LEGEND
Director : Brian Helgeland
Year : 2015
Genre : Thriller
Rating : ***1/2
The latest attempt to bring the story of Britain's most notorious criminals to the silver screen, Brian Helgeland's rose-tinted and indicatively titled 'Legend' sees Tom Hardy in a dual role as both Ronnie and Reggie Kray; the violent twin brothers who ruled London's East-End in the 50's and 60's with a bloody hand and a vicious tongue. Co - starring Emily Browning, Christopher Eccleston, Paul Bettany and David Thewlis, 'Legend' traces the history of the Krays from their humble beginnings as small time criminals to their meteoric rise to fame, fortune and eventual incarceration.
While Peter Medak's 1990 hit 'The Krays' starring Gary and Martin Kemp was a dark, brooding and atmospheric piece, 'Legend' is a much more blaze and shiny affair that is clearly enamored with the mythology of the brothers as well as their reputation as our country's most infamous gangsters. It continually glimmers with pizazz and energy, making for one of the most entertaining films currently playing in British cinemas. The shimmery cinematography by the always reliable Dick Pope reflects the overall air of glorification while the brilliantly rude screenplay (adapted from John Pearson's non-fiction book 'The Profession Of Violence : The Rise & Fall Of The Krays') by director Helgeland is as brash, as unexpected and as memorable as the titular brothers themselves. But for all of it's nice mise en scene and constant profanity, 'Legend's greatest asset is Tom Hardy himself.
Essentially playing two sides of the same violent coin, Hardy injects his portrayals of Ronnie and Reggie with distinctly British sensibilities - Reggie, the personable and suave businessman whose outbursts of bloody carnage seem erratic and spontaneous and Ronnie, whose chewy accent and humourous choice of vernacular hides a volcanic rage and almost animalistic danger. There are moments in 'Legend' when Hardy's performance as the scene-devouring Ronnie dangerously teeters on the edge of cartoonish caricature but thankfully his skill and monumental talent manages to keep things nice and (ironically for Ronnie) controlled. Together, the two performances make some of the years most captivating cinema and it is a joy to watch an actor dominate the screen as much as Tom Hardy does in this film.
However, while it looks terrific and Hardy's beyond unmissable performances are genuinely thrilling to watch, the movie lacks a distinct edge and darkness that sorely detracts from the hideous truths behind the various crimes of the brothers. Rather than being a true to life portrait of two clearly psychopathic criminals, 'Legend' plays like a morbid ode of perverse admiration to England's most infamous twins. It is most definitely an incredibly entertaining film but is it a true depiction of the Krays? I sincerely doubt it and that is where the core problems I have with 'Legend' lie.
The latest attempt to bring the story of Britain's most notorious criminals to the silver screen, Brian Helgeland's rose-tinted and indicatively titled 'Legend' sees Tom Hardy in a dual role as both Ronnie and Reggie Kray; the violent twin brothers who ruled London's East-End in the 50's and 60's with a bloody hand and a vicious tongue. Co - starring Emily Browning, Christopher Eccleston, Paul Bettany and David Thewlis, 'Legend' traces the history of the Krays from their humble beginnings as small time criminals to their meteoric rise to fame, fortune and eventual incarceration.
While Peter Medak's 1990 hit 'The Krays' starring Gary and Martin Kemp was a dark, brooding and atmospheric piece, 'Legend' is a much more blaze and shiny affair that is clearly enamored with the mythology of the brothers as well as their reputation as our country's most infamous gangsters. It continually glimmers with pizazz and energy, making for one of the most entertaining films currently playing in British cinemas. The shimmery cinematography by the always reliable Dick Pope reflects the overall air of glorification while the brilliantly rude screenplay (adapted from John Pearson's non-fiction book 'The Profession Of Violence : The Rise & Fall Of The Krays') by director Helgeland is as brash, as unexpected and as memorable as the titular brothers themselves. But for all of it's nice mise en scene and constant profanity, 'Legend's greatest asset is Tom Hardy himself.
Essentially playing two sides of the same violent coin, Hardy injects his portrayals of Ronnie and Reggie with distinctly British sensibilities - Reggie, the personable and suave businessman whose outbursts of bloody carnage seem erratic and spontaneous and Ronnie, whose chewy accent and humourous choice of vernacular hides a volcanic rage and almost animalistic danger. There are moments in 'Legend' when Hardy's performance as the scene-devouring Ronnie dangerously teeters on the edge of cartoonish caricature but thankfully his skill and monumental talent manages to keep things nice and (ironically for Ronnie) controlled. Together, the two performances make some of the years most captivating cinema and it is a joy to watch an actor dominate the screen as much as Tom Hardy does in this film.
However, while it looks terrific and Hardy's beyond unmissable performances are genuinely thrilling to watch, the movie lacks a distinct edge and darkness that sorely detracts from the hideous truths behind the various crimes of the brothers. Rather than being a true to life portrait of two clearly psychopathic criminals, 'Legend' plays like a morbid ode of perverse admiration to England's most infamous twins. It is most definitely an incredibly entertaining film but is it a true depiction of the Krays? I sincerely doubt it and that is where the core problems I have with 'Legend' lie.
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