to the spirit of the novel but simplifies the historical and political subplots. The book offers more detail about the county’s corruption and the broader moonshine economy. In the film, the focus shifts toward family loyalty and mythmaking. Forrest is portrayed as more stoic and enigmatic on screen, while the book presents him as more openly brutal.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Forrest’s throat-slitting scene, followed by his miraculous survival.
- The car explosion during the brothers’ retaliation against Rakes’s men.
- Maggie revealing how she saved Forrest after his near-fatal attack.
- The final showdown on the bridge, where Forrest kills Rakes.
Iconic Quotes
- Forrest Bondurant: “It is not the violence that sets men apart. It is the distance that he is prepared to go.”
- Jack Bondurant: “We’re survivors. We control the fear.”
- Charlie Rakes: “You are nothing but filthy animals.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The film’s bar, Blackwater Station, is named after the real location where the Bondurants supposedly operated.
- A brief cameo of the author Matt Bondurant appears as a local farmer.
- The license plates and signage throughout the film were recreated using authentic 1930s Virginia designs.
Trivia
- Tom Hardy wore an oversized cardigan that became iconic; it was hand-knit to match the style of the 1930s.
- The car used by Gary Oldman’s character Floyd Banner is a real 1931 Ford Coupe.
- Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy reportedly clashed off-set but used the tension to fuel their performances.
Why Watch?
Lawless is a masterclass in atmosphere and character-driven storytelling. It’s perfect for those who enjoy gritty realism, Prohibition-era crime, and moral gray areas. The performances are intense, the dialogue sharp, and the cinematography drenched in dust, sweat, and moonshine.
Director’s Other Movies
- The Proposition (2005)
- The Road (2009)
- Triple 9 (2016)
