Lawless (1999 film)
1999 tv film
Lawless is a 1999 New Zealand television film. It stars Kevin Smith as undercover cop John Lawless. It was filmed in Auckland in January 1999 and costarred Angela Dotchin. It was nominated for seven New Zealand Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, winning five. It was followed by two more telemovies, Lawless: Dead Evidence and Lawless: Beyond Justice.
Synopsis
Undercover cop John Lawless is falsely accused of murder. Together with Jodie Keane he investigates the case to clear his name.
Cast
Kevin Smith as John Lawless
Angela Dotchin as Jodie Keane
Geoff Dolan as Detective Sergeant Dave Bruford
Ross Duncan as Alan Snow
Joel Tobeck as Terry Bowers
Calvin Tuteao as Willy Kaa
Tahei Simpson as Sonya Davidson
Susan Brady as Marla Lawless
Elizabeth Hawthorne as Susan Ellis
Bruce Hopkins as Andy Deakin
Reception
Sarah Daniell in the Evening Post called it "a simple story told with a dash of subtlety and style" and wrote "The makers of Lawless are not exactly breaking new ground in originality, but neither do they glamourise or moralise over drugs, and never is there that subliminal finger-wagging or tut-tutting that whacks you over the head." Bruce Elder in The Sydney Morning Herald called it "a topnotch cop story." He says "The plot line is fast and suitably complex. The acting makes most Aussie cop shows look like amateur theatrics. And the settings are a neat mixture of the rough end of town and picture-postcard NZ." In the Age Paul Kalina says "in terms of production values and storylines this is unremarkable, below-par fare."
Awards
New Zealand Academy of Film and Television Arts awards 1999
Best Drama Programme - won
Best Director, Drama - Chris Martin-Jones - won
Best Actress - Angela Dotchin - won
Best Supporting Actor - Joel Tobeck - won
Best Contribution to a Soundtrack - Chris Burt (for sound design) - won
Best Actor - Kevin Smith - nominated
Best Supporting Actress - nominated
Sequels
Lawless: Dead Evidence (2000)
Jodie Keane finds ex-undercover cop turned bouncer John Lawless to get his helping solving an old murder.
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