Jan 14: Bronson

"A young man who was sentenced to 7 years in 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."

   Now, Bronson is one of my favorite movies and, after re-watching it, I have to say that fact still holds true. The film is hilarious, graphic, perverse, violent, and almost psychedelic at times. It's a perfect mix of A Clockwork Orange, Fight Club, Natural Born Killers and Monty Python. Tom Hardy absolutely kicks the role of Charlie Bronson in the ass and marvelously shines as one of the best young actors today. Watch this movie and you will be even more excited to see him as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. 

Insert mandatory Bane picture- ensue with mangasms and fanboy squealing. 

  

   Tom Hardy plays a life long criminal who desperately wants to make a name for himself. He realizes that he can't do that with singing or acting, so he decides to take the violent route. He considers a prison room a hotel room, and flourishes in every prison he's in (when he's not in solitary confinement). He gains the respect of his fellow inmates, and the utmost hatred from the guards. He does so much damage to property and people that the prisons cannot afford to keep him anymore, so they let him go. 

OK, you can go home now. 

  The film is shot with the dirt and grime of each of Bronson's prisons and uses the backdrop of the 70s and 80s to heighten the atmosphere. Along with this, the use of color and lighting works perfectly. Many scenes are filmed in red lighting, almost calling upon the rage building inside Bronson himself. One of my favorite parts of the film is when Charlie Bronson is on an imaginary stage, telling his life story to an audience. He uses all sorts of elaborate makeup and costumes and Tom Hardy is incredible with an assortment of emotions that he puts on display. He will laugh maniacally one moment and then completely turn it around and stare into the camera like he is going to jump through the screen and beat you to a pulp. If this film was shot in 3D, I wouldn't doubt a handful of audience members would be leaving the theater with wet pants.

  While the film depicts the awful, violent nature of one man, Tom Hardy's acting makes you root for him in every scene. He is in no way a good man, but his charisma and humor make up for it. The film gives wonderful insight to a lunatic and his life, and it is insanely fun to watch. With an excellent soundtrack, camerawork, and incredible acting, I highly recommend Bronson. Keep in mind; however, that this is not a film everyone will enjoy. It is offensive and it is violent. But without either, the film wouldn't succeed as well as it does. 

Sight: Gritty and artsy, Bronson is shot very well with wonderful throw backs to the films of the 80s. 

Sound: The soundtrack is incredible, using songs from the 70s and 80s while combining an electronic beat throughout. The soundtrack is very similar to that of Drive, another film Nicolas Winding Refn directed. 

Skill: Tom Hardy is perfect in every way. I believe it to be one of the best performances in the last ten years. 

Script: Everything Bronson says is clearly thought out and helps peel away another layer into seeing what kind of person he is. The staged monologues are some of the best lines in the film, and also the funniest. 

Overall: 8.6/10

Best Quote: 

Charles Bronson: "You don't want to be trapped inside with me sunshine. Inside, I'm somebody nobody wants to fuck with do you understand? I am Charlie Bronson, I am Britain's most violent prisoner."