Blu-ray, DVD Release: Lawless

By
S. Clark
– October 2, 2012Find Others: Blu-ray, DVD, Movie, New Release, NewsGet More: , , , , , , , , ,

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Nov. 27, 2012
Price: DVD $29.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $39.99
Studio: The Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay Entertainment

LawlessTom Hardy (This Means War) and Jessica Chastain (The Help) find love in a time of crime in Lawless, a dark and gritty movie that’s as much folk tale as it is gangster drama.

Based on the novel by Matt Bondurant, which in turn is based on a true story, Lawless tells the story of the Bondurant brothers in Depression-era Virginia. Led by Forrest (Hardy), the Bondurant gang, also including Jack (Shia LaBeouf, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) and Howard (Jason Clarke, TV’s The Chicago Code), are bootleggers who have quite a few people trying to take them down, including rival gangster Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman, The Dark Knight Rises) and new and very strange deputy Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce, Lockout).

Chastain plays Maggie Beauford, a former stripper who takes refuge with the Bondurant boys, and Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre) plays Bertha Minnix, a preacher’s daughter who attracts the eye of LaBeouf’s youngest Bondurant boy, Jack.

The R-rated film was directed by John Hillcoat, who knows a thing or two about gritty movies, having helmed the award-winning The Road.

Lawless was well-loved by moviegoers, who gave the film an 81% approval, according to Rotten Tomatoes. Critics, on the other hand, couldn’t decide if they liked it or not. The Wall Street Journal‘s John Anderson called the movie “evocative,” but Rolling Stones‘ Peter Travers called Lawless “an ambitious try.”

The mixed reviews could be why the movie grossed $36 million, less than expected for a film that got as wide a release as this and the amount of advertising The Weinstein Company threw behind it. We expect it’ll do better on disc.

Both the DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo include special features. Here’s the list:

  • audio commentary with director Hillcoat and author Matt Bondurant
  • featurette “The True Story of the Wettest County in the World”
  • featurette “Franklin County, VA: Then and Now”
  • music video for Willie Nelson’s “Midnight Run”
  • deleted scenes.

The Blu-ray pack also offers a downloadable digital copy of the film.

 

Buy or Rent Lawless
Amazon graphic
DVD | Blu-ray/DVD Combo		 DVD Empire graphicDVD | Blu-ray/DVD Combo Movies Unlimited graphicDVD | Blu-ray/DVD Combo Netflix graphic

Related titles:

  1. Blu-ray Review: Lawless
  2. New Release: The Company Men DVD and Blu-ray
  3. Blu-ray, DVD Release: Coriolanus
  4. Blu-ray, DVD Release: The Dark Knight Rises
  5. Blu-ray, DVD Release: The Master

About S. Clark

Sam Clark is the former Managing Editor/Online Editor of Video Business magazine. With 19 years experience in journalism, 12 in the home entertainment industry, Sam has been hooked on movies on since she saw E.T. then stared into the sky waiting to meet her own friendly alien. Thanks to her husband’s shared love of movies, Sam reviews Blu-ray discs in a true home theater, with a 118-inch screen, projector and cushy recliners with cup holders.