As much as I want to like Shia LaBeouf as a serious actor, his past career choices and general absence of skill make that difficult.
It doesn’t help when he’s put up against more defined actors like Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman, or even his cinematic brother Tom Hardy. Looking at the Great Depression and Prohibition through the eyes of ruthlessness and greed, the Bondurant brothers have a pretty compelling story even as it can’t really decide which main brother to focus on. As such, LaBeouf as Jack is more or less the main character which deflates much of the drama as he is not that strong of an actor.
It’s quite interesting once it gets going as the brothers face opposition from the new law in the land as well as other less admirable types but it takes a while to get there and never really has the gumption to, I’d assume at least, betray the original story for larger stakes. Director John Hillcoat and the Weinsten Brothers may have had grand ambitions for this liquor-running, outlaw tale but it never delivers anything beyond an under-baked period piece. Maybe if Joseph Gordon-Levitt had been involved instead.
It doesn’t help when he’s put up against more defined actors like Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman, or even his cinematic brother Tom Hardy. Looking at the Great Depression and Prohibition through the eyes of ruthlessness and greed, the Bondurant brothers have a pretty compelling story even as it can’t really decide which main brother to focus on. As such, LaBeouf as Jack is more or less the main character which deflates much of the drama as he is not that strong of an actor.
It’s quite interesting once it gets going as the brothers face opposition from the new law in the land as well as other less admirable types but it takes a while to get there and never really has the gumption to, I’d assume at least, betray the original story for larger stakes. Director John Hillcoat and the Weinsten Brothers may have had grand ambitions for this liquor-running, outlaw tale but it never delivers anything beyond an under-baked period piece. Maybe if Joseph Gordon-Levitt had been involved instead.
Comments
Post a Comment