Claim: Acting is something that Shia LaBeouf does.

Lawless is a 2012 American crime drama film directed by John Hillcoat . The screenplay by Australian singer-screenwriter Nick Cave is based on Matt Bondurant 's historical novel The Wettest County in the World -LRB- 2008 -RRB- . The film stars Shia LaBeouf , Tom Hardy , Gary Oldman , Mia Wasikowska , Jessica Chastain , Jason Clarke , and Guy Pearce .   The film is about the violent conflict between three bootlegging brothers -- Forrest -LRB- Hardy -RRB- , Howard -LRB- Clarke -RRB- , and Jack Bondurant -LRB- LaBeouf -RRB- -- and the ruthless Deputy Charley Rakes -LRB- Pearce -RRB- and his men , who try to shut down the brothers ' Prohibition-era moonshine business after Forrest refuses to pay the cops off . The film was in development for about three years before being produced . It screened at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and was theatrically released on August 29 , 2012 .