Customer Reviews

Harry Brown

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

London, The Present: Elderly pensioner Harry Brown lives a largely solitary existence on a sinkhole council housing estate in London where drug dealing and recreational violence are the norm and disaffected hoodie-wearing teenage criminals (or "chavs" as we call them in the UK - a word derived from the acronym of "Council Housed And Violent") treat the ugly concrete canyons as a combination of a playground and the gladiatorial arena. Harry, despite a once prestigious career in the Royal Marines, is an affable, peaceful man who keeps himself to himself; literally going out of his way to avoid confrontation on a daily basis. But when a tragic series of events results in the death of one of his dearest friends, Harry finds himself inexorably drawn onto a collision course with the violent criminal elements that have terrorized the estate.

Harry Brown is not a perfect film, but it is an important one. It's probably the only film that realistically deals with the reality of the plight of the elderly and vulnerable at the hands of what has now become an epidemic of casual violent criminality in the UK. Make no bones about it, the England that you see in this film is far closer to the reality of living in a major British city than the Richard Curtisesque fluff-pieces (such as Love Actually (Widescreen Edition)) that are exported abroad in the hope of drumming up UK tourism. The failure of successive post-war UK governments to deal with an ailing education and law enforcement system has led to the reassertion of almost Dickensian levels of violence, poverty and hopelessness, and, as a British expat now living in Australia, I experienced an old familiar sinking feeling as I observed the frighteningly well-realised portrait of an increasingly dystopian Britain. Take it from one who knows - this is as real as it gets.

The tone of the film itself is an odd mixture of the jarringly realistic and the satirically surreal: the scenes depicting the recreational thuggery of the chavs are frighteningly on-the-money, while the scenes with the buttoned-down, pathologically polite and well-spoken police chief appear to be satirical jabs at authority's completely inability to cope with the escalating social problems of modern Britain. The tone of the film is somewhere between the work of Ken Loach, Death Wish (indeed, this film is far more in keeping with the spirit of Brian Garfield's novel than the original Bronson vehicle) and Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (Two-Disc Special Edition).

The acting is divided into two camps: Caine has never given a finer performance and the character's mordant sense of quiet sadness and desperation is palpable from the moment that we first see him open his eyes after a restless night. Brown, despite his eventual descent into violence, is never anything but a victim and Caine really does deserve an Oscar for his beautifully judged turn as an Emphysemic everyman caught between a rock and a hard place. Similarly, plaudits must go to the young actors playing the teen criminals, as well as massively underrated UK actor, Sean Harris, for his brief, scene-stealing cameo as an emaciated, homicidal, heroin addict who inhabits a hovel that far surpasses the worst fever dreams of De Quincey. By way of juxtaposition however, Emily Mortimer's performance as a police woman attempting to get to the bottom of the violence dogging the film's sinkhole estate is something of a damp squib. It could be that this is another satirical jab at the "touchy feely" modern metropolitan police force on the part of the director though.

Harry Brown is a film that will divide audiences. I observed an old chap, who sat near me in the cinema, informing the girl at the refreshment kiosk that "the world needs more men like Harry Brown"; Several seconds later, a young, coiffured film studies student who had also been in the screening, and who was clearly acquainted with the same kiosk girl, informed her that "it was a load of simplistic crap". There are many people who will be of the latter opinion and yet more who will write it off as nothing more than a right-wing vigilante wet-dream. Then again, most of the liberal intelligentsia who have already espoused the latter opinion have never had to live in a place where the police turn up mob-handed or not at all. For those of us who have walked a mile in Harry's shoes though, regardless of our opinions on vigilantism, it is not a film that is so easily dismissed.

Harry Brown is more "The Crow" than "Death Wish", as his vigilante behavior is mostly motivated by revenge. Whereas the Bronson film explores a man fed up with criminals in general, Harry's anger is largely focused on those connected to his friend's death. Another similarity is a subplot involving Emily Mortimer (Redbelt) as an investigator who suspects Brown is more than just a bystander to the killings.

The film slowly heats to a boil until its halfway mark, when it begins to explore very gritty and violent situations. From the moment Harry attempts to buy his first gun, the movie pulls you in and never lets go. The film offers a few minor twists, and though the story isn't especially original, a terrific performance by Michael Caine easily carries it the distance.

The cinematography is great, and the soundtrack is very stark and haunting most of the time. My only real complaint is that the use of CGI for certain scenes of violence was unnecessary.

The only reason I'm giving Harry Brown four stars instead of five, is that the concept isn't very original. But it's still a very interesting look at a man who has reached his tipping point, played by an excellent veteran actor. This is a film worth watching for Caine's performance alone.

Harry Brown, played brilliantly by Michael Caine, is a pensioner and ex-marine living on a run down housing estate somewhere in the east end of London, who can't take the shortest route to visit his ailing wife in hospital because it involves passing through an underground walkway frequented by louts in `hoodies' and their girlfriends. His wife no longer recognizes his presence and his one remaining solace is playing chess with long-term friend and near neighbour Len.

One day, in their local - the venue for their chess games - Len reveals to Harry how he is being terrorised by local yobs and how much he lives in fear. Harry advises him to go to the police but Len decides to take matters into his own hands, with a predictable result. From this moment on a series of tragic and horrifying incidents convinces Harry that, if the police appear powerless, `natural' justice demands payment and he sets about making it happen.

This is a brilliantly realized depiction of the hell in which some people are forced to try to live out their lives; particularly, the ill, the lonely and the elderly. The film plays, obviously, on the prejudices of those watchers who have lived under similar circumstances. It makes no excuse for the excess of violence and does not seek to justify the social and economic deprivation that might explain it but it definitely is an accurate reflection of some aspects of urban life on some run down housing estates: it's not a documentary or social commentary, just a good old-fashioned piece of brilliant British film making showcasing the extraordinary abilities of a range of home-grown acting talents (witness the two druggy gun dealers!) including the national treasure that is Michael Caine.

HARRY BROWN is a vigilante movie that might best be described as "a British version of DEATH WISH or GRAN TORINO".

Viewers who are turned off by excessive violence and harsh language should avoid this film, but if you're the kind of person who, like me, cheers when a low-life criminal gets his, then this is the movie for you.

Michael Caine stars as Harry Brown, a retired British Marine and widower. He lives in a gang and drug-infested housing project. The police seem to be powerless, even after Brown's only friend, also an elderly gent, is brutally murdered by the gang. Shortly thereafter, one of the thugs tries to rob Harry who, using his long dormant military training, kills the man, and then runs off.

At that point, Harry decides to come out of retirement and, single-handed, kill the gang members and drug suppliers that have destroyed his neighborhood. Despite his advanced age, he does it very well.

Michael Caine, one of the finest (still working) film actors of his generation, is magnificent as Brown, and Emily Mortimer is excellent as an emotionally-torn police detective who suspects that Brown is the vigilante eliminating gang members, yet is sympathetic to his position.

Daniel Barber directs efficiently and Gary Young has delivered a taut screenplay with good dialogue, although he does tend to rely on coincidence a but too much during the last third of this, otherwise, quite entertaining movie.

© Michael B. Druxman

Harry Brown's chess and drinking mate Len gets mugged and stabbed to death, which inspires him to go on a revenge trip and kill off the thugs and druggies that have brought about his loss.
There is a lot of violence but the superb acting by Michael Caine makes this action in the East End of London rather thrilling. It has a surprise and satisfying ending too which makes it all well worth seeing.

In his first full-length feature, director Daniel Barber offers a strong entry in the 'vigilante' genre, best known for Charles Bronson's wildly exploitive "Death Wish" and it's interminable sequels, and Clint Eastwood's iconic "Gran Torino". But in casting one of the screen's finest actors, Michael Caine, as "Harry Brown", the film becomes more than a just a 'shoot-em-up' fantasy for frightened senior citizens, but a sad commentary on how ineffective law enforcement has become in a culture overwhelmed by street crime, as seen through the eyes of a tragic hero watching his world crumble.

Brown is a simple man, a British pensioner/ex-Marine who has just seen his wife pass away, after a long illness. Ritual helps him deal with the pain, how he dresses, how he cares for his home, and his regular trips to the local pub to see old friend, Leonard (David Bradley, who is terrific). Leonard is increasingly terrified, as his flat is regularly desecrated by punks, but Brown refuses to resort to violence to aid him...of course, Leonard decides to deal with the hoods, himself, and is brutally murdered. When Brown sees how hamstrung the police (represented by inspectors Emily Mortimer and Charlie Creed-Miles) are, in investigating the case, or in ridding the streets of obvious 'vermin', he decides to carry a gun to protect himself, and investigate Leonard's death, himself. Of course, a first act of self-defense leads to a decision to 'clean up' his neighborhood...and a brief but decisive career begins.

Caine's fundamental humanity shines through in every scene; unashamed to cry, his sense of loss and frustration is palpable, and unlike Bronson, he isn't some kind of middle-aged physical specimen, running and jumping like a 20-year-old, but an old man, racked by emphysema...yet, despite his pain, he takes an abused, drugged girl to a hospital, after shooting her pusher 'boyfriends'. Director Barber doesn't glorify vigilante tactics, or pretend Harry Brown is some kind of urban saviour; despite a chaotic, brutal, and kinetic climax, involving an entire police task force, an army of street hoods and innocents, the two inspectors, Harry, and a surprising 'puppetmaster' to the central crime, the resolution isn't 'happily ever after', tied up with a pretty ribbon; in the sad, dark, more realistic world of Harry Brown, only death is permanent.

A must-see, if you are a Michael Caine fan, and can appreciate a well-made, if dark vision of urban life.

Sir Michael Caine is always a pleasure to watch. He's one of those actors who seems to effortlessly bring a touch of class and sophistication to every role he plays. Here, Caine is the titular Harry Brown, a pensioner (retiree in US), widower, and Royal Marine veteran complacent with the violence he sees going on outside his window that is so commonplace. The residents are terrorized by violent gangs of teenagers and drug dealers. When his best friend Len (David Bradley, the caretaker of Harry Potter fame) is murdered by the gangsters, Harry is pushed over the edge and buys a gun. Angered and grief-stricken, he sets out to find the identity of the killers and avenge the death of his friend.

Harry Brown is essentially a revenge film. It is well-produced and well-filmed with some fantastic shots of the ugly underbelly of south London, particularly the "sink estate" where Harry lives, Britain's version of public housing projects. I can appreciate the film for its realistic portrayal of the frightening living conditions in London's socially and economically under-privileged areas. This is definitely not the quaint and idyllic England many Americans are used to seeing on film. It reminds me of Green Street Hooligans in its depiction of the subculture of violence and hooliganism.

The story itself, however, is a very conventional and straight-forward portrayal of inner-city violence. The issues are very black and white, with the youth shown as unrepentant thugs with no redeeming characteristics, so it's easy to see them get offed. The film doesn't ask any questions about justice or the nature of right and wrong, and breaks no new ground as far as storytelling goes, but it is definitely watchable owing to Michael Caine's strong performance. Without him, I doubt the film would've been as interesting. I found the escalation of violence and collapse into civil unrest towards the end a bit over the top and unconvincing.

Worth a look if you're a Michael Caine fan or like urban crime thrillers.

Harry Brown stars Michael Caine as Harry and his performance is well done perfection of character. Harry is about 80 years old and a former Marine, which he does not talk about much. He put away all his medals and former fighter life when he met and married his wife of many years. The beginning scenes show Harry as he handles his wife's death and misses her sleeping next to him on an empty pillow. He is a widower with just one friend, Leonard. Harry and Leonard play chess together and both are witness to much violence on the street due to drugs and teenage delinquents without positive supervision from local law enforcement. They are allowed to get away with any number of crimes without punishment. Harry watches attacks from his window but stays out of getting involved. Every day he sees them congregate under a near-by bridge on his walk to a local pub.

Harry has emphysema, is way past his prime and physically out of shape. He is old, wise and does not want to go back to his Marine ways. He wants to stay apathetic and does not care anymore if he lives or dies. The tipping point in Harry's old age comes when he learns that his only friend Leonard is killed by a gang of young punks. Harry digs deep into his past and his mental and physical prowess learned in the Marines. He becomes vigilante justice for the weak and old as he becomes the Clint Eastwood/Charlie Bronson character that takes on what the Police ignore or refuse to confront.

The film ends as the Police finally attack the growing, festering gang problem and the stooped, determined Harry delivers his best to save two detectives caught in the fray.

The movie is a riveting thriller, stylishly filmed in dark brooding hues.

In 2009, the vigilante film from the UK titled "Harry Brown" makes its way to the US on Blu-ray and DVD.

The film is directed by Daniel Barber ("The Tonto Woman") and written by Gary Young ("The Tournament", "The Last Drop", "Shooters") and is a vigilante film that stars Michael Caine ("The Cider House Rules", "Hannah and Her Sisters", "Sleuth", "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels") and Emily Mortimer ("The Pink Panther", "Paris, je t'aime", "Elizabeth", Transsiberian").


VIDEO:

"Harry Brown" is presented in 1080p High Definition (2:35:1). Picture quality is very well done. You can see the detail and skin pores of the characters, blood can be seen with detail, especially the detail of scars, tattoos, the injuries to the detail of the grungy, graffiti dominated walls and old apartments in rundown areas featured in the film.

Certain scenes are quite vibrant and colorful but most of the film is shot at night, in dark and dilapidated areas. Overall, good amount of detail, blacks are nice and deep and very well-done cinematography by Martin Ruhe ("The Countess", "Linear").

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

"Harry Brown" is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD MA. The lossless audio for this film is fantastic. The gun sounds that are captured on screen are very crisp, loud and clear! Surround use is well done as we can hear crowd ambiance, telephone ringing so clear that you think it may be coming from your own house, a television in the background to various sounds that are utilized through the film.

Dialogue is absolutely crisp and clear through the center channels and front channels are well-done in capturing the various gun sounds to windows being destroyed, vehicles crashing into each other and in one scene, this churning of sound that is captured throughout the whole room utilize the surround channels and LFE. Overall, a good use of the lossless soundtrack!

Subtitles are in English and English SDH.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Harry Brown" comes with the following special features in high definition, English stereo and subtitles in English:

* Audio Commentary with Director Daniel Barber, Producer Kris Thukier and Michael Caine - An informative and hilarious audio commentary. Director Daniel Barber and Kris Thukier set up the various scenes and discuss filming in various area and Michael Caine brings his humor to the commentary.
* Deleted Scenes - (17:08) Featuring seven deleted scenes. Interesting to see some scenes that would have worked for the film but the boom mic's can be seen on the top.
* movieIQ+sync (logo) and BD-Live connect you to real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie!

JUDGMENT CALL:

With similar films such as "Gran Torino" starring Clint Eastwood to "The Brave One" starring Jodie Foster, "Harry Brown" takes a familiar concept but this time taking place in a crime-infested area of London where gang violence or drug pushers have taken control of public areas, putting fear into those living in the area and innocent people are beaten or murdered and not even the police are there to defend the peace. Who else to defend the peace than one man's act of vigilante-ism. Welcome to "Harry Brown".

With "Harry Brown", Michael Caine pulls of a fantastic performance and that certain situations can drive a man from law-abiding citizen to becoming a vigilante. He's simply had enough of the violence that has plagued his neighborhood and after the film had screened in the UK, many people took to the forums and it was an interesting split of people who felt the world needs more people like Harry Brown and others who felt that there was no way an elderly man with emphysema can become a vigilante.

Needless to say, Gary Young has crafted a screenplay that is not only gripping, violent and literally draws you in (as you want to see Michael Caine really want to get back at the thugs) but the only way they were going to strike a chord with the general audience is that you have to show how things have gotten out of hand and how even the police are having their difficulties.

But where we have seen these problems unfold on the local news in metropolitan areas nearly everyday, many of us here in America may wonder, is this problem in London really that bad? The more I started to do my research on South and East London, the more I started to learn about the racial divide, how people were being forced to move away because of race and it has gotten so bad that the drug problem and crime has taken control of an area. Many Londoners have said that things have gotten out of hand in those areas that the character of Harry Brown really hit a nerve with many people who have had enough of the crime.

With that being said, I thought the film was smartly crafted but towards the third arc, that is where the film started to get far out there and without spoiling the film, as much as that third arc became a gripping and violent, the film strayed from what possibly can happen with a man turning vigilante and the cops suspecting him for murder to a film that was like a scene out of "Black Hawk Down" where there is just violence all over the city, the police were like soldiers venturing into an area of uncertainty and there was no decorum. The police look as if they were overtaken by the criminals and the characters that we have rooted for become victims.

The ending does work, it's just a bit farfetched and things get off to easy. I can go into detail and become a bit nitpicky about that third arc, but I would be spoiling the film. So, I'll leave it to the viewer to determine how they feel about the final half hour of the film.

But I did enjoy the film and to see the character of Harry Brown change to a vigilante was very cool. Michael Caine is a fantastic actor and by no means did the filmmakers try to turn his elderly character to the Punisher or anything like that. His performance was wonderful. Emily Mortimer's character as Detective Alice Frampton is a character that had its potential but to tell you the truth, I don't think the writers did any justice towards her character. She has the potential to be a strong woman and instead she becomes a weak victim and it's not the way how I expected her character to be played out at the end. So, as much as the performances and the cinematography were well-done, part of my problem was with the actual screenplay and primarily for that third act.

I have to say that the young talent playing the criminals did a wonderful job in their interrogation scenes. I don't know how much of it was improvised but young talent Ben Drew did a wonderful job playing Noel Winters dishing it, making it feel real and showing his disgust towards the police and to see that cocky, F-U attitude was pretty impressive.

As for the Blu-ray release, you do get an entertaining, informative and hilarious audio commentary by director Daniel Barber, producer Kris Thykier and Michael Caine and you get several deleted scenes and that is about it. I was hoping to see more featurettes from behind-the-scenes of the filming of the movie, interviews with the cast, Michael Caine preparing for this role. Just something extra would have been nice but you do get a few special features rather than none.

Overall, "Harry Brown" is a gripping, compelling vigilante film that really showcases Michael Caine's talent and to show him in a different kind of film which many viewers have never seen him play before. The cinematography was really well done and it was good play of colors during those night scenes that were well-done as well. Despite my feeling that the third act became a bit too chaotic and like the London has reached Armageddon, if you get past that and just take the film as a whole, I had an enjoyable time watching this film.

If you are a fan of films such as "Gran Torino" or "The Brave One" and you enjoy the acting of Michael Caine, I definitely recommend giving "Harry Brown" a chance!

I got this on a whim because Michael Caine is one of my top three serious actors along with Alec Guinness and Anthony Hopkins, and my assumption was that he would not stoop to a simple Death Wish kind of film. This is a uniquely British film that melds themes well-described by other reviewers.

My primary purpose here is to flag this at Phi Beta Iota the Public Intelligence Blog as one of 117 DVDs for smart people that don't like run of the mill movies. This is worth watching and the ending is especially surprising and alone worth the wait.

A few other crime-related action films I recommend:

From Paris with Love
Brooklyn's Finest
Righteous Kill
The Departed (Widescreen Edition)
Gran Torino (Widescreen Edition)
Human Target: The Complete First Season
Five Minutes of Heaven
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
The Limits of Control
Twisted (Special Collector's Edition)