LEGEND (2015)

by Mark'd Commode

8 out of 10

Release Date: 11th September 2015

Director: Brian Helgeland (42 / A Knight’s Tale / Payback)

Cast: Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Paul Anderson, Sam Spruell, Mel Raido, Colin Morgan, Taron Egerton, Charley Palmer-Rothwell, Tara Fitzgerald, Shane Attwooll, Adam Fogerty, Kevin McNally, Lorraine Stanley, Nicholas Farrell, Aneurin Barnard, Joshua Hill, Duffy with Paul Bettany, Christopher Eccleston and Chazz Palminteri

Writer: Brian Helgeland

Trailer: LEGEND

Legend_2015_poster

Tom Hardy (MAD MAX 4) puts in his best two performances since Bronson in this new biopic of the Kray Twins. Such has been his luck to pick a string of none-roles recently that his choices don’t even go towards enhancing the quality of his acting here. He’s just a force to behold. His portrayal of both Ronnie and Reggie here will be the roles he’ll be remembered for and this film will be talked about for years, just like Bronson.

Telling the tale of the well-publicised 1960s twin crime duo, The Krays, from the point of view of Reggie’s wife Frances (EMILY BROWNING – SLEEPING BEAUTY) we get a more detailed and measured take. Livelier and warmer than Peter Medak‘s 1980s attempt to immortalise them onscreen, and way, way better than the amateur hour that is the two-part Rise/Fall of the Krays and I haven’t even seen part 2 yet. The film is the closest British cinema has come to making its own Goodfellas or getting anywhere close to the heady heights of the legendary Long Good Friday. It’s almost perfect and it’s bad points are hardly worth pointing out – except I will. The narration should have been ditched because it’s completely out of place and rubbish. It’s from another film completely and it tries very hard to derail the flick. Secondly, it would sem that Tom Hardy filmed Ronnie’s part first, went on holiday to Spain for a fortnight and came back to act as Reggie, such is his perma-tan glow, when all around him are pastie white Londoners.  Hardy as Ronnie comes perilously close to caricature at some points (like he did in Bronson) and reminded me of a Harry Enfield impression. And this becomes ore apparent if you see the trailer, because taken out of context, his scenes do look over the top. But in the film (where there mean’t to be, obviously) his Ronnie is sublime reading of a distrubed character. I won’t harp on about how terrible Simon Cotton (as Ronnie) is in the rival Rise of the Krays but it’s here for everyone to see -> Pro vs wannabe on uppers.

Elsewhere in the cast, David Thewlis (STONEHEARST ASYLUM), Paul Bettany (AVENGERS 2) and Sam Spruell (TAKEN 3) are stand out from the gigantic cast of familiar faces. Only Christopher Eccleston (FORTITUDE) fails to make an impression as Nipper Read. They should have swapped Danny Midwinter (INTERVIEW WITH A HITMAN) from the other amateur version – as he was a better Nipper in that. Emily Browning excels as the fragile yet all too human Frances. She puts in fantastic work and there’s a palpable chemistry between her and Tom Hardy.

The film contains all the famous ‘bits’ like the murders of Cornell and McVittie, yet even though we know the stories, American director Brian Helgeland (42) and his cast deliver something fresh, not warmed over. Tom Hardy may well be up for an Oscar come awards season, and even though this is a crowd-pleasing and eye catching role, the doubling up never feels like an annoying gimmick.

8 out of 10 – A near perfect gangster movie. Tom Hardy is the best he’s ever been so fans will be over the moon. Fans of The Krays can be satisfied that here’s a film to be proud of and finally a Brit gangster pic to get excited abut after the boat loads of shit imitations made by posh school boys. Recommended.

WHAT HAVE I SEEN THAT ACTOR IN BEFORE?

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