The next movie is based off a true story about a man who seems to have gone through much of his life without a soul. Bronson is about Charles Bronson, Britain's most famous and violent prisoner. From the time he robs a post office to the time he ends up in a mental institution, gains temporary freedom and then goes back to prison, his life revolves around violence. He doesn't consider his cell a cell at all, he considers it a "hotel room" and actually misses prison when he's not there.
Even though Bronson isn't a actual biopic, it still tells the story of this man in a different and often intense manner. The acting by Tom Hardy (he played the bad guy in Star Trek: Nemesis) was perhaps the best male performance I've seen so far here at the film festival. He plays the guy like he's an absolute loon, yet at times he can be charming. It's almost an even more twisted version of Daniel Plainview from There Will Be Blood.
The story can bog down a bit in the middle, when Bronson is outside the prison walls, but once he's back in it picks up again. He gets off on fighting with the guards and the end scene where he makes a work of art out of the one person that had been helping him in the prison system is pretty funny. The film is violent, bloody and even has some male nudity for all of you naked prison men fanatics.
I really liked Bronson. The direction, story and especially the performance by Tom Hardy was really well done. Sometimes the theatrical scenes with Bronson in clown make up were really amusing, other times I just wanted them to stick with the main story and not sidetrack. Bronson is still in jail in Britain and I'm sure had a big smile on his face when he heard they made a movie about him. Then he probably went and tried to fight someone. Crazy wanker.
Rating:
B+
Get out of jail free when you
