Ho. Le. Shit! Perhaps because I was bored to death by director Nicholas Winding Refn's Viking drama Valhalla Rising I never got around to watching his earlier drama Bronson. Also, I've never been a great Tom Hardy fan due to his lackluster villain role in Star Trek Nemesis, but he's recently put that behind him following standout roles in Rocknrolla, Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy and Inception have solidified his reputation as a versatile character actor. Shame on me for avoiding Bronson is a flat out classic from Hardy and Winding Refn.
It the autobiographical account of Michael Peterson, aka Charles Bronson, and his life as the 'most violent criminal' in British Prison history. What sets this story apart is the surreal, theatrical nature of the script and direction which has Hardy telling his life story to an enraptured theatre audience or directly into camera, to us the cinema audience. It's larger than life, it's playful, it's dark, twisted and comedic in the blackest sense, and unlike any movie biography I've ever seen.
Some may object to its surreal nature. Others may object to it seemingly glorifying this unrelentingly violent individual. But its a life story as seen through the eyes of the person himself (who utterly revels in his infamy) told in a way that shames the majority of film makers with it's bold deviations from the conventions of mainstream cinema.
And it'll take something earth shattering for Hardy to deliver a performance as daring and unrestrained as he does here. Brilliant.
1 comment:
I thought this was bloody awful for all the reasons you loved it. If I want to watch a Terry Gilliam film then I will and I'll expect a bit of scifi fantasy element with it.
Post a Comment