neonsurfer6 said:Spoilers!
You actually just reminded me of how the movie ends. I think I mentally re-edited the whole thing in my head, which is probably why I’m treating that bridge scene as the "real" finale 😁 Honestly, if the ending is the weakest part of the film, it’s no wonder I pushed it to the back of my mind. Everything gets wrapped up a bit too neatly and saccharine at the end—it feels forced, like they tacked it on just to satisfy us. It’s a shame, really. There wasn't any real need to hammer home their fates; the whole thing could have ended right there with that showdown on the bridge.
Spoiler alert!
I feel like the ending was just a total mess. It feels like they wrote it that way just to make the brothers look basically invincible—I mean, Tom Hardy’s character survives a slit throat, a shootout, and all that crazy stuff, only to kick the bucket in such a lame way at the end.
I mean, if you look at the actual story, it’s like... well, you know.
Just dropping my own review in here too:
Picture it: the 1930s, back when booze was totally illegal. You've got these three brothers running an entire bootlegging operation. First, there's Jason Clarke—total mess, basically a permanent drunk. Then you have Tom Hardy, the steady one who keeps the business moving; he’s quiet and mumbles, but man, he’s a powerhouse who could take anyone down if they crossed him. Finally, there's Shia LaBeouf, the baby of the group. He isn't nearly as tough as his older brothers, though. He plays the driver, kind of a nervous wreck, but he's desperate to prove himself and step up to their level. He’s obsessed with those classic gangsters, especially this local mobster played by Gary Oldman in a tiny little cameo. Still, that opening scene where the guy shows up is killer. He rolls into town with a Tommy gun and a cigarette dangling from his lips, just absolutely mows down everyone in his path without breaking a sweat. He catches a glimpse of a terrified LaBeouf, gives him a quick wink—still rocking the cigar and the gun—and just cruises off. Pure class.
Jessica Chastain plays this waitress working at a station near some brothers, just looking for some peace and quiet, but all she finds is pure chaos and nothing but trouble. She’s also Hardy’s love interest, though they basically spend half the movie just staring at each other while you sit there wondering when they’ll finally get it on or if we're gonna get a sexy scene with Jessica. Then you've got LaBeouf’s interest, Mia Wasikovska, who's this innocent girl tied to the local preacher—honestly thought her subplot was totally pointless until late in the film when some guy's ego gets in the way and everything goes south fast. Man, things just go wrong for everyone in this one... I actually felt bad for a few of them.
Man, you guys are gonna hate Guy Pearce. He’s such an obvious villain from the second he hits the screen. Honestly, he looks like a total jerk right away, and if his face doesn't make you want to freeze him out instantly, his behavior definitely will—especially later when he goes full psychopath. Pearce kills it in the role, though I get that some people might find him a bit much once he starts going over the top.
Hillcoat / Cave are teaming up again. Their last collab, The Proposition, was absolute fire, and even when they worked solo—like doing soundtracks for some killer movies—they killed it. This one isn't quite hitting the heights of The Proposition since it feels a bit less original, but man, the casting is spot on. Every single character hits. Hardy is a total standout (surprising? maybe not). He’s doing that thing where he barely talks or just mumbles to himself—even when a naked Jessica shows up! He’s all hunched over, giving off major Bane vibes through his eyes and body language rather than actual lines. And when he starts throwing hands? Pure chaos. Shia LaBeouf might actually be the MVP here, though. His character has this great arc, evolving from a scared kid into this wannabe gangster. Such a talented guy, it's a shame people mostly associate him with those Transformers wrecks. Then you've got the third brother, Jason Clarke; he's solid and has a few great moments, but he definitely gets overshadowed by the other two. I've always been a fan of Guy Pearce, and even if his character is a jerk, the acting is top-tier. Not much to say about Oldman, Wasikovska feels kind of out of place with nothing to do, and Jessica Chastain is great, though her character definitely catches a lot of heat.
Direction was solid, though I think there was room to level up. Visually? Totally stunning. Since it’s a Cave project, I went in expecting a masterpiece for the soundtrack, and while it hit some high notes, certain parts felt pretty trippy and weird... Also, plenty of sudden, brutal violence popping off out of nowhere—definitely a win in my book. My only gripe is the ending; it felt super naive and rushed, like they just bolted for the finish line. Could've been tighter...
8/10
