In this British thriller, Sir Michael Caine plays Harry Brown, a modest, law-abiding widower who lives in a depressing council estate. When his best friend, Leonard, is murdered by a gang of thugs, Harry feels compelled to dispense his own brand of justice. As an ex-marine, he has the skills to do so, but his efforts bring him into conflict with the police force, including investigating officer DCI Frampton (Emily Mortimer).
I apologise, we feel bad, but there's no trailer available. ~Ed.
Ever-watchable, Michael Caine enriches damn near everything he appears in, and he elevates this grim vigilante-fest from pretty darn good to essential viewing. Not for the squeamish, Harry Brown is chilling from its kinetic and brutal opening frames right through to the increasingly explosive violence inflicted by both Brown and the truly horrible council estate scumbags he pits himself against.
It’s not unfair to label Harry Brown a bit of a Death Wish knock-off (with a pinch of Gran Torino and Taxi Driver) but that would be overlooking a couple of important points. The first is the British setting and examination of kids there that, as in Eden Lake, are part of a hopeless generation spiralling out of control into violence and nihilism.
The other is, of course, Caine. His performance is riveting enough when the film begins, as Harry Brown, doting husband and pensioner, but the deaths of both his wife and then best pal allow him to dig deep into a reservoir of emotion and produce something particularly compelling. And then comes the revenge.
Never seeming an unlikely hero, despite his age, Caine proves an extremely competent vigilante and everything about the film is geared to make you cheer him on. Whether gun-toting pensioners are a real solution to Britain’s youth crime crisis, however, remains to be seen.
By Steve Newall, Flicks.co.nz
Britain's answer to Clint Eastwood's 'Gran Tourino,' Michael Caine is wonderful as this revisionist Harry Palmer character. Just like 'Tourino' was Dirty Harry as an old, retired git - so this is Caine's way of reflecting on the now retired action heroes he played in his youth. A damning insight into British yoof culture gone wrong in a post-Millennial society that just gave up caring... and in the process gave up hope. A darker meditation than Eastwood's - more 'Unforgiven' than 'Gran Tourino' really. It loses one star due to an at times predictable script and pedestrian direction - but Caine raises the game. See it for Sir Mike if nothing else. He totally owns this movie in his best role since 'Educating Rita.'
A realistic and dramatic thriller. Michael Caine plays real and believeable character.
raw, real and sad
Michael Caine pulls a Gran Torino in the UK. Pensioner Harry Brown has been plagued with an everything-sucks-with-the-world attitude that is fuelled by the death of his wife and the unapologetic murder of his best friend. With an infestation of youth criminal activity, Harry takes it upon himself to clean up the streets, one bullet at a time. It’s a simple premise, and one that can ultimately slide too easily into the gooey realm of corn and cheese. However, the film sticks to its guns (pun intended) well enough that it never strays into outright silliness. Not legendary, but good.
Michael Caine, while showing a certain frailty that comes with age, demonstrates real strength. Not a strength in a physical sense, but keeping his cool and a perfect use of weapons, that makes him the great protagonist in this british drama. Good thriller.
This movie plays better than perhaps it should. Directed as a debut by Daniel Barber, it places story and character above manufactured "thrills" and works better.
Hell is other people. This is especially true if you live on Harry Brown's housing estate.
Clearly it's the week for films you've seen before being done again with better actors.
Essential stuff, even by the big man’s considerable standards.
"A study of urban decay... brilliantly shot."
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 19th Aug 2010.
Release date: August 19th 2010.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
