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CP Fuse
fuse editor kaitlyn affuso
fuse@cardinalpointsonline.com
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friday, sept. 14, 2012
Past PSUC faculty’s book hits the big screen By Yessenia Funes associate fuse editor
Everyone had great-grandparents and (possibly) great-uncles. However, not everyone’s ancestors brewed topnotch moonshine and were involved in the Great Franklin County Moonshine Conspiracy during Prohibition. Former Plattsburgh State English professor Matt Bondurant did. The story of his great-grandfather and two great-uncles – the Bondurant boys – led to the publication of his novel “The Wettest County in the World.” Four years after its publication, the novel made it to the big screen as “Lawless” directed by John Hillcoat. “You don’t think anything of it because you don’t think it’s going to be made,” Bondurant said. “It was only when the director and even Shia LaBeouf got involved.” LaBeouf played the role of the youngest Bondurant, Jack. Though Bondurant and his father were invited on-set for a few days, Bondurant said the film-making process happened outside him. It was happening between agents and producers. “There wasn’t a contractual involvement,” Bondurant said. “I didn’t have any rights or responsibilities, but they were always very generous from the beginning to include me from the beginning.” Bondurant traveled across the country with the film makers on a nine-city media tour. He has been involved and was recently in Los Angeles working on the DVD. Bondurant was told the movie was to stay true book’s spirit as much as possible. The book is classified as historical fiction. Bondurant said he had to imagine his great-grandfather and great-uncles as young men. Michael Carrino, former PSUC English professor, said: “Naming of things and places and memories of things are important to me, and especially in ‘The Wettest County in the World.’ The nam-
Prohibition blends in action By Yessenia Funes associate fuse editor
Photo Provided
“Lawless,” directed by John Hillcoat, is the new film based off of Matt Bondurant’s historical fiction book “The Wettest County in the World.” He heavily researched for facts to write and traveled for the making of the DVD. ing is ridiculous. There’s tons of it.” Recreating the story required research on Bondurant’s part. He said his father found newspaper articles on his ancestors about 15 years ago. Bondurant also used archives and family stories to write his novel. Once he learned about an 1840 shooting between the Bondurant boys and the cops, Bondurant said he realized this story was more than casual moonshining. Carrino said he remembers speaking with Bondurant about both his books, “The Third Translation” and “The Wettest County in the World,” cinematic qualities. “Wow,” Carrino said he told Bondurant. “Not only is this a really literary piece of writing. I can easily see this as a movie.” Bondurant gets into the visual aspect of what he’s writing about. Carrino is a writer himself, so he said he is a real fan. Though he enjoyed the movie, Carrino said he prefers the book. If someone made a poem of his into a film, he would hope the writing is better. PSUC English professor Jose Torres described it as lyrical. He said he would not be surprised if Bondu-
rant’s novel gets nominated for the Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay. He believes the film captured the characters’ depth and essential plot. Bondurant began teaching at PSUC in 2008 for two years. Torres and Carrino worked with him those two years and still keep in contact. Torres said Bondurant was the consonant teacher – a drill master. “It (PSUC) was a neat, little school, and I found a lot of students there refreshing without pretense,” Bondurant said Bondurant taught literature and creative writing classes. Bondurant also was the fiction editor of the Saranac Review. Carrino said: “He was quite an asset to the magazine the Saranac Review. Students loved him. He was a great colleague. I miss him. I wish there were a way I could work with him again sometime.” Email Yessenia Funes at yessenia.funes@ cardinalpointsonline.com
In a war between the law and outlaws, shots get fired, lips lock passion and families stick together. “Lawless,” directed by John Hillcoat, puts a face on prohibition during the 1930s. While it was no secret that moonshiners illegally sold alcohol, the fact that officers often sought to make illegal profit may have been. Jack Bondurant (Shia LeBeouf), Forrest Bondurant (Tom Hardy) and Howard Bondurant (Jason Clarke) play the Bondurant boys, who have a dirty reputation around Franklin County, Va. Getting involved in the bootlegging business endangers the brothers, adding violence and gore – giving the film its R-rating. It adds an edge to know the film is based on a fictionalized account of true events. Matt Bondurant’s book “The Wettest County in the World” sparked the idea for “Lawless.” Bondurant wrote about his great-grandfather and great-uncles. In the beginning of the film, Jack makes note of the book, saying Franklin County was known as the wettest county in the world. Everyone and anyone sold moonshine. Even with all the blood, nudity and profanity, the film focuses on Jack’s journey to become a true Bondurant. This is the typical underdog-rises-to-the-top kind of
movie. And what American doesn’t love that plot? LeBeouf plays this underdog role perfectly. His character tugs at one’s heartstrings as he struggles to be who his brothers want him to be — and who he wants to be. He perfects this in “Lawless” from kissing fear’s feet to shooting fear in the face. Hardy and Clarke played their roles with ease, too. Hardy’s muscular build makes it easy to understand why he’s considered indestructible. Clarke’s crazed look whenever he is gone off that moonshine would make anyone hesitant to mess with the Bondurants. Hardy’s role shifts from the villain of “The Dark Knight Rises” to the hero in “Lawless.” Forrest woos the Chicago city-girl, Maggie Beauford (Jessica Chastain), who inevitably encounters all that she ran from in Chicago. Yet she also discovers the loyalty and love of the Bondurant brothers. The actors’ accents appeared natural, especially Hardy’s. While many are used to his smooth, sexy English accent, he maintains the sexy with his country accent. If one can handle the sight of blood and boobs, “Lawless” is an excellent watch. The suspense can race or break the heart, and tragedy is inevitable in such a dangerous plot. Even love is found in a county drowning in moonshine and sorrow.
Escape P’burgh’s small-town feel, experience unique Burlington By Matthew Hamilton managing editor
As Terri Conti winds up her accordion, her black and white pinstripe fedora topped head begins to sway slowly. The accordion whines out renditions of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and the theme from “James Bond” as the masses walk by, some dropping a dollar into the small black suitcase Conti has in front of her. Conti is just one of the characters who can be found at the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, a spot that offers a slice of a different culture. “There are lots of places around the world where street entertainers are a way of life, but not so much in the U.S.,” she said. “Church Street is a place where you can see that.” For those who make the hour and 10 minute trip across the lake and south to Burlington, Church Street, located in the heart of the Queen City’s downtown area, street performers aren’t the only thing to see. The main pedestrian-only thoroughfare offers four blocks of red-brick plaza between Pearl and Main streets. The walk is dotted with statues and people of all sorts, from didgeridoo players to magicians, all surrounding the big fountain in the center of the farmers market. “It reminds me of the pedestrian area piazzas in Europe, where people just stroll,” Conti said. The only automobile traffic comes at the intersecting streets, where visitors lazily walk across anyway, making motorists leap at the first break in the
Cardinal Points/Kaitlyn Affuso
Ben & Jerry’s, located on Church Street, has hundreds of flavors of ice creams, cones and toppings.
If you go...
If you head for the Queen City, here’s a quick look at what you will need to know.
► When to go: Year-round ► Distance: 32 miles
► Travel time: Hour and a half
pedestrian traffic. On Saturdays, the area swells to accommodate tourists, residents and college students from the nearby University of Vermont. While taking the ferry across Lake Champlain is enough to dent students’ wallets, visiting Church Street itself can cost only what it takes to park on the street or in one of the nearby garages, generally at rates much cheaper than those in the downtown areas of cities like Montreal. Just observing the scenery and characters along the walk is satisfying, but the marketplace offers everything from a mall, with brand names like Gap and
► Summary: Burlington offers a collegetown feel in a larger setting just a short drive away.
Abercrombie, to small mom and pop shops to Burlington staples, such as Ben and Jerry’s and the Burlington City Arts Center. Zinnia is the perfect jewelry store. Any girl can find something on the countless tables and displays that will appeal to them. With a wide-range of jewelry, there’s something for every customer, whether it’s a plain silver chain or choosing from a selection of the most popular, in-style charms. What’s even better than the irresistible jewelry is the cheap prices. The store is among those that make Church Street and the downtown Burlington feel like a college town — an
improved Plattsburgh. Down a few shops is Ten Thousand Villages, where soft Latin music drifts in and out of native pieces of art, decorations, utensils and dishes. While not as wallet-friendly as Zinnia, this store offers unique pieces like baskets decorated with potato chip bags from Latin America, worth at least a look. At the intersection of College and Church streets is the Burlington Farmers Market, which offers typical fresh fruits and vegetables but also grilled organic meats, homemade cheeses, unique salsas and spreads and even handcrafted pieces. The smells that waft from
Cardinal Points/Kaitlyn Affuso
A farmers market goer shops through a woman’s pickled products, with peppers, beans and many other vegetables to choose from. This is one of many stands in the market at College and Church streets. the various stands and free samples that passersby are invited to test are enough to send visitors back to Church Street for a stop at one of the local restaurants. Three Tomatoes, a quaint Italian restaurant at the corner of Bank and Church streets, offers perfectly portioned cold Italian sandwiches, plates of pasta and thincrust pizzas to share, with prices in the $10 to $15 range. Open air seating during the warmer months allows for the perfect place to people watch and listen to performers, like Conti, while eating. After two and a half hours and a quick stop at Ben and Jerry’s, the trip to the Church Street section
of Burlington is complete, making it a quick venture outside Plattsburgh that feels like, as Conti described it, a continent away. Kaitlyn Affuso contributed to this article. Email Matthew Hamilton at managingeditor@ cardinalpointsonline.com
WHERE TO NEXT?
Are you a well-versed day-tripper? Email fuse@cardinal pointsonline.com with a local destination you want to learn more about. Your spot could be featured in Cardinal Directions.