Review of Harry Brown (2009) by Jonathan M — 12 Feb 2011

An all right movie, it didn't really delve into any deep social commentary like it could have and set itself up to do. It certainly was violent enough though. And to compare it to Gran Torino or call it the British version of that would be incorrect.

GT was more a sociology experiment than Harry Brown is. The main element to this movie seems to always focus or come back to the character's age and that is OK for a little bit but when the whole movie seems to revolve around that, it gets weak and loses its luster.

Michael Caine in the title role is as you would expect: excellent, even if some of the fight/action scenes do come across as a little unbelievable. He isn't young but sure has a way of kicking some young guys' tails.

Now that being said, this film does grab you, tosses you around and makes you open your eyes to see how bad it can get and how bad it can make someone become, even if it is in a revenge sense. Could this be the way to handle things? Well, only if you are in favor of anarchy but Caine rises to the task of leading his neighborhood in that direction.

The writing is just above average and there is some good dialogue along the way that advances the peripheral characters into the forefront of Brown's life and into our minds. The last scene in the movie is an obvious metaphor but powerful nonetheless.

I guess that kind of sums up the movie as well. It's here in front of your face, believe it or not, and it packs a punch that you won't forget.