Harry Brown (2009)

Director:

Daniel Barber

Writer:

Gary Young (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 November 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

An elderly ex-serviceman and widower looks to avenge his best friend's murder by doling out his own form of justice. |

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Character Name In Title

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Harry Brown
Emily Mortimer	...	Frampton
Iain Glen	...	Childs
Liam Cunningham	...	Sid
Ben Drew	...	Noel
Jack O'Connell	...	Marky
David Bradley	...	Leonard
Raza Jaffrey	...	Father Bracken
Charlie Creed-Miles	...	Hickock
Joseph Gilgun	...	Kenny
Sean Harris	...	Stretch
Chris Wilson	...	Daniel Ladlow Assistant Chief Constable
Klariza Clayton	...	Sharon
Forbes KB	...	Troy
Amy Steel	...	Nurse
Lee Oakes	...	Dean
Orla O'Rourke	...	Nurse
Ashley George	...	Boy In Flat
Grace Vallorani	...	Linda
Tony Massiah	...	Gang Member
Jamal Downey	...	Carl
Claire Hackett	...	Jean winters
Radoslaw Kaim	...	Doctor
Liz Daniels	...	Kath
Amy Edge	...	Girl In Flat
Lee Edgar
Martin Heathcote	...	Arresting police officer
Lauretta Gavin	...	Neighbour's wife
Robert Styles	...	Journalist
Abu Sayed Mukid	...	Front Line Rioter
Karl Rhodes	...	CID Officer
Ashley McGuire	...	Community wpc
Marva Alexander	...	Nurse

Runtime:

103 min | Canada:97 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:18 | Canada:18A | Ireland:18

Company:

Marv Films

don't let the bad elements ruin it for the majority

i'd been looking forward to this film for 2 reasons. firstly, everything seemed to point to a vintage Caine performance (like most British chaps, i'm a big fan, although you sometimes get the feeling he will take any script that comes along -miss congeniality anyone?); secondly, the thought of seeing sir Michael square up to the excellent Ben drew seemed like an inspired bit of casting.

both MC and BD are excellent, each bringing a tremendous gravitas and integrity to their respective roles. it was disappointing not to see these two excellent characters share more scenes together, and the great casting of these parts (as well as the truly menacing Sean Harris as the man you'd least like to share a pot noodle with) only serve to highlight some of the weaker performances (the double barrelled Charlie creed-miles as "copper no2" seems out of his depth and the police chief is just RUBBISH) Emily Mortimer gives a great performance and her scenes with MC and BD are among the best in the film, but again, something about her character doesn't quite gel..

the much publicised violence at the core of the film is powerful stuff, but for me the issues which seem to be at the heart of this piece - namely how the values of our grandparents' generation seem to have been somehow graffiti-ed over in multicultural Britain - are most strongly evoked in the opening sequences (the mindless thrill seeking of understandably frustrated sink estate kids vs. the quiet and modest routine of a generation which recalls what it is like to have had to do without and which abhors waste and thoughtlessness) it would have been really strong i think to see that contrast played out with a bit of tense face to face dialogue between MC and BD. but dialogue, like the casting, is where this film is a little patchy. sometimes excellent (like the police cell interrogations), sometimes dreadful (you'll recognise it when you hear it). there's some fine swearing in the film though. i was always told as a child "there's no such word as can't". well they didn't tell screen writer Gary young that. Ben drew's character noel calls pretty much everyone a "can't" and even sir Michael is at it before too long.

all in all i really enjoyed the film and thought it had flashes of brilliance and some very important things to say about the state of the nation. the inconsistencies and clunky gear changes prevent it being any kind of masterpiece though and i suspect for many people the payoff/finale isn't quite satisfying enough to make them want to go back and repeatedly re- watch the film as so much of it is so bleak. it's a first feature for Daniel barber and the bold yet subtle issues which he seeks to tackle were never going to be easy. i suppose it took the coen brothers at the very top of their game to give similar themes a really meditative yet engaging treatment in no country for old men.