Bronson (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Matthew R

  
  Though I am not the first person, nor will I be the last, to say this, but the most accurate comparison to any other film that could qualify as an accurate description of "Bronson" is Stanley Kubrick's socio-political masterwork, "A Clockwork Orange" meets… More
  Though I am not the first person, nor will I be the last, to say this, but the most accurate comparison to any other film that could qualify as an accurate description of "Bronson" is Stanley Kubrick's socio-political masterwork, "A Clockwork Orange" meets Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers". Tom Hardy plays the leading madman Charles Bronson with stunning conviction and adept skill, giving us a ruthless, violently orgasmic portrait for us to fall in deep, depraved infatuation with the ego and subsequent fantasy of England's most notorious inmate. The cinematography and direction really hold the film together for me, even more than the vastly underrated and eclectic performance of Hardy, keeping the pacing and framing taught and very necessary with every scene. It is quite noticeable that director Nicolas Winding Refn follows the same discipline of filmmaking as David Fincher and Stanley Kubrick (which I often give the name The Kubrickian School), and the ardent perfection of framing, camera movement, blocking, sound editing and film cutting that are spot on. Not always as engrossing as I would have liked it to be, but more than holds its own in filmmaking stakes and viable story elements that make for a superior film.

• Dean !

  
  Not what I was expecting! I great performance by Tom Hardy as the title character, but the monologue style delivery for the majority of the film was quite odd and bizarre at times, although that fits the character well. Only seem to focus and a few key moments of all his time in… More
  Not what I was expecting! I great performance by Tom Hardy as the title character, but the monologue style delivery for the majority of the film was quite odd and bizarre at times, although that fits the character well. Only seem to focus and a few key moments of all his time in prison, with very few facts or dates? Could have been a lot better I think.

• Luke B

  
  The film is both entertaining and disturbing. The most disturbing aspect is that it seems to have no answers, which is also a bit of a hindrance. It tells the story of Charles Bronson, the most expensive and notorious prisoner in Britain's history. He is sentenced to just 7 years… More
  The film is both entertaining and disturbing. The most disturbing aspect is that it seems to have no answers, which is also a bit of a hindrance. It tells the story of Charles Bronson, the most expensive and notorious prisoner in Britain's history. He is sentenced to just 7 years for a Post Office robbery, only to end up spending over 30 years in prison for his violent nature. There seems to be no method behind the madness, other than his delusions of grandeur. He sees the world and humans in general as being beneath him. Prison is his home, as he can be larger than life. In such a small world he can easily construct a legend around himself by simply fighting. In many ways it's a tragedy, as we see Bronson has a talent for art, but his anger soon takes over and he throws away any chance of a normal life. Refn takes on quite an artistic style which sets this apart from similar films. Seeing Bronson act out both sides of a conversation with a nurse was both humorous and unsettling. Refn also neither glorifies Bronson's behaviour nor does he condemn it. He appreciates that his audience is smart enough to judge behaviour for ourselves. Hardy gives an incredible performance. He is a ticking time bomb of intensity and cruelty. He shoots from pleasure to pain in the blink of an eye, portraying Bronson as an actual monster, that could easily lure you in with charm before breaking your neck. A fine character portrayal, but those looking for a plot or message may be disappointed.

• Lady D

  
  I don't think this is quite the film people will be expecting to see when it comes to the infamous British prisoner; Charlie Bronson. It's not iconic like many other true crime films have come across. Having heard a little about him previously and having recently watched a… More
  I don't think this is quite the film people will be expecting to see when it comes to the infamous British prisoner; Charlie Bronson. It's not iconic like many other true crime films have come across. Having heard a little about him previously and having recently watched a Documentary about him, there seems to be a few discrepancies and a few facts omitted from the film, perhaps for entertainment purposes. It certainly has it's fair share of violence, but that was quite often sheltered by the comedic theme throughout and failed to show an impact it had made on others. Tom Hardy however, gave a great performance as the main character here and was actually unrecognisable when compared to some of his other recent work. The theatrical theme, I wasn't sure of at the beginning, but soon realised it's purpose and became quite entertaining and built us a view of his mental state. For those of you who like to read up on true crime etc and have an interest in this genre, it is worth watching and again Tom Hardy does a great job, but may not be the insightful viewing you might expect. (I know others will disagree).

• Kristijonas F

  
  A fantastic character study, Bronson offers a bizarre glimpse into the life and mind of an even more bizarre person. Nicolas Winding Refn's fearless direction complements Tom Hardy's tremendous performance perfectly, and the end result is a terrifying and equally fascinating… More
  A fantastic character study, Bronson offers a bizarre glimpse into the life and mind of an even more bizarre person. Nicolas Winding Refn's fearless direction complements Tom Hardy's tremendous performance perfectly, and the end result is a terrifying and equally fascinating film which makes me feel even more at ease about Hardy's upcoming antagonistic role in The Dark Knight Rises.

• Cynthia S

  
  I have mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand, the directing and acting are top notch. Tom Hardys performance in particular is amazing, although I could have done without seeing his penis so damn much. On the other hand, this movie is filmed in such a bizarre way that I felt like… More
  I have mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand, the directing and acting are top notch. Tom Hardys performance in particular is amazing, although I could have done without seeing his penis so damn much. On the other hand, this movie is filmed in such a bizarre way that I felt like I was watching an updated version of Clockwork Orange....which I hated, by the way. But, I have to admit, it was so gross and disgusting at times that I found myself enthralled. Go figure.

• E.J. B

  
  Bronson is based on the infamous prisoner Michael Peterson, who changed his name to Charles Bronson, no doubt alluding to the action star of the same name. Peterson's celebrity status was not something I was aware of before watching the film, but director Nicolas Winding Refn… More
  Bronson is based on the infamous prisoner Michael Peterson, who changed his name to Charles Bronson, no doubt alluding to the action star of the same name. Peterson's celebrity status was not something I was aware of before watching the film, but director Nicolas Winding Refn carefully shows just how much of an impact Peterson made on the media for his violent behaviour as a prisoner and for his increasingly long imprisonment for a crime that show only have cost him 3 years of life. The man presented to us once the credits role is a fully realized character. To further accomplish this, Refn blends existential scenes of Michael talking to an audience on a theatre stage as they applaud his performance. He crosscuts with scenes of sheer brutality as Michael picks fight after fight after fight, always expecting the same result. Refn presents us with this person but offers no explanation as to why he is this way. Instead, he forces us to ask questions about how society reacts to him. Michael brings to mind Alex from Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, a film that greatly inspires the style of Bronson. Both characters are social misfits impervious to treatments that attempt to reform them into civilized and productive members of their communities. Thoughtful, insightful, unforgiving, brutal, but definitely original, Bronson is a film that many will hate and many will love. I don't know which one you will be, and you will have your reasons, but count me in the latter!

• Martin S

  
  Even though I won't remember it as a great film. It was fun while watching it. Typical British style film making if your in to that. It gives the film the feeling it was searching for. Tom Hardy does a good job. It's a little different from what you''re used to I… More
  Even though I won't remember it as a great film. It was fun while watching it. Typical British style film making if your in to that. It gives the film the feeling it was searching for. Tom Hardy does a good job. It's a little different from what you''re used to I would say...

• Kase V

  
  Nicholas Winding Refn's 'Bronson' is an interesting attempt to expose a savage human being, and I applaud Refn for that. His vision throughout the movie is absolute and never seems to quiver. Refn was in control of his movie and his vision throughout, and it's… More
  Nicholas Winding Refn's 'Bronson' is an interesting attempt to expose a savage human being, and I applaud Refn for that. His vision throughout the movie is absolute and never seems to quiver. Refn was in control of his movie and his vision throughout, and it's great to see his artistic abilities on display. Tom Hardy also has one killer of a performance, a brilliant delve into a fascinating character. That being said, 'Bronson' is hard to love because it's wildly alienating nature and strange delivery. The film knows what it wants to be, buts it's so hard for me to thoroughly enjoy it.

• Melvin W

  
  Charles Bronson: You don't want to be trapped inside with me sunshine. Inside, I'm somebody nobody wants to fuck with do you understand? I am Charlie Bronson, I am Britain's most violent prisoner. "The Man. The Myth. The Celebrity." I wish I could say I… More
  Charles Bronson: You don't want to be trapped inside with me sunshine. Inside, I'm somebody nobody wants to fuck with do you understand? I am Charlie Bronson, I am Britain's most violent prisoner. "The Man. The Myth. The Celebrity." I wish I could say I liked this movie. Obviously a lot of critics and audiences find it to be a brilliant movie, but I just don't. Making it worse is the fact that I cannot say enough about the performance by Tom Hardy. He is a fucking star and his performance as Charlie 'Fucking' Bronson is off the charts. He is an imposing force to reckon with and gives a funny and masculine performance. Despite that, I just don't like this movie. It's one long fist fight that tends to come off as overly artsy and way too silly for the subject matter. The movie is interesting for awhile, but it ends up being the same scene over and over and over. Bronson is walking around a cell, guards come in, Bronson fights and then it cuts to Bronson bleeding in chains. Cool the first time, but by the third time I was thinking okay I get it, and by the sixth time I was screaming, "I fucking get it." The only thing that did keep me watching was Hardy's performance. I think it could have been even better if the filmmaker didn't try to make the movie so silly in parts. I can't say that I'm angry I watched it because Hardy's performance is worth the 90 minute run time. I just wish something else about it was.

• Dan S

  
  A stylistically sharp but emotionally distant drama concerning the most notorious criminal in the UK (Tom Hardy) and his desire to be famous. While like any Refn film, it has a ton of atmosphere, including a skillful breaking of the third wall via Bronson speaking/performing to a live… More
  A stylistically sharp but emotionally distant drama concerning the most notorious criminal in the UK (Tom Hardy) and his desire to be famous. While like any Refn film, it has a ton of atmosphere, including a skillful breaking of the third wall via Bronson speaking/performing to a live audience on stage from time to time, it never gets inside his head like it needs to. For a man to be this powerful and disturbing, even when the split third wall aspect presents itself, it is mainly just a series of freaky faces and chest-thumping, never any real psychological breakdown. And that's disappointing, since Tom Hardy's megawatt, career-defining performance (this turn is what ultimately caught so many eyes to lead to the star he is now in Hollywood) is simply stunning, but unlike 2001's "Chopper" (starring Eric Bana, and another film dealing with a violent criminal), it does not contain any necessary black humor whatsoever. It is tough to say because as said, this thing has some kind of atmosphere and style, but still skip it, it probably isn't worth one's time in the end.

• Liam G

  
  A stylish, entertaining and fascinating character study with a stellar performance at the centre of it from Tom Hardy.

• Anthony L

  
  Bronson is stylish, theatrical and true to it's subject matter. Having read Bronson, it's obvious that Nicolas Winding Refn has done his homework, as has Tom Hardy who not only looks the part but is thoroughly convincing in his voice and mannerisms. Also, I'm really… More
  Bronson is stylish, theatrical and true to it's subject matter. Having read Bronson, it's obvious that Nicolas Winding Refn has done his homework, as has Tom Hardy who not only looks the part but is thoroughly convincing in his voice and mannerisms. Also, I'm really glad they explored his art work of which I'm quite a fan of, it lends itself nicely to the overall style of the film. Probably one of the best British films I've seen for a long time. It also has a great soundtrack! Highly recommended!

• Al S

  
  An ultra-stylish, visceral, electrifying and explosive thrill-ride into one man's own personal chaos and brutal nature. A bold, beautifully crafted, provocative and intensely entertaining movie. It's an awesome slam of brutal violence, masculine ego and great music. A… More
  An ultra-stylish, visceral, electrifying and explosive thrill-ride into one man's own personal chaos and brutal nature. A bold, beautifully crafted, provocative and intensely entertaining movie. It's an awesome slam of brutal violence, masculine ego and great music. A spectacular and amazing film that shines with mind-blowing velocity. It's explosively hilarious, pulse-pounding and utterly furious. A stunning work of art with great style and great music. It's frequently funny and action-packed. A bare-knuckle and very brutal knockout. A dazzling tour de force from Tom Hardy, he gives a incredible and unforgettable movie star performance that shines of Oscar pedigree. Hardy is just flat-out brilliant.

• Randy T

  
  Tom Hardy is a herculean rebel without a cause in this true-life docudrama about the life of Britain's 'most dangerous prisoner', Michael Peterson. Brutal but enthralling.

• Mark H

  
  Bizarre account of the "most violent prisoner in Britain" Michael Peterson who was re-named Charles Bronson, after the American film star, by his fight promoter. Strikingly photographed crime drama is highly stylized. Bronson frequently narrates the action from a… More
  Bizarre account of the "most violent prisoner in Britain" Michael Peterson who was re-named Charles Bronson, after the American film star, by his fight promoter. Strikingly photographed crime drama is highly stylized. Bronson frequently narrates the action from a vaudevillian stage, facing an audience. His bloody bare knuckle brawls with prison guards are a frequent, brutally savage occurrence. In contrast, the soundtrack is highlighted by classical music and Giorgio Moroder-ish electro pop. The odd mix clearly takes it's s stylistic cues from <I>A Clockwork Orange</I>. Actor Tom Hardy is memorable as the title character, but as a biography, it's incredibly shallow. Snapshots of a life are presented without any exposition. It's hard to understand this miscreant since the script never delves too deeply into his bloodthirsty personality. We get 92 minutes of rage with an art house bent. Call it an audacious free-for-all, that just doesn't go the distance.

• Robert C

  
  I went into this based only on the presence of Tom Hardy who I believe is one of the more impressive actors of our generation. Definately "one to watch". This film is also "one to watch". While some of the ultra violent aspects of the story may not be… More
  I went into this based only on the presence of Tom Hardy who I believe is one of the more impressive actors of our generation. Definately "one to watch". This film is also "one to watch". While some of the ultra violent aspects of the story may not be everyone's "cup of tea"...the film is SO incredibly interesting in subject matter and style and hardy's performance (once again) absolutely riveting, that I think most people will be intrigued. It's easy to see how this is considered Hardy's "break through" role and hard to believe that Michael Peterson isn't a ficticious character from a Guy Ritchie film.

• Alexis N

  
  amazing, amazing, amazing! i love every second of this movie. it's brilliant, smart, super sexy guy and full frontal. maybe one of my most favorite movies.. ever!

• Greg S

  
  Stylized biopic of Britain's self-styled "Charlie Bronson," whose only ambition in life is to become known as the most dangerous inmate in the British prison system. Director Refn takes artistic gamble after gamble, all of which pay off, and Tom Hardy delivers an… More
  Stylized biopic of Britain's self-styled "Charlie Bronson," whose only ambition in life is to become known as the most dangerous inmate in the British prison system. Director Refn takes artistic gamble after gamble, all of which pay off, and Tom Hardy delivers an Oscar-caliber performance in this chilling portrait of a brutal but strangely charming sociopath.

• Kalel J

  
  Brutal and beautiful, Bronson is a monsoon of unbridled violence married with an artistic flair that mimics its leads chaotic nature. Its a montage of blood and anger with a near aimless dedication from our titular fighter, that eventually leads itself an irony - Bronson's… More
  Brutal and beautiful, Bronson is a monsoon of unbridled violence married with an artistic flair that mimics its leads chaotic nature. Its a montage of blood and anger with a near aimless dedication from our titular fighter, that eventually leads itself an irony - Bronson's endeavour for fame sees a man never basking in its glory. He's a powerless soldier wounding those around without a reward or real purpose. And for this aspect, in what could have proven to be a killing point for the film, lends itself wonderfully to its tone and aesthetics. Nicholas Winding Refn never tries for more from his character - Bronson is an angry brute - and it proves to be a daring and provoking portrayal played with true magnetism from Tom Hardy. As Bronson, Hardy has given this simple character so much charisma and charm that he becomes likeable; a person of violence with the soul of a comedian. It's one of the finest performances of its year.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings