Legend (2015)
3/4
Starring: Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Christopher Eccelston
Rated R for Strong Violence, Language Throughout, Some Sexual and Drug Material
With "Legend," it isn't a case of having a dearth of material. Quite the opposite, in fact. This movie is jam-packed with intriguing characters, plot elements, and violence. It's just that Brian Helgeland doesn't know what to do with them all. "Legend" has a lot of stuff going on, but no real drive. Despite all this, it's never boring.
Twin brothers Reggie (Hardy) and Ronnie Kray (Hardy) have it all: they're rich, connected, and well-liked. Nightclub owners in London's West End, the pair is famous for hanging out with the rich and famous, and for their spread into other areas of London. But there is a darker undercurrent to their public personas, much more than the "bad boy" image that gets them a lot of fame and fortune. They're vicious gangsters, and while Reggie is well-adjusted, Ronnie is a psychotic loose cannon. This movie details their rise and fall during the 1960's.
Whatever problems the film may have, they're not with the performances. Tom Hardy can almost always be counted on to give a terrific performance. In the dual role of the shrewd Reggie and schizophrenic Ronnie, he's at the top of his game. Both have their share of moments of volcanic energy and subdued introspection, but the true genius in his performance is that Reggie and Ronnie seem like two totally different people. This is Oscar-worthy acting in an adequate movie.
The supporting cast is fine, but they struggle to carve out their own niche, as it were, in the morass of all that's going on. Emily Browning, having grown up quite a bit since her performance in "Ghost Ship," is very good as Frances, Reggie's wife. She loves him, but wants him to go straight. It's a promise he makes to her, but partly because of Ronnie's instability, one that he can't keep. David Thewlis is underused as a fellow club owner/mentor for the Krays, as is Christopher Eccelston, who plays the cop determined to bring the brothers down. Small appearances by Taron Edgerton as one of Ronnie's boy toys, Chazz Palminteri as an American gangster, and an uncredited Paul Bettany as a rival.
The problem with the film is that it lacks focus. The film's plot is all over the place, which while always engaging, has the result of the film never following through on any of its ideas. Characters remain sketchily developed, certain plot elements (such as Eccelston's cop) are barely explored, or are introduced and never brought up again. A tighter focus would have lent the film a lot more energy and purpose.
I have no qualms about recommending this movie. It's a little too long and definitely a mess, but at least it's an interesting mess.
Starring: Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Christopher Eccelston
Rated R for Strong Violence, Language Throughout, Some Sexual and Drug Material
With "Legend," it isn't a case of having a dearth of material. Quite the opposite, in fact. This movie is jam-packed with intriguing characters, plot elements, and violence. It's just that Brian Helgeland doesn't know what to do with them all. "Legend" has a lot of stuff going on, but no real drive. Despite all this, it's never boring.
Twin brothers Reggie (Hardy) and Ronnie Kray (Hardy) have it all: they're rich, connected, and well-liked. Nightclub owners in London's West End, the pair is famous for hanging out with the rich and famous, and for their spread into other areas of London. But there is a darker undercurrent to their public personas, much more than the "bad boy" image that gets them a lot of fame and fortune. They're vicious gangsters, and while Reggie is well-adjusted, Ronnie is a psychotic loose cannon. This movie details their rise and fall during the 1960's.
Whatever problems the film may have, they're not with the performances. Tom Hardy can almost always be counted on to give a terrific performance. In the dual role of the shrewd Reggie and schizophrenic Ronnie, he's at the top of his game. Both have their share of moments of volcanic energy and subdued introspection, but the true genius in his performance is that Reggie and Ronnie seem like two totally different people. This is Oscar-worthy acting in an adequate movie.
The supporting cast is fine, but they struggle to carve out their own niche, as it were, in the morass of all that's going on. Emily Browning, having grown up quite a bit since her performance in "Ghost Ship," is very good as Frances, Reggie's wife. She loves him, but wants him to go straight. It's a promise he makes to her, but partly because of Ronnie's instability, one that he can't keep. David Thewlis is underused as a fellow club owner/mentor for the Krays, as is Christopher Eccelston, who plays the cop determined to bring the brothers down. Small appearances by Taron Edgerton as one of Ronnie's boy toys, Chazz Palminteri as an American gangster, and an uncredited Paul Bettany as a rival.
The problem with the film is that it lacks focus. The film's plot is all over the place, which while always engaging, has the result of the film never following through on any of its ideas. Characters remain sketchily developed, certain plot elements (such as Eccelston's cop) are barely explored, or are introduced and never brought up again. A tighter focus would have lent the film a lot more energy and purpose.
I have no qualms about recommending this movie. It's a little too long and definitely a mess, but at least it's an interesting mess.
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