Bronson (4½ Stars)

True Stories #14

Name: Charles Bronson

Lived: 6 December 1952 – still alive

Film dates: 1953 to 2000 (approx), mostly 1974 to 2000

Film made in 2008

The film is a true story about Michael Peterson, who later changed his name to Charles Bronson. He was born in 1952 in Luton, and his main goal in life was to become famous. He couldn't sing, he couldn't act, and even as a criminal he was a failure. In 1974 he committed his first crime, robbing a post office. He stole £26.18, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison. 48 years later he's still in prison, having spent over 30 years in solitary confinement. The British press has labelled him Britain's most violent prisoner. During his time in prison he's not only beat up guards on a regular basis. He's taken prison staff as hostages and set buildings on fire. After having his photo on the front page of British newspapers and being the subject of this film, he's achieved the fame he's always wanted.

"Bronson" is filmed in a surreal style. Charles Bronson is standing on a stage telling his life story to a barely visible audience, which laughs and applauds every time he says something spectacular. He's an entertainer. He's a clown. He's the star of the Charles Bronson Show. The use of classical music makes it obvious that the director Nicolas Winding Refn is imitating "Clockwork Orange". That's not a criticism. He does it well.

Tom Hardy puts on an outstanding performance as Charles Bronson. The highest praise came from Bronson himself. After seeing the film he said, "I honestly believe nobody on the planet could play me as Tom did. He is more like me than I am". Obviously, Tom Hardy had a great deal of respect for the man he was playing. Is it possible to respect Britain's most violent prisoner? Bronson's incarceration puts the whole prison system in question. He's spent years beating up prison guards because they're keeping him locked up. If he were released he'd stop beating them up. In fact, he wouldn't beat anyone up. While on the outside Bronson was a polite, well-spoken person. If the prisons want the violence to stop, they should release him. It's as simple as that.

Success Rate:  + 8.0

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