Hardy And LaBeouf For Hillcoat's WETTEST COUNTY

When the news includes as many good points in it as this does is it just childish to harp on the only negative? Here are the positives:

One: John Hillcoat - director of The Proposition and The Road - is set to launch a spring production of The Wettest County In The World, an adaptation of Matt Bondurant's novel set in the world of 1920's bootleggers. This, frankly, is perfect source material for a man I believe is one of the best directors in the world today if you happen to like a little bit of gray in your morality.

Two: The script has been adapted from the novel by Hillcoat's frequent collaborator Nick Cave. And, again, Cave seems a perfect match for this.

Three: One of the leads will be played by Tom Hardy, who appears to be taking good advantage of the delays on Mad Max. Again, fantastic choice.

And then the negative bit? The other lead is Shia LaBeouf.

Memo to Hollywood: There are other, better actors in LaBeouf's age bracket. Lots of them. Many of whom will be quite good in a complex period piece like this. Ah, well, perhaps he'll be able to show us a bit more than normal when he's given a bit more than normal to work with.