"You don't want to be trapped inside with me sunshine. Inside, I'm somebody nobody wants to fuck with do you understand? I am Charlie Bronson, I am Britain's most violent prisoner."
Bronson is a
biopic of Charles Bronson, real name Michael Peterson, Britain’s most
famous prisoner. After being sent down for seven years in 1974 for armed
robbery, Bronson got a name for himself by attacking guards, prisoners and
holding hostages. This film starts Tom Hardy in the title role and takes place
mostly during his incarcerated life (38 years and counting) but also briefly
touches on his childhood and a brief stint of freedom. The narrative uses both
a traditional plot account and a sort of talking head from Bronson in which he
comments on various parts of his life from the present. There are also some
quite superb and eccentric scenes in which Bronson is on stage, performing to
an audience.
I’d seen this film upon its release in 2008 and had bought
the blu-ray in about 2010 but hadn’t watched it again until last night when we
had some friends visiting. I remember being blown away by the violence and Tom
Hardy’s performances back in 2008 but don’t remember laughing so much. This
film is funnier than the majority of mainstream Hollywood
comedies.
