Bronson
The story of Michael Gordon Peterson, who would spend several decades in prison, and eventually be known as “Charlie Bronson” a bare knuckled boxer, and then artist while in prison.
Direction
Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn directs, from his own screenplay. There are many great uses of colours, such as greens and yellows within the prisons, as well as camera angles (looking down on Charlie/Michael in many scenes).
Cast/Characters
Tom Hardy plays the title character, with many significant faces of British television and film in supporting roles such as Matt King as Paul Daniels (a fictional character for the movie and Bronson’s boxing promoter) , James Lance as Phil Danielson (a real life prison art teacher who was held hostage by Bronson).
Breakdown
The film has a unique narrative style with Hardy’s Bronson giving two types of ‘fourth wall’ breaking narrative throughout the film. One is more refined with Hardy in prison gear, the other is full of face make up to look like a vaudeville clown.
There is one very impressive scene in which he literally jumps between these characters with each side of his face either in make up – or clean.
The film spans almost 30 years of Bronson’s life, beginning with his marriage to Irene, right up to his taking Danielson hostage.
One thing I struggled with was the “timeline” of events. Irene and Michael were married in 1971, and Charlie held Danielson hostage in 1999. The film fails to really show the length of time between these events.
There also isn’t enough running time (90m) to really get into his identity. His first marriage and his child are only in a handful of scenes, then other events within his life (his relationship with Alison, his boxing career and then his artistic career). All of these seem too rushed, and had the film been extended to a reasonable 120-140m this would have been a significantly improved narrative.
Hardy is known for playing intense character types of real life people, with my previously reviewed Legend (where he played the Kray Brothers – who coincidentally were friends with Bronson) and Alphonse Capone in Capone.
This was an exceptionally well acted performance, which Hardy himself went above and beyond what many actors would ever do. Almost the entirety of the final act he performed completely nude. So keep this in mind if you are uncomfortable with this “in your face” moment. I feel Legend had the slight edge of performance, due to the fact he played two characters there.
I loved the score of the film too – by Johnny Jewel. One moment that stood out in particular was early in the film where “Charlie/Michael” was being sent from prison to prison
There is also an over abundance of graphic coarse language which even for someone who isn’t offended by much – felt was slightly too much.
Overall
As Charlie Bronson was ‘before my time’ and of a different location – I didn’t know too much about him going into this film (the real life Mr Bronson is still incarcerated at 72 years of age).
From a technical standpoint, this is a solid film, with a great lead acting performance by Hardy. Not his best work, but fairly close.
A recommend.
3.5/5
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