Bronson (Refn, 2008)

[ayaa1977]

Synopsis for Bronson: Based on the true story of Britain most famous and brutal prisoner, the film is about Michael Peterson who In 1974 only19 year old then, decided he wanted to be famous, so he attempts to rob the post office, but the police arrests him fast, then he is tried, and originally sentenced to 7 years in jail. His excessive violence inside the jail toward the inmates and especially the guards, extended his sentence subsequently and he has been behind bars for 34 years, 30 of which have been spent in solitary confinement. During that time, Michael Petersen, the boy, faded away and 'Charles Bronson,' his superstar alter ego, took center stage.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/GMJ1c3qxOWc&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/GMJ1c3qxOWc&rel=1</a>

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, the film trys to say something about our infatuation with celebrity and fame, even if it was for the wrong reasons, and it really doesn't get any worse than someone like Bronson. The film doesn't paint the guards in any bad light, unlike a film like Hunger. The guards are clearly the bullied party who got the crappy end of the deal. He starts riots and attacks everyone just because he want to be known for that. In an ironic way, they became his prisoners.

The film itself doesn't work entirely, Mr. Refn has a knack for theatricality and staginess, and he is so caught up with giving us some showy scenes which in part hampered the flaw of the narrative. On the other hand these scenes gave the lead Tom Hardy a great opportunity to shine, and boy does he ever. He is a force of nature in this film, and really if there was any fairness in the world, Hardy and Fassbender form Hunger should have been in last year's list of Oscar nominee and one of them should have won, even in a year with excellent performances like Rourke in The Wrestler and Sean Penn's in Milk. That is how much he was great. There is a reenactment scene where Hardy plays Bronson and Lady Justice (or something like that) the same scene. He is twofaced in it and switch back and forth between the two, and not since Gollum's scene in the Two Towers have I been so impressed by such a gimmick. It was really a hilarious scene that should not be missed.

I highly urge everyone to check it out because Tom Hardy will blow your mind, and his performance alone left the overall film in my mind a notch or two.

My Rating 3.5/5.      

[shariqq]

The film doesn't paint the guards in any bad light, unlike a film like Hunger.

The guards of Hunger were not painted as bad. They were there to maintain order and peace in the prison, which they did without ever abusing their position. Their use of force was to cleanse the patients, not hurt them. Or to defend themselves and the establishment.

[ayaa1977]

The film doesn't paint the guards in any bad light, unlike a film like Hunger.

The guards of Hunger were not painted as bad. They were there to maintain order and peace in the prison, which they did without ever abusing their position. Their use of force was to cleanse the patients, not hurt them. Or to defend themselves and the establishment.

You are absolutely right Shariq. What I said came out wrong, what I meant is that in Hunger you don't sympathize with the guards, while in Bronson they are painted as the lambs who are sent to face the lion. He has no reason to attack anyone other than his craziness, and in one scene he takes a teacher hostage, tie him up and stuff his mouth with an apple like a roasted big just to prompt a fast action form the guard force, he wants their fullest attention and their biggest arm force to deal with him. He is really a despicable and a charming man in the same time.  

[shariqq]

Weird movie. Very theatrical and loud, the movie rides on the magnetic performance of tom Hardy who is over-the-top & fantastic as "Britain's most violent prisoner". Most of what is depicted of Bronson clearly establishes his love for violence, but it also establishes him as anything but evil. All he really does is fight the guards and take hostages (inmates and guards), but never really seriously injures anyone, let alone kill.

The director is caught in a dilemma, he has a fantastic character but absolutely no story. He therefore fails to make an interesting movie, but Tom Hardy succeeds in his maniacal portrayal.

Short movie, quick watch, a good way to further admire the actor now more popularly known for playing Eames.

My rating --> 2.5 of 5

[ak]

I like Refn's audacious proposition, at the end of the movie, that even a filthy fucking murderer can be...an artist!