Bronson, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (unknown to me), is about the most notorious and violent prisoner of England, a legend by the name of Bronson. Known as “his majesty’s most expensive prisoner,” Bronson is a man who has spent most of his life in solitary confinement. This movie tells the story of a criminal of the likes I have never heard of. He has a thirst for blood and a passion for beating the shit out of the English prison system. Some may call him insane, which may be true in some respects, yet I have rarely seen one man later up his body with Vaseline so as to kick prison guard ass for fun. Check out more of this review after the jump.
IMDB synopsis: In 1974, a hot-headed 19 year old named Michael Peterson decided he wanted to make a name for himself and so, with a homemade sawn-off shotgun and a head full of dreams he attempted to rob a post office. Swiftly apprehended and originally sentenced to 7 years in jail, Peterson has subsequently 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. Inside the mind of Bronson – a scathing indictment of celebrity culture.”
I thought this movie was slightly above average on the whole. A lot of it had to do with the fact that I had never heard of this prisoner and so it became like a history lesson for me, a rather badass one at that. Maybe it also has to do with the fact that I love prison movie. Anyway, Bronson’s goal in life was to become a star and that is what he became inside multiple prisons’ walls.
Throughout the movie there are various cut scenes where Bronson is either on a stage performing or sitting in a prison directly talking to the camera telling you about his life, his dreams, and how he just doesn’t give a shit. It gives you insight into his thought process and allows you to truly understand the character from his point of view. There are times where you can really sympathize with the guy and others where you just wonder why the hell is he naked in an art room. The weird thing is, for the complicated character that he is, the movie does come together rather well.
Bronson is very well played by actor Tom Hardy (RocknRolla, Christopher Nolan’s Inception). It almost seems as if the character has taken control over his personality when you see him battling it out with the guards during a hostage situation. With a character and mind that is so complex, Hardy did a brillitant job pulling everything together, from the scenes where he is performing a monologue on stage or in another where he is trying to fall in love with a slut. One downside of the movie was that the supporting actors/actresses are not the best. Luckily enough they meet the minimum requirements to keep Hardy’s character in the spotlight and not diminish the value of the film.
Overall, I liked this movie for the fact that it was about a badass prisoner that I have never heard of, but at the same time the movie was just as I said earlier, slightly above average.
A quick sidenote, does anyone else think the movie poster is reminiscent of The Wrestler.
Rating: A violent prisoner biopic that will sufficiently fill your movie appetite
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