32 out of 33 people found the following review helpful:

Never a frown with Harry Brown

Movielad from , 27th October, 2009

MARV (Matthew Vaughn & Kris Thykier's production company) produces one of the best British thrillers I've seen in a very long while. It's quite literally a heart pounding roller coaster of a ride, having managed to jump out my skin a good number of times during the course of the film. It takes a lot to shock me, but this film provided it in spades. At first glance the concept of a vigilante OAP going around murdering feral teenagers who killed his best pal Leonard seems a little ridiculous. But Gary Young's screenplay delivers a fine story - starting with Harry padding around his council flat alone, waiting for his wife to recover from a stroke. When she dies, he only has Leonard left for company. But Leonard is growing ever more concerned about the feral teenagers hanging around their council estate, with drug dealers opening dealing their wares in the very pub that the two OAPs are drinking (and playing chess) in. It eventually gets a bit too much for Leonard who vows to deal with the teenagers himself, after almost being killed by somebody setting fire to old rags pushed through his letterbox. Having taken an old bayonet given to him by his father when he was small, Leonard finally ends up dead having confronted a group of boys in an underpass near the estate. This sets off a series of events which eventually sees Harry, a former marine, extract revenge from the gang that killed his friend. It's a wonderfully shot film. The cinematography is excellent. The colour grading in particular gives a washed out, grey look, which perfectly matches the mood of the story. Music is put to good use, but similarly taken away when it's (not) needed, which made me extremely nervous at times. The shocks themselves come thick and fast in places, and even I was sweating (my hands clenched) at a couple of points as I just had no idea where things were going to go. The performances are top notch, and the whole thing is superbly directed by Daniel Barber. In short, Harry Brown is one tight thriller. It provides an intense, heart pounding drama that will make even the most hardened viewer jump out their seat once or twice. The riot sequence is one of the most violent that I've seen committed to film. The special effects are really well executed. Go see this film. It's not the feint of heart, but if you like a good thriller with some unexpected twists and turns, then Harry Brown is for you. Highly original, highly entertaining.

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8 out of 8 people found the following review helpful:

If the law can't enforce justice, someone has to..

Julia Davison from Rochford, 4th November, 2009

..and that someone would be Mr Harry Brown. Step right up to a brilliant film on so many levels. The acting was superb, the shots unique and just pure quality. Michael Caine as the avenging old bloke has surpassed himself. Yes, this is a revenge film but different from all others I have seen. You cant ignore the ugliness of the violence, it's turn away stuff but sadly, believable. I saw this at the cinema and some people left early on in the film due to the violence. I knew it would be violent but wasnt prepared for how much it was so I too was shocked and physically jumped a few times through the film. I left feeling drained and was tense throughout, that is the beauty of filmaking to affect you so. Not sure if I could recommend it to many due to the violence and ugly scenes but as for the film's brilliance in style and performance, I can't fault it. Mr Caine, we salute you.. again.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Disappointing

Rialto from , 3rd December, 2009

Please read the Timeout review - It's just about spot-on. How the script ever got accepted is a mystery.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Michael Caine - Oscar?

Andycs from , 3rd November, 2009

Top review by previous poster so I will just keep it to a personal level. Michael Caine is excellent, the director has put him in nearly every scene with good reason. His portrail of an OAP with the world crumbling around him will strike a cord with anyone with elderly relatives, made me want to ring my Nan and ask how she was doing. The story runs a similar vain to the first 'Death Wish' film, only this one is believable. Because Caine is so good the other characters in the film are alittle wooden and stereotypical, especially the police, but this is just a small gripe as nothing could detract from the performance Caine gives. If the film does well at the box office and gets a shot at the American market then I'll stick my neck out and say it's an Oscar winning performance. Caine took a standard equity pay rate to do this, which he does every now and then to help out new film makers in this country get a good crack of the whip when starting out. If this film ran a slogan it would be, 'make the world a better place, shoot a hoodie'.

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Bleak & disturbing - excellent film all the same.

Wooster from , 13th March, 2010

The anti-social aspect of inner city housing blocks is brought sharply into focus - too sharply maybe for those of us who live in or near these monstrosities. Harry Brown is basically a 'Get Carter' for these times with Michael Caine giving an excellent performance as the pensioner beset by sadness who strikes out. Touches of Bronson/Winner''s Death Wish are present plus the gritty British view of life and hardship as seen in Get Carter. All together an excellent film with good performances all round.

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harry brown

medicmark from , 1st March, 2010

a truly gritty look at modern day society, not too far fetched either quite believable as for michael caine, very far from being over the hill, i believe this to be his best film to date

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actually plausable and brilliant.

chewyteeth from , 21st December, 2009

I didn't expect the view of modern Britain that this film provided, to be so critical and gritty. This is no action movie but a mirror held up (in my view) perhaps the director is waiting in earnest for the upcoming elections...the violence and action in the film for me was plausable, which was my worry, Harry didn't suddenly dress like rambo and go on the rampage, it was considered, contextualised and carried out. The riot scenes were nerve racking, the drug frazzled arms dealer was frightening. Overall the film was chilling and the best thing I've seen as the cinema for a while.

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0 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

THE FILM OF THE YEAR

muggs from , 21st December, 2009

Harry is an old man his child is dead and his wife dies while Harry is realising that the young kids of the area are in charge , his best friend fronts these kids and is killed and this tips Harry over the edge , thats the film but i wasnt ready for how compelling the film is or how gritty and real it would be .This is a depiction of how bad this country has got and its done so well you think your there , Micheal Kain gives what i think is his best ever proformance and takes us on a trip that you will never forget , i raved for weeks after seeing this film and have told every one i know to go and see it .This is THE must see film of the century , if you havent seen this you have not lived . The violence is full on and shocking to say the least and shows what the youth of today are like , if this is what inner city london is like you can keep it . Its not often a film like this comes along but i think this has the makeings of a classic and will stand the test of time .Iv never been moved like this for along time and it takes one hell of a film to move me infact i can only remember being moved by king kong and et as a kid ( they made me cry like a girl ) and ghost ( i didnt want to watch ghost my girl friend made me and it made me cry , she finished with me for being a big girl , nice ) . Harry Brown is one of only a few films i would say YOU HAVE to watch if only to see the pay back . One bad thing i will say is yes i know its a bit hard to believe an old fart takeing on the chavs of today but you could say that about alot of films , you know this couldnt happen but then you wouldnt have a great film without a bit of fantasy , alot of reviews have written this film off but then again the same reviews said train spotting was a good film and make bein a smack head ok , all i can say to anyone is if you dont watch this film you WILL regreat it .

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