The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Fund us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Cannes
      • Sundance London
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS


Lawless premiere: Somerset House

Lawless premiere: Somerset House
29 August 2012
Claire Mitchell
Avatar
Claire Mitchell
29 August 2012

The quixotic conception of outdoor cinema settings being thwarted by English downpour and stone hard floor was put to the test in a 9pm viewing of Lawless, soon to be released nationwide on screen. There was a particularly ironic antithesis between the beautiful surroundings of Somerset House and the backdrop of Hillcoat’s crime thriller: dusty Virginia. 

Lawless is in cinemas from 7th September 2012.

The story revolves around three brothers intent on becoming ruthless iconic American gangsters. Jack (Shia LaBeouf), the youngest most impressionable Bondurant brother, seeks to find his inner heartlessness, as he becomes caught up in brawls that he can’t handle, in contrast to the tenderness he finds with a Christian girl, played by Mia Wasikowska. LaBeouf acts well, if not slightly irritatingly in this role: physically shy of his stocky brothers and emotionally never ready for the danger he seeks. Tom Hardy, as his older brother Forrest, acts quietly, but extremely poignantly and powerfully. His presence captures attention even when he is silent. Guy Pearce also shines as a fraudulent cop, battering his victims so heartlessly and so without perceptible intention that it is almost laughable.

The film is at times gripping, and filled with moments of both callousness and gentleness. It is violent, grisly and spread-eagled proportionately between Western romance and American gangster. Hillcoat wanted to explore the idea of violence bringing out the best and worst in a person, but the character development that should emanate from this intention is overshadowed by mindless batterings. 

The fire and grit within the film lies in its violence, without which there would be a certain emptiness. To live for dominance without real resolve is a hollow concept, and Lawless constantly battles this in order to try and connect with an audience. It is worth seeing, mostly for its brilliant acting, and this coupled with its outdoor showing at Somerset House made for a great evening of entertainment. However, as a film it seems to constantly fall short of much needed depth to make it really recommendable. 

Verdict: •••

Claire Mitchell

Watch the trailer for Lawless here

Related Items

More in

Natural ways to stay healthy and beautiful

The editorial unit
Read More

Top four destinations to experience culture in Spain

The editorial unit
Read More

Top tools and tips you’ll need in order to brew your own beer at home

The editorial unit
Read More

Three women’s health facts you didn’t know

The editorial unit
Read More

10 cute sandals for spring

Sophie Cook
Read More

Justin Nozuka at the Garage

★★★★★
Bev Lung
Read More

Mayfly at the Orange Tree Theatre

★★★★★
Connor Campbell
Read More

Sherlock Gnomes premiere: A chat with James McAvoy, his co-stars and the film’s creators

Rosamund Kelby
Read More

The Outsider

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Project Gastronomía: How will Londoners eat in 2050? A symposium on gastronomy and multisensory design
    Food & Drinks
  • Gregory Porter at the Royal Albert Hall
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Tribeca Film Festival 2018: On the red carpet with the stars of Westworld season 2
    Cinema
  • Half Breed
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • 10 cute sandals for spring
    Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Justin Nozuka at the Garage
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Mayfly at the Orange Tree Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Sherlock Gnomes premiere: A chat with James McAvoy, his co-stars and the film’s creators
    Cinema
  • The Outsider
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Sherlock Gnomes premiere: A chat with James McAvoy, his co-stars and the film’s creators
    Cinema
  • Tokio Myers at the Forum
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Beast
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Lisa Stansfield at the London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre

Instagram

Something is wrong. Response takes too long or there is JS error. Press Ctrl+Shift+J or Cmd+Shift+J on a Mac.
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Fund us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • New London restaurant openings and pop-ups
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Subscribe
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd