The wettest county in the world is a 2008 historical novel by matt bondurant, an american writer who features his grandfather jack and granduncles forrest and howard as the main characters in the novel. The brothers really existed a photo of them accompanies the end credits, and nick caves screenplay, based on matt bondurants book the wettest county in the world, has fun delineating them. Shoot the tires out of goddamn car smack in the middle of town with a goddamn tommy gun. The screenplay by australian singerscreenwriter nick cave is based on matt bondurant s historical novel the wettest county in the world 2008. Oct 14, 2008 lawlesspreviously published as the wettest county in the worldwas a new york times editors choice, and one of the san francisco chronicles 50 best books of the year. Inspired by truelife tales of author matt bondurants family in his novel the wettest county in the world, the loyalty of three brothers is put to the test against the backdrop of the nations most notorious crime wave. Jul 05, 2010 the wettest county has recently been retitled to the promised land, and ryan gosling, shia labeouf and amy adams are attached to star.
The novel is told from both the perspectives of the three bondurant. Targeting every bootlegger in the county, including the bondurants, rakes goes to extreme lengths to destroy them. The blandlytitled lawless the book s title, the wettest county in the world, would have been better is a viscerallystartling, sometimes humorous, genuinely engaging film propelled by good performances, crisp dialogue and scene writing, and superb cinematography, editing and soundtrack songs. It is located on the kentucky border in southern indiana.
Explore historical records and family tree profiles about floyd banner on myheritage, the worlds family history network. In the case of the wettest county in the world, first published in 2008, bondurant is doubly protective. Matt bondurant uses the history of his own family to tell the story of moonshining during the 20s and 30s in his book the wettest county in the world. Floyd banner historical records and family trees myheritage. Like so many of our family traditions and family members these recipes are being forgotten along the way. The wettest county and karl gajduseks pandora doesnt shy away from omens.
Matt is the author of the wettest county in the world. Its an adaptation of the 2008 novel, the wettest county in the world, written by matt bondurant. Banner has all of 4 scenes in the film, which amount to no real impact on the actual plot, and rakes is an absurdly stupid mustache twirler of a mustache twirler. The book, like the film then, was based on a true story as matt is the grandson of one of the. Nick cave, based on the book the wettest county in the world. May 19, 2012 as in the old west, so in depressionera franklin the wettest county in the world, as matt bondurant named his historical novel, published in 2008, about the virginia moonshine wars involving his greatuncles forrest and howard and his grandfather jack. Financial analysis of lawless 2012 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. West, so in depressionera franklin the wettest county in the world, as matt. Floyd l banner was born circa 1930, at birth place, virginia, to floyd banner and roxie banner. You have two possible candidates in floyd banner and charlie rakes, but both come up flat. May 19, 2012 inspired by the wettest county in the. Jack witnesses infamous mobster floyd banner shoot dead two atu agents in broad daylight.
Based on the true story of matt bondurants grandfather and two granduncles, the wettest county in the world is a gripping tale of brotherhood, greed, and murder. The bondurant boys were a notorious gang of roughnecks and moonshiners who ran liquor through franklin county, virginia, during prohibition and in the years after. The three bondurant boys shia labeouf, tom hardy, jason clarke, along with their sultry new hire jessica chastain, command the most lucrative bootlegging operation in franklin county, virginia. The wettest county in the world is a remarkably compelling, highly intelligent, and deeply moving novel. The films screenwriter and composer appears as a gangster shot by floyd banner early in the.
As a foreshadowing tool, they can also be used to subvert and control reader expectation, or bait and switch an audience. The true story of the wettest county in the world youtube. The film stars shia labeouf, tom hardy, gary oldman, mia wasikowska, jessica chastain, jason clarke, and guy pearce. Another plot thread involves floyd banner gary oldman. Lawless is the moreorless true tale of the legendary bondurant brothers of virginia, as recalled by their descendant, author matt bondurant, in his book the wettest county in the world. Matts grandfather, jack, and two granduncles that were the inspiration for his book that the movie is based on, the wettest county in the world. The wettest county in the world is a 2008 historical novel by matt bondurant, an american writer who features his grandfather jack and granduncles forrest and howard as the main characters in the novel the book tells of the trio during the depression and prohibition in rural virginia, who made a living bootlegging moonshine.
The bondurant boys howard, forrest, and jack were legendary moonshiners in franklin county, virginia, during the depression, and bondurant grew up hearing tales of their runins with the law, with the bigcity. Lawless with matt bondurant based on a true story podcast. Gary oldman shines as floyd banner, a city gangster whose criminal empire is. The unstoppable force of a crooked lawman meets the immovable object. Set in the waning years of prohibition in the early 1930s, lawless is based on the book, the wettest county in the world, by matt bondurant. Meanwhile we were hauling the stuff around in our old beatup truck.
The book was penned by matt bondurant, whose grandfather jack shia labeouf is the main focus of the film. Jack gets a lucky break in a nearfatal encounter with floyd banners. For those of you that dont listen to good music, nick cave is the frontman for nick cave and the bad seeds also the birthday party and a pretty darn good novelist to boot and the ass saw the. Further resources may be found by searching the indiana state library online catalog. Maybe the wettest county in the world wasnt overflowing with dramatic. To listen using other methods such as windows media player, itunes, or winamp, choose your player selection and click the play icon to start listening. Set in depressionera franklin county, virginia, a trio of bootlegging brothers are threatened by a new special deputy and other authorities angling for a cut of their profits. Jack, initially the timid one, must prove his worth against gangster floyd banners mob. The story became known as the franklin county moonshine conspiracy.
Another major issue is the severe lack of a wellwritten antagonist in this film. But with all stereotypes, you need to separate fiction from fact to truly understand reality. Franklin county moonshinemaking brothers portrayed in the film, which is based on his nephew matt bondurants book the wettest county. The film is based on the wettest county in the world, subsequently. The film reunites hillcoat with his twotime scribe nick cave, a rock musician, poet, and author. The movie was based on the book the wettest county in the world written by matt bondurant, the grandson of jack bondurant. The book was penned by matt bondurant, whose grandfather. Like other recent weinstein company companions, this one is heavy on film clips. Sep 06, 2012 the films villain, officer charlie rakes guy pearce, is a special detective brought in front chicago to end the bootlegging fiasco in the wettest county in america, franklin county. Nov 27, 2012 the true story of the wettest county in the world this feature is 21 12 minutes in length and sees the cast, crew and grandchildren of the bondurant boys talking about the history behind them. The movie is based on actual events, as explained in the 2008 book the wettest county in the world written by matt bondurant, grandson of jack bondurant shia labeoufs character in the film. The movie lawless aka the wettest county in the world. Lawless the true story of the wettest county in the world.
Lawless is based on the novel, the wettest county in the world, by matt. Aug 31, 2012 set in the waning years of prohibition in the early 1930s, lawless is based on the book, the wettest county in the world, by matt bondurant, a descendant of the storys central figures. Novelist matt bondurants family has taken its place in gangster lore. The book tells of the trio during the depression and prohibition in rural virginia, who made a living bootlegging moonshine. Lawless gets lost among the precise period detail bill gibron. He based the novel on the exploits of his grandfather and two granduncles, who ran a massive moonshine operation during the later years of the prohibition era, in the mountains of southwest virginia. Lawless gets lost among the precise period detail popmatters. For his bloody and most entertaining book, bondurant consulted the copious historical. Based upon the book the wettest county in the world by matt bondurant. Finally, with yet another relatively small role, gary oldman the dark knight, the book of eli takes what little screen time he has and produces his own magnificent version of a 1930s era gangster, in this case as mad dog floyd banner, a tommy gun wielding intelligent man of action who throws caution to the wind and has not a hesitant.
Aug 25, 2012 gary oldman shines as floyd banner, a city gangster whose criminal empire is spreading inexorably into franklin county, where the bondurants are revered as local legends, but it is the arrival of. The film is based on the novel the wettest county in the world, author. Perhaps matt knew from the family some history on all these guns depicted in the movie. The screenplay by australian singerscreenwriter nick cave is based on matt bondurants historical novel the wettest county in the world 2008. Margot livesey, author of the house on fortune street and eva moves the furniture bondurant endows this gritty story with all the puzzlesolving satisfactions of a mystery. For his bloody and most entertaining book, bondurant. We see him change into an exhibitionist with his attempts to woo the preachers daughter, bertha. Gary oldman shines as floyd banner, a city gangster whose criminal empire is spreading inexorably into franklin county, where the bondurants are revered as local legends, but it is the arrival of. Aug 26, 2012 in the case of the wettest county in the world, first published in 2008, bondurant is doubly protective. John hillcoats latest movie is a wellpaced and entertaining story of bootlegging in 1931 virginia, skillfully adapted by nick cave from matt bondurants 2008 novel the wettest county in the. 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. Theres a lot going on in this film, which is based off the book the wettest county in the world by matt bondurant who is the grandson of. Screenwriters dont seem to use them as much as a novelist or playwright, but that doesnt mean they dont work in a screenplay.
The blandlytitled lawless the book s title, the wettest county in the world, would have. In this gangster tale, inspired by truelife tales of author matt bondurants family in his novel the wettest county in the world, the loyalty of three brothers is put to the test against the backdrop of the nations most notorious crime wave. May 19, 2012 lawless moonshine, machismo and rivers of gore make for a heady brew in lawless, australian helmer john hillcoats stylishly assembled prohibitionera gangster pic. In the middle of all that i was thinking about you. Based on the 2008 novel the wettest county in the world, lawless is the true story of the bondurant brothers rise to bootlegging infamy during the prohibition era. County moonshinemaking brothers portrayed in the film, which is based on his nephew matt bondurants book the wettest county in. The book that was adapted into the movie lawless and tells the story of his grandfather jack bondurant, as well as his two grand uncles. Hillcoat has made a film with commercial appeal but has probably made it a bit too commercial for the american box office for it to be a truly hard hitting and memorable film that the director is known for the battle lines are drawn far too black and white. Based on the book the wettest county in the world, by matt bondurant, lawless is said to be something akin to real life prohibition history intermarried with back hills legend. Matt bondurant joins us on this weeks episode as we compare what really happened with the movie lawless. Lawless is not so much a true story as a true myth film.
Floyd county was created in 1819 from clark and harrison counties. With tom hardy, shia labeouf, guy pearce, jason clarke. As in the old west, so in depressionera franklin the wettest county in the world, as matt bondurant named his historical novel, published in 2008, about the virginia moonshine wars involving his greatuncles forrest and howard and his grandfather jack. The wettest county has recently been retitled to the promised land, and ryan gosling, shia labeouf and amy adams are attached to star. County moonshinemaking brothers portrayed in the film, which is based on his nephew matt bondurants book the wettest county in the world. Dec 29, 2009 based on the true story of matt bondurants grandfather and two granduncles, the wettest county in the world is a gripping tale of brotherhood, greed, and murder. There are books, a mono record player, a piano and several paintings. Mar 24, 2017 the three bondurant boys shia labeouf, tom hardy, jason clarke, along with their sultry new hire jessica chastain, command the most lucrative bootlegging operation in franklin county, virginia.
Jul 11, 2010 the wettest county has recently been retitled to the promised land, and ryan gosling, shia labeouf and amy adams are attached to star. The bondurant boys howard, forrest, and jack were legendary moonshiners in franklin county, virginia, during the depression, and bondurant grew up hearing tales of their runins with the law, with the bigcity bootleggers who tried to muscle in. Lawless moonshine, machismo and rivers of gore make for a heady brew in lawless, australian helmer john hillcoats stylishly assembled prohibitionera gangster pic. The three bondurant boys shia labeouf, tom hardy, jason clarke, along with their sultry new hire jessica chastain, command the most. Good men like al capone, tommy maloy, that mad dog floyd banner, they just moved in and took over.
Tommy maloy, that mad dog floyd banner, they just moved in and took over. His first novel, the third translation, was an international bestseller, translated into fourteen languages worldwide. His latest effort boasts tasteful, rugged production design and choice atmosphere. Floyd county recipes from the heart in a lot of families, there are recipes that are past from one generation to another. Lawless is a 2012 american crime drama film directed by john hillcoat. Live feed listing for floyd county to listen to a feed using the online player, choose web player as the player selection and click the play icon for the appropriate feed. The brothers really existed a photo of them accompanies the end credits, and nick caves screenplay, based on matt bondurants book the wettest county in. Sep 01, 2012 based on the 2008 novel the wettest county in the world, lawless is the true story of the bondurant brothers rise to bootlegging infamy during the prohibition era. I think that in writing this book i was trying to make up for lost time. The true story of the wettest county in the world 21. Lawless helps grow virginia bootlegging trios legend the boston. Jan 17, 2012 its an adaptation of the 2008 novel, the wettest county in the world, written by matt bondurant.
Cave adapts the 2008 historical novel the wettest county in the world written by matt bondurant, the grandson of labeoufs character jack. Jack takes his hat off and takes the shell casings hed taken from his hat jack bondurant. The wettest county in the world is a 2008 historical novel by matt bondurant, an american writer who features his grandfather jack and granduncles forrest. For his bloody and most entertaining book, bondurant consulted the. Willie a banner, gertrude banner and 4 other siblings.
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