Review of Legend (2015) by Andy D — 13 Sep 2015

I'm not a particularly big fan of gangster movies, but this is one of the best movies I've seen in recent times. The reason? Tom Hardy. His portrayal of BOTH the Kray's is astonishing.

The film is given to us from the perspective of Reggie's delicate yet beloved girlfriend-then-wife Frances, who is excellently played by Emily Browning. She idolises Reggie in the early days, so he is shown as a cheeky chappy, full of charisma and swagger. She is understandably wary of Ronnie, but after seeing this movie, you can see why.

Hardy's performances as both the twins are huge. Reggie is like a young Marlon Brando to start with, his true nature not coming to the fore until later in the film. Hardy's Ronnie Kray on the other hand is a brooding unpredictable mass, like a thundercloud. Hardy plays both characters with great humour, and there are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments in the film, but we mustn't forget the seriousness of the subject matter here. Eventually, despite their charm, both the Kray's were convicted murderers with a penchant for violence and brutality.

The voiceover from Frances grates slightly towards the end of the film, and the music seems a little off at times, but other than that this is fantastic entertainment, and very interesting also. Well worth seeing.