Lawless is a 2012 crime drama film directed by John Hillcoat and based on Matt Bondurant's novel The Wettest County in the World. The movie is set in 1931 and tells the story of the Bondurant brothers - Forrest, Howard, and Jack - who run a successful bootlegging business in rural Virginia, but their operation is threatened when a crooked special deputy named Charlie Rakes arrives from Chicago to take a cut of their profits.
Forrest, the eldest brother, is a tough and ruthless leader who commands respect from his men. Howard is a soft-spoken, mechanically gifted teetotaler who helps his brothers run the business, while Jack is the youngest and most naive of the three, eager to prove himself to his brothers and see more action.
As the Bondurant brothers fight to keep their business running, they become embroiled in a violent and bloody feud with Rakes, who is backed by corrupt local authorities. The conflict intensifies when a new rival gang led by Floyd Banner, a charismatic and violent gangster, arrives in town, threatening the Bondurants' position as the top bootleggers in Franklin County.
As the tension mounts, the brothers face increasing danger and are forced to use their skills and wits to survive. The film features a star-studded cast including Tom Hardy as Forrest, Shia LaBeouf as Jack, Jason Clarke as Howard, Guy Pearce as Rakes, and Gary Oldman as Banner.
Lawless is a gritty and violent film that explores themes of loyalty, family, and the corrupting influence of power in a lawless world. It received mixed reviews from critics but was praised for its strong performances and visceral action sequences.