My Rating:
“All my life I wanted to be famous.” – Michael Peterson
Bronson is Nicolas Winding Refn’s highly stylized look at England’s most violent prisoner. Arrested at the age of 17 for armed robbery, Michael Peterson aka Charles Bronson (Tom Hardy) was originally sentenced to seven years in prison. Those seven years turned into 34 years for violent behavior, 30 of which were spent in solitary confinement. This film is a meditation on the art of violence and self-expression. It isn’t concerned with giving explanations as to why Bronson was so violent, it simply accepts the fact that he was extraordinarily violent and gives the viewer a window into that pure rage.
Tom Hardy, sporting a baldhead and a handlebar mustache, puts up a performance of a lifetime as Charles Bronson. Which is good, because this wouldn’t have been a movie without a rock star performance from its lead actor. If there was any doubt about his skill as an actor, there isn’t anymore. With solid performances in both Bronson and Inception under his belt, and an unknown role in the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises, watch for Tom Hardy to become a big name in Hollywood.
My only grievance with this movie was that it’s intensions quickly become obvious. I would have liked to see Refn’s examine another facet of this character, because the movie’s content can become repetitious. Unfortunately, the climax of Bronson’s life is quickly glossed over, I would have liked to see it examined in more depth. I can only assume this movie will have a very polarized audience, either you will love this movie, or be appalled by it. I couldn’t help but be captivated by this darkly comedic, ultra violent look into the mind of England’s most violent and famous prisoner.
Released: October 2009
Length: 1 hr 32 min
Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
Written by: Nicolas Winding Refn, Brock Norman Smith
Cast: Tom Hardy
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