Harry Brown
What?
Harry Brown lives on a rough estate, the ‘hoodies’ are out of control and ruling the streets with violence and intimidation, while the decent law abiding folk keep out of their way because the police seem powerless to intervene. Harry knows that things shouldn't be this way, but feels there is nothing an old man like him can do to rectify the situation; so he continues with his daily routine, caring for his sick wife and playing chess with his one remaining friend Len in the local pub. Then in quick succession Harry loses his wife and his friend, his wife to her illness, Len to the ‘hoodies’. Desperate and unable to stand anymore of living in constant fear, Harry decides to take action when it appears the police can still do nothing. Calling on his Marine training Harry obtains a gun and starts putting right some wrongs.
I can confirm that Harry Brown is Michael Caine’s best performance in years, note the word performance rather than movie; because good as Caine is, the movie and the rest of the cast are fairly average. The plot panders to the fears of Daily Mail readers everywhere - that all teenagers are apt to stab you in the face if you look at them the wrong way, and while we have all had experience of, or at least heard of, the exploits of today's asbo ridden ‘yoof’ you'd have to be fairly blinkered to not notice the one sided view point director Daniel Barber takes. Now if I'm honest, the thought of a gun toting OAP dispatching chavs left and right, one sided or not, did sound appealing; however this is not that type of movie and because the film takes a more serious and measured tone the lack of impartiality feels even more obvious than if it was just an exploitative shoot em up playing on the fears of the middle class masses. Much has been made of Caine’s performance, and all the accolades are deserved, it is one of measured restraint and heartfelt believability - you feel Harry's pain when he suffers the loss of his wife and then his friend, you are angry with him and satisfied when he confronts the first member of the gang responsible. It is a shame that the rest of the cast don't fair as well, the gang are menacing enough but not memorable in any way, and the ineffective police officers are bordering on pathetic - and that may have been the point, but the simpering turn Emily Mortimer gives is just woeful. Admittedly her role is underwritten to such a point that in one scene, where she receives a dressing down from her senior, she opens and closes her mouth like a fish, literally unable to get a word out - this is typical of the her arc as the story progresses, despite her character initially being painted as a no nonsense officer - there to sort the estate out. The climax comes on a bit like an episode of the Bill on steroids - not particularly cinematic and in fact a bit cheap looking - and the final shoot out suffers a from the blood being obviously CG augmented. Much like Clint's octogenarian on the rampage - Gran Torino - Harry Brown sounds better on paper than it actually is on screen.
Optics:
The movie looks bleak with lots of slate greys and an extremely dull colour palette, some of the night scenes or dark interiors can look a little washed out, and there was a little grain on display. That said, detail is relatively good, and one or two of the external day scenes, I'm thinking of Harry at the graveyard, have a nice clarity to them that contrasts well with the dark depressing estate and pub interior.
Sonics:
The soundtrack is a pedestrian affair with almost all of the action coming from the front soundstage, dialogue is clear and from the centre, and the score is fine, though forgettable. Gun shots do pack the required punch, but the surrounds, save for a few ambience effects, are largely unused. Adequate but not in anyway impressive.
Extras:
The cast interviews and music videos are the filler that you probably won’t ever be compelled to view, but the deleted scenes are worth your time, as is the excellent commentary. Daniel Barber and his producer view the movie in the company of the always interesting Caine, who elevates this commentary into something approaching a must listen.
Well?
If this does, as is rumoured, turn out to be Caine's swan song then he should be happy to retire on such a strong performance. It is just a shame that the rest of the cast, and the movie as a whole, don’t quite match his high standard. It certainly has its moments and is worth a look, but it is not quite the movie I hoped it would be.
Kris Williams
Harry Brown lives on a rough estate, the ‘hoodies’ are out of control and ruling the streets with violence and intimidation, while the decent law abiding folk keep out of their way because the police seem powerless to intervene. Harry knows that things shouldn't be this way, but feels there is nothing an old man like him can do to rectify the situation; so he continues with his daily routine, caring for his sick wife and playing chess with his one remaining friend Len in the local pub. Then in quick succession Harry loses his wife and his friend, his wife to her illness, Len to the ‘hoodies’. Desperate and unable to stand anymore of living in constant fear, Harry decides to take action when it appears the police can still do nothing. Calling on his Marine training Harry obtains a gun and starts putting right some wrongs.
I can confirm that Harry Brown is Michael Caine’s best performance in years, note the word performance rather than movie; because good as Caine is, the movie and the rest of the cast are fairly average. The plot panders to the fears of Daily Mail readers everywhere - that all teenagers are apt to stab you in the face if you look at them the wrong way, and while we have all had experience of, or at least heard of, the exploits of today's asbo ridden ‘yoof’ you'd have to be fairly blinkered to not notice the one sided view point director Daniel Barber takes. Now if I'm honest, the thought of a gun toting OAP dispatching chavs left and right, one sided or not, did sound appealing; however this is not that type of movie and because the film takes a more serious and measured tone the lack of impartiality feels even more obvious than if it was just an exploitative shoot em up playing on the fears of the middle class masses. Much has been made of Caine’s performance, and all the accolades are deserved, it is one of measured restraint and heartfelt believability - you feel Harry's pain when he suffers the loss of his wife and then his friend, you are angry with him and satisfied when he confronts the first member of the gang responsible. It is a shame that the rest of the cast don't fair as well, the gang are menacing enough but not memorable in any way, and the ineffective police officers are bordering on pathetic - and that may have been the point, but the simpering turn Emily Mortimer gives is just woeful. Admittedly her role is underwritten to such a point that in one scene, where she receives a dressing down from her senior, she opens and closes her mouth like a fish, literally unable to get a word out - this is typical of the her arc as the story progresses, despite her character initially being painted as a no nonsense officer - there to sort the estate out. The climax comes on a bit like an episode of the Bill on steroids - not particularly cinematic and in fact a bit cheap looking - and the final shoot out suffers a from the blood being obviously CG augmented. Much like Clint's octogenarian on the rampage - Gran Torino - Harry Brown sounds better on paper than it actually is on screen.
Optics:
The movie looks bleak with lots of slate greys and an extremely dull colour palette, some of the night scenes or dark interiors can look a little washed out, and there was a little grain on display. That said, detail is relatively good, and one or two of the external day scenes, I'm thinking of Harry at the graveyard, have a nice clarity to them that contrasts well with the dark depressing estate and pub interior.
Sonics:
The soundtrack is a pedestrian affair with almost all of the action coming from the front soundstage, dialogue is clear and from the centre, and the score is fine, though forgettable. Gun shots do pack the required punch, but the surrounds, save for a few ambience effects, are largely unused. Adequate but not in anyway impressive.
Extras:
The cast interviews and music videos are the filler that you probably won’t ever be compelled to view, but the deleted scenes are worth your time, as is the excellent commentary. Daniel Barber and his producer view the movie in the company of the always interesting Caine, who elevates this commentary into something approaching a must listen.
Well?
If this does, as is rumoured, turn out to be Caine's swan song then he should be happy to retire on such a strong performance. It is just a shame that the rest of the cast, and the movie as a whole, don’t quite match his high standard. It certainly has its moments and is worth a look, but it is not quite the movie I hoped it would be.
Kris Williams
Director:
Daniel Barber
Starring:
Michael Caine
Emily Mortimer
Best line:
"You failed to maintain your weapon."
Tagline:
Description:
Lionsgate
Region 2
Rated 18
1Hr 39 Mins
2.35:1
(Anamorphic)
Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio commentary
Deleted/extended scenes
Cast interviews
Music interviews
Ratings: (Out of 5)
Film 3.5
Optics 3.0
Sonics 3.0
Extras 3.0
Overall 3.5
