Review of Harry Brown (2009) by Jason G — 12 Feb 2011

Despite some heavy-handed telegraphing in the character development department, HARRY BROWN is an extremely satisfying little movie. It isn't easy to make an effective revenge film without inevitably treading upon ground that's already been well trodden upon and HARRY BROWN frequents the most common traits of the revenge genre often and unabashedly.

Michael Cain plays Harry Brown, an elderly pensioner with a "convenient" past and the sudden, unfortunate need to revisit it. The film succeeds largely because of Caine who delivers an incredibly reserved portrayal of the soft-spoken, revenge seeking Brown, finding (and often placing) himself in rather uncomfortable situations throughout the movie and handily extricating himself in completely absorbing, completely believable, tension-filled fashion.

It's also quite fun to see Michael Cain shying away from the stereotypical, passive, elderly-type roles that seem to have become the hallmark of his career in it's twighlight years. HARRY BROWN allows Cain the opportunity to show greater range than you might expect from the otherwise boilerplate role of "revenge-seeker" in a simple "revenge flick".... and he excels here, brilliantly treading the fine line between helpless fragility one instant and righteous wrath the next.

The dialogue in HARRY BROWN is in large part, blatantly expositional (and at times, laughable)... but again, Caine and the rest of the cast manage to deliver those lines convincingly enough. These emotional portrayals of fearful, helpless loneliness, coupled with the desolate and oppressively bleak, atmosphere of the film... play an enormous part in helping you overlook any such weaknesses.

There's tremendous tension in HARRY BROWN. Certainly enough to keep you watching. The pacing is effective, giving us just the right balance between the seemingly mundane and the shockingly violent. The camerawork is creative as well, serene and frenetic in equal measure and each on display at just the right time.

HARRY BROWN is not perfect but despite it's flaws... it's quite an enjoyable film.