Chris Olson's Film Review Blog

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Friday 13 April 2012

Bronson (2008)


A film about a violent prisoner, who spends most of his adult life in solitary confinement, where he looses himself to the alter ego he created, called Charles Bronson.

Based on a true story, Tom Hardy plays the lead character Michael Peterson (aka Bronson), and gives a sensational performance. Few actors have given such credible performances in recent years, and the man is set to continue to turn heads with his upcoming role Bane in the final Nolan film. His emotional and physical delivery in this film is immense, and he should be applauded for giving, literally, so much of himself to it.

The film takes on a violent/comedic approach - showing Bronson’s brutal tendencies with a light-hearted narration from Hardy, and the use of classical music further adds to the humour. This technique, whilst massively entertaining at the outset, becomes a little tired towards the middle section , and it is only the tragic outcome of Bronson which saves the film from being boring. The repetition of Bronson’s life (going in and out of prisons and starting fights), makes the story too familiar, and we are given little in the way of explanation or development.

Positively, the film has a witty script that brings out the terrifying ludicrousness of Bronson’s behaviour, and the detached nature of his personality. Also, the film uses some great filming techniques to represent Michael’s transformation into Charlie, which elevates the film above the standard.

Violently hilarious for the most part, and definitely worth watching if, like me, you are a Tom Hardy fan.

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