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Based on the iconic Graham Greene novel and set in 1964 s Mods- and Rockers-infused Britain, screenwriter Rowan Joffe s debut feature BRIGHTON ROCK embraces the classic elements of film noir and the British gangster film to tell the story of Pinkie, a desperate youth who is hell bent on clawing his way up through the ranks of organized crime. When a young and very innocent waitress, Rose, stumbles on evidence linking him to a revenge killing, he sets out to seduce her to secure her silence. Starring up-and-coming British actors Sam Riley (Control) and Andrea Riseborough as the young couple, and co-starring veterans Helen Mirren (The Queen, Red) and John Hurt (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, V for Vendetta) as two friends who set out to save Rose from Pinkie s deviant designs, BRIGHTON ROCK is a sexy, stylized re-telling of one of the classic tales of innocence and evil.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By JCY 500
Format:DVD
Rowan Joffe's 2010 adaptation of Graham Greene's classic novel, originally filmed in 1947, has been updated to the setting of early 1960s England. It is gripping from beginning to end, with superlative acting, writing, and cinematography.
The opening scene shows a gangster desperately making a phone call to one of his mates. He is on the run, and there is nowhere to hide. Before a fellow gang member can get there, the rival gang has killed him. Young Pinkie Brown, portrayed by the impressive Sam Riley, arriving on the scene, knows his life has changed. Events have forced him to make a decision - should he take the helm of his gang? A following scene shows his hesitancy in killing the man who killed his boss. At that point, he can't quite muster the determination, and anger, required to kill his boss' assassin. That soon changes - he grows into the role he has assumed for himself.
He also has to deal with a possible witness to a crime he and another gang member have committed. The witness, a young woman named Rose, who just happens to be in the vicinity of the crime, saw Pinkie and a fellow gang member as well as the member of the other gang who had killed their leader. Shortly afterward, Pinkie and Spicer, his mate in the gang, kill the other gang member under the boardwalk.
Rather than risk her telling her story to the police, Pinkie decides to "romance" her. Romance, however, is an inaccurate word for his intentions - he simply wants to prevent her from talking. The scenes detailing their emerging relationship are a bit hard to accept. Pinkie shows little affection or humor in their interactions. One gets the feeling that he has scant ability to show emotion to anyone, and little experience dealing with women. As for Rose, she's either completely naive, or just a tool for the screenwriter to advance the plot. In any event, she becomes completely caught up in her love and devotion to him. The story develops in a unique manner, with both the climax and the ending far different than one would have been led to believe.
Although far different than what American audiences would think of as a thriller, Brighton Rock is as enthralling as any movie of its genre in recent memory. The acting - by Sam Riley in the part of Pinkie, Andrea Riseborough as his girlfriend, Helen Mirren as a shopowner involved with one of the players, and all others - is superb. As an ensemble, one imagines their being worthy of undertaking the most difficult stage play. This is a film to watch again and again.
I've also read that Sam Riley is portraying the Jack Kerouac alter-ego, Sal Paradise, in an upcoming release of On The Road. He certainly looks the part, and based on this effort, I'll be eager to see the film.
The opening scene shows a gangster desperately making a phone call to one of his mates. He is on the run, and there is nowhere to hide. Before a fellow gang member can get there, the rival gang has killed him. Young Pinkie Brown, portrayed by the impressive Sam Riley, arriving on the scene, knows his life has changed. Events have forced him to make a decision - should he take the helm of his gang? A following scene shows his hesitancy in killing the man who killed his boss. At that point, he can't quite muster the determination, and anger, required to kill his boss' assassin. That soon changes - he grows into the role he has assumed for himself.
He also has to deal with a possible witness to a crime he and another gang member have committed. The witness, a young woman named Rose, who just happens to be in the vicinity of the crime, saw Pinkie and a fellow gang member as well as the member of the other gang who had killed their leader. Shortly afterward, Pinkie and Spicer, his mate in the gang, kill the other gang member under the boardwalk.
Rather than risk her telling her story to the police, Pinkie decides to "romance" her. Romance, however, is an inaccurate word for his intentions - he simply wants to prevent her from talking. The scenes detailing their emerging relationship are a bit hard to accept. Pinkie shows little affection or humor in their interactions. One gets the feeling that he has scant ability to show emotion to anyone, and little experience dealing with women. As for Rose, she's either completely naive, or just a tool for the screenwriter to advance the plot. In any event, she becomes completely caught up in her love and devotion to him. The story develops in a unique manner, with both the climax and the ending far different than one would have been led to believe.
Although far different than what American audiences would think of as a thriller, Brighton Rock is as enthralling as any movie of its genre in recent memory. The acting - by Sam Riley in the part of Pinkie, Andrea Riseborough as his girlfriend, Helen Mirren as a shopowner involved with one of the players, and all others - is superb. As an ensemble, one imagines their being worthy of undertaking the most difficult stage play. This is a film to watch again and again.
I've also read that Sam Riley is portraying the Jack Kerouac alter-ego, Sal Paradise, in an upcoming release of On The Road. He certainly looks the part, and based on this effort, I'll be eager to see the film.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By M. C. Hewins
Format:DVD
I was really surprised by how much I liked this production of Brighton Rock. As any Graham Greene fan knows, good adaptations of his novels are hard to come by. In film adaptations, the real marrow of what Greene fleshes out in the novel is missed. In his earlier novels, that usually is Greene's inextricable belief in God and his obsession with the power of belief, especially in regard to Catholicism. This production misses that in a general sense. Lip service is payed to the Catholic connection, yet the film manages to convey those themes of damnation and salvation all the same. Sam Riley's truly young and innocent looking baby face coupled with his bone chilling performance as the ruthless gangster Pinkie entirely steals the show from this production's formidable cast. Andrea Riseborough plays a splendid Rose. John Hurt and Helen Mirren support the film with flawless performances from both veteran artists.
There are plot departures from the book. And not all are minor departures and these may upset you if your a purist. However, I feel the essence of what Greene intended with his novel was seen and brilliantly portrayed in this film. The different ending from the novel is unfortunate, but in spite of that, the strength of the film and Riley's unparallelled performance hold it together.
Highly Recommended!
There are plot departures from the book. And not all are minor departures and these may upset you if your a purist. However, I feel the essence of what Greene intended with his novel was seen and brilliantly portrayed in this film. The different ending from the novel is unfortunate, but in spite of that, the strength of the film and Riley's unparallelled performance hold it together.
Highly Recommended!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
BRIGHTON ROCK is a British remake of the 1947 brilliant film noir based on the novel by Graham Greene an adapted for the screen by Graham Greene and Terrance Rattigan. This BRIGHTON ROCK has been updated from the original 1930s setting to the 1960s and the screenplay is by Rowan Joffe (who also directs) - tough competition with the original writers! The result is a dark film that relies on performances by some actors who are not up to the task and makes them seem even more weak by the presence of such brilliant actors in smaller roles as Helen Mirren, John Hurt, Philip Davis and Andrea Riseborough.
The story takes place in 1964 in Brighton, once a quiet seaside town, is suddenly overrun by gangs of sharp suited Mods and greasy Rockers looking for a riot. Looking to be the top Mod gangster, Pinkie Brown (Sam Riley) will stop at nothing to be the biggest name in the crime world - bigger than the competitor Colleoni (Andy Serkis). Pinkie witnesses the vicious death of fellow Mod Kite (Goeff Bell) and is determined to kill the perpetrator Hale (Sean Harris). Pinkie's ruthless and violent ambition takes over his mission and when he discovers that a waitress named Rose (Andrea Riseborough) who works at Snows, a cafe run by Ida (Helen Mirren), is involved tangentially in the murders, Pinkie decides to court the plain jane Rose, knowing that if he marries her she cannot testify against him should she discover Pinkie's guilt in the murders. Ida had a 'connection' with Hale and sees through the veils of deceit Pinkie is placing on the innocent Rose, and she and her longtime friend Phil (John Hurt) undermine Pinkie's plans. Pinkie marries Rose - a gesture that secures Rose's fascination and new love for Pinkie - to keep her from testifying against him. As factors around the conflicts between the two gangs tighten and Pinkie fears for his end, he convinces his new bride to take part in a mutual suicide, an act that has a surprising end.
What is missing in this updated adaptation is Graham Greene's important emphasis on the theme of sin, guilt and Catholicism: there are attempts to bring these concepts into the script but they become of lesser importance than the action and dark evocation of a period piece. There mood is well described by the cinematography of John Mathieson, but the single most effective aspect of this film is the brilliant music score by the gifted British composer Martin Phipps, godson of Benjamin Britten. Were there not an original film for comparison the film would likely be better accepted. But for those who are ardent fans of the novels of Graham Greene this film adaptation will likely disappoint. It is currently available On Demand and simultaneously in theaters before the DVD is released here. Grady Harp, September 11
The story takes place in 1964 in Brighton, once a quiet seaside town, is suddenly overrun by gangs of sharp suited Mods and greasy Rockers looking for a riot. Looking to be the top Mod gangster, Pinkie Brown (Sam Riley) will stop at nothing to be the biggest name in the crime world - bigger than the competitor Colleoni (Andy Serkis). Pinkie witnesses the vicious death of fellow Mod Kite (Goeff Bell) and is determined to kill the perpetrator Hale (Sean Harris). Pinkie's ruthless and violent ambition takes over his mission and when he discovers that a waitress named Rose (Andrea Riseborough) who works at Snows, a cafe run by Ida (Helen Mirren), is involved tangentially in the murders, Pinkie decides to court the plain jane Rose, knowing that if he marries her she cannot testify against him should she discover Pinkie's guilt in the murders. Ida had a 'connection' with Hale and sees through the veils of deceit Pinkie is placing on the innocent Rose, and she and her longtime friend Phil (John Hurt) undermine Pinkie's plans. Pinkie marries Rose - a gesture that secures Rose's fascination and new love for Pinkie - to keep her from testifying against him. As factors around the conflicts between the two gangs tighten and Pinkie fears for his end, he convinces his new bride to take part in a mutual suicide, an act that has a surprising end.
What is missing in this updated adaptation is Graham Greene's important emphasis on the theme of sin, guilt and Catholicism: there are attempts to bring these concepts into the script but they become of lesser importance than the action and dark evocation of a period piece. There mood is well described by the cinematography of John Mathieson, but the single most effective aspect of this film is the brilliant music score by the gifted British composer Martin Phipps, godson of Benjamin Britten. Were there not an original film for comparison the film would likely be better accepted. But for those who are ardent fans of the novels of Graham Greene this film adaptation will likely disappoint. It is currently available On Demand and simultaneously in theaters before the DVD is released here. Grady Harp, September 11
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reworking of Graham Greene's British mob novel
"Brighton Rock" is a 2010 IFC film about the British underworld. This cinematic version directed by Rowan Joffe is based on the 1938 novel by Graham Greene. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Luke Killion
2.0 out of 5 stars
Talking 'bout his degeneration
So many ideas went into Rowan Joffé's adaptation of Graham Greene's 1938 novel about sin and damnation, and so many of them were bad ones. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jay Dickson
2.0 out of 5 stars
"I'll tell you what life is.... It's dying slowly."
I read this book years ago when I was Pinkie's age, living in England, though not in Brighton. I was clumsy and stupid, very mixed up about what it could mean to be a man, mean... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Peter Geraghty
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dark Gangster Thriller that Gives the Viewer a Good Sense of Brighton
"Brighton Rock," (2010) is, apparently a British television treatment, the second adaptation to be made, of outstanding British author Graham Greene's classic, early career,... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Stephanie DePue
2.0 out of 5 stars
Yes, please do hurry up and die Pinkie!
Just plain dark and rather dumb. Who would ever be attracted to that glowering idiot Pinkie?! He was scary to look at before she even knew he was a killer... Read more
Published 9 months ago by C. Adams
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Graham Greene!
Classic Greene British Crime Novel Updated in this adaptation to the Mods & Rocker's riots of the 60's Brighton! Read more
Published 10 months ago by Glenn S. Hawley
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dull as a rock...
I saw the original 1947 film a few years back. I was not impressed. It was slow in parts, disjointed and carried on the shoulders of a poorly asserted performance. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Andrew Ellington
3.0 out of 5 stars
Young psycho of Brighton, London
A story of 1964-London where five man gang rocketed Brighton keeping their business apart from local competitive Italian mafia operating in the same area. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Michael Kerjman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Adaptation
I was really surprised by how much I liked this production of Brighton Rock. As any Graham Greene fan knows, good adaptations of his novels are hard to come by. Read more
Published 15 months ago by M. C. Hewins
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brighton Rock
A bit of a departure from the original. Advertized as a story set set in the 1960-s British Mod scene, the theme might have been explored a bit more. Acting is quite good. Read more
Published 15 months ago by OVERTIME
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