Lawless (**1/2 out of ****)

Director John Hillcoat has the rare beauty to match beauty and violence. The darker violence is unapologetic and often brutal. Yet this is surround by gorgeous scenery captured in the most flattering ways. Lawless is a very well made film, quite good really, but not very compelling nor refreshing.

During The Depression, prohibition was rather nasty business. Crime increased country wide to keep illegal alcohol flowing. In Virginia, moonshine was the illegal booze of choice. The Bondurant brothers were the kins of the world in this field. However their business is challenged  by dirty cops and other gangsters. 

Lawless is very well acted, is paced reasonably well, and tells a complete story. However in trying to tell the story of a family fighting with a life of crime (Hey it's like The Godfather) it does nothing original. It just feels like a less stellar gangster drama. The characters aren't the most intriguing either (except for one). Protagonists don't have to be perfect but it would be nice if they were fully entertaining, not just every now and then. The cast composed of Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Dane DeHaan, Gary Oldman and a scene stealing Guy Pearce did a good job in making a bland story worth while. John Hillcoat has done a lot of good here, but it's easier to see the not so great here.

**1/2 out of ****