An all-star cast have assembled for this stylish tale of bootleggers and mobsters from director John Hillcoat. S
hia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy are the Bondurant brothers, who run a liquor at the height of the Depression-era. The law tends to turn a blind eye to their activities, until a brutal enforcer in the form of Guy Pearce turns up. With everyone wanting a bigger cut, the brothers face a series of threats to their business and the divisions also come to light in their own relationship.
Based on the real-life accounts by Matt Bondurant, this is not the Al Capone type film with machine gun toting wise guys laying waste to vast numbers of faceless goons. We get to know, and even respect all the major players, even if Gary Oldman and especially Guy Pearce remain unlikeable.
The pacing might put some people off, there are several moments when the audience are left to admire a rather lovely, lovely cardigan that Tom Hardy wears for the majority of the film, but eventually it all comes together with tremendous verve and vigour. The performances are all flawless.
Release Date: 7 September
Starring: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce and Jessica Chastain
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