Bronson (2008)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Nicolas Winding Refn

Writers:

Brock Norman Brock (screenplay) and
Nicolas Winding Refn (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 March 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Man. The Myth. The Celebrity.

Plot:

A young man who was sentenced to 7 years on prison for robbing a post office ends up spending 30 years in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter ego, Charles Bronson.

Plot Keywords:

Blood | Prison | Cell Mate | Drawing | Theater

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Tom Hardy	...	Charles Bronson
Matt King	...	Paul
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kelly Adams	...	Irene
Katy Barker	...	Julie
Edward Bennett-Coles	...	Brian
June Bladon	...	Party guest
Amanda Burton	...	Mum
William Darke	...	Charles Bronson - Age 13
Andrew Forbes	...	Joe Peterson
Helen Grayson	...	Uncle Jack's Party Guest (as China-Black)
Anna Griffin	...	Train Girl
Kate Hesketh	...	Uncle Jack's Party Guest
Leah Hinton-Fishlock	...	Uncle Jack's Party Guest
Mandy Kay	...	Boxing Crowd Member
James Lance	...	Phil
Matt Legg	...	Prisoner
Brendan McCoy	...	Prisoner
Jane McLennan	...	Uncle Jack's Party Guest
Juliet Oldfield	...	Alison
Jonathan Phillips
Hugh Ross	...	Uncle Jack
Dean Spicksley	...	Prisoner
Mark Stocks	...	Gangster
Joe Tucker	...	John White

MPAA:

Rated R for violent and disturbing content, graphic nudity, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | Ireland:18 | France:-16 | Australia:MA | USA:R (certificate #45505) | Germany:18 | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | Canada:14A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Great Central Railway, Leicestershire, England, UK

Company:

Vertigo Films

Trivia:

Bronson was born under the name of Michael Gordon Peterson on the 6th December, 1952, in Luton, England.

Goofs:

Factual errors: At (11:00) The tutor asks Charles "What's the matter, Charlie?" But in this stage of the story Charles Bronson still had his original name Michael Peterson. He had not yet changed his name to Charles Bronson.

Movie Connections:

References Death Wish (1974)

Soundtrack:

Viens, Malika

Intense and brutal drama - makes Scum seem like a Disney movie. Jake the Muss would be proud.

Saw this the other day at the Sydney Film Festival.

I didn't know much about Bronson before the film, other than what I read on Wikipedia and after walking out of the cinema, I can't say I know any more about the man other than his inability to conform and his reliance on violence and abuse to deal with most situations.

Unlike Korean movie Breathless which also screened at the festival and focused on violence but at least gave you an idea as to why the main character was so disturbed and messed up. Bronson doesn't give you any answers other than he was simply born that way, despite loving parents. His inability to deal with society starting as early as his school years.

What I did enjoy was Hardy's performance. Sure to be compared to Bana's Chopper (which I think was far better - but I am an Aussie and therefore biased) and also A Clockwork Orange. Hardy is impressive as the hulking and impulsive brute. He occasionally shows us Bronson's vulnerable side but mostly it's about the rage that drives him from one prison to another.

The prison system and Brit government are seemingly helpless to come up with solutions at dealing with Bronson's violence. The man himself also seems way beyond rehabilitation. That would be a big understatement.

I thought it was a shame that Bronson didn't get into boxing or some other type of physical sport like Rugby league when he was younger as it might have given him an outlet for his anger.

Anyways, it's ultimately pretty grim viewing but certainly packs a punch (no pun intended). I would have like to see Winding Refn offer us a little more insight into the man.