100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 83: Bronson

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama

Runtime: 92 minutes

Year: 2008

Starring: Tom Hardy, Kelly Adams, Katy Barker, Edward Bennett-Coles, June Bladon, Amanda Burton, China-Black, William Darke, Anna Griffin, Matt King, Matt Legg, Brendan McCoy, Juliet Oldfield, Jonathan Phillips, Hugh Ross, Terry Stone, Joe Tucker

Description: A young man (Tom Hardy) who was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbing a post office ends up spending three decades in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter-ego, Charles Bronson.

Review: Who is the man who got famous for his violent behavior towards prison guards and fellow prisoners, and got into prison for a robbery that gained him only £26,18?

We see Charles Bronson, who used to be Michael Peterson, as a beast in a cage and a clown on the stage. Nicolas Winding Refn didn’t only choose an interesting man. The angle of Bronson as a celebrity and wannabe superstar, is also a good find.

The movie is dark, yet humorous. Bronson tells the story himself, also while breaking the fourth wall. Images of the prison a switched for Bronson on a podium. This is all in combination with a great soundtrack.

Although the movie starts with heavy images, the movie is a big spectacle with a fast pace and humor. What Bronson really feels or thinks, we never find out. It becomes it little mote clear, but Bronson never really makes sense. And Tom Hardy’s performance is phenomenal. Very well done! Intense, strong and funny.

“Bronson” is a well-made film, powerful and confident and made with flair.

Rating: 4/ 5