The Prohibition era is so vividly depicted in Lawless. John Hillcoat does a remarkable job of rooting his film in such a tangible reality.

It's really an interesting crazy world where like ultimately you have to work your ass off and sacrifice a lot in your life and the end goal is personal and financial gain. You know, it's not like you're doing anything helpful to the world. You're really just trying to get ahead and to beat out the next person and to be on top and at the very top of those financial firms, like the people that make the crazy amounts of money I mean that's what their after.

I was a big "Blue Valentine" fan. I really loved that movie. And I thought the performances were just unbelievably real, which is certainly what I always strive for in my work.

Now, even when I see the trailers, I get so excited because it's like I'm seeing a movie that I haven't seen at all before, whatsoever. And then I just happen to be in it.

Theres a wealth of information on James Dean, and everybody has an opinion on him. James Dean made some kind of impression on everybody.

I had this health teacher who kept me after class one time, saying, ‘You’re missing a lot of class.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, but I’m doing this play.’ He said, ‘Community theatre is not going to take you anywhere. Maybe you should stay in school’

I think that ultimately what drives my decisions is if I think the opportunity is going to challenge me in a way that makes me better as an actor.