Review of Bronson (2009) by Zak S — 12 Jul 2012

The warden was right, Bronson is nihilistic. Unfortunately so was this film. It's one big, full frontal, purposeless display after another. The story lacks direction, structure and a sense of space. I get that he's not trying to do a typical character study but while Refn is a craftsman for sure, I feel he doesn't have the finesse or vision to create something on par with A Clockwork Orange.

What we get is scene after scene of aimless, drifting story filled with kubrickian ( I made that up ) style craftsmanship. Sweeping dolly shots juxtaposed with striking imagery or violence coupled with classical music (the art room scene stands out in particular). But as style can be learned, taste cannot. Refn can ape Kubrick all he wants but this film is mostly heartless. He's pandering to a taste that already exists basically recycling it without most likely understanding it. Here though we get to see Refn's modus operandi, his habit of pairing 80's pop music (nostalgia/irony) with violent scenes and his command of mood and atmosphere.

For all it's visual prettiness though, the lack of structure leads the viewer to be lost, we don't know how much time has passed between his stints in the jail, we don't know who these people are in his life, we get no character growth or even narrative climax. And making it even more disorienting Refn includes these surreal one man show scenes meant to guide the viewer through Bronson's psyche which have the complete opposite effect. The final scene creeps up on you as you're wondering where this is all going and sets itself apart from the other slow motion, violent clashes by giving Tom Hardy's wang more screen time.

The acting was obviously a stand out here. Tom Hardy gave it his all, literally. Which is commendable. He did very well with what he was given but I couldn't help feel slightly underwhelmed due to the shallowness of his character.

The worst part is that Charlie Bronson's wikipedia page is more interesting than this film and it makes me wonder why Refn couldn't create a cohesive, meaningful character study or if even Bronson was worth one. I mean it's 30 years of solitary confinement....in a 2 hour film, makes me wonder if Bronson/Peterson's life was meaningless after all.