Review of Brighton Rock (2010) by Leighton T — 28 Oct 2011
This film has everything that should make it great: a great young and older cast assembled, a beautiful look, a classic novel. Yet, it comes off tepid to me. I can't place my finger really on why, I just wish it had been "more.
" There's an energy, a drive to the narrative that somehow doesn't quite connect in the way the script plays out. It's a great story Greene wrote, and cinematically it should pay off in spades, but here Joffe just kind of allows it to lumber along, despite the beauty it has on the surface.
The look is gorgeous: the setings, the costumes, the cinematography. Riley (a bit overtly harsh) and especially Riseborough are good, she the better of the two, as well as of course Mirren, Hurt, and even the actual human being version of Andy Serkis.
So, while the acting is nice, the look is beautiful, it doesn't transcend, connect on that second level that makes it great. It's sad, because it has everything else. Joffe tries so hard, and it just falls kind of flat.
This review of Brighton Rock (2010) was written by Leighton T on 28 Oct 2011.
Brighton Rock has generally received mixed reviews.
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