Legend (2015) (English Language)

Review

131min

Genre:     Fact-based, Crime, Drama

Director:  Brian Helgeland

Cast:       Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, David Thewlis…and more

Writers:   Brian Helgeland & John Pearson

Stylish and darkly comic British gangster biopic/drama starring Tom Hardy as the Kray twins Ronnie & Reggie, infamous British gangsters who terrorized the streets of London in the 50’s and 60’s while rubbing shoulders with the rich & powerful only to be brought down by their ruthlessness and destructive behaviour.

Oscar-winning writer turned director Brian Helgeland takes on the daunting task of bringing together the many tales and perspectives on the notorious East-End London brothers which has become the stuff of Legend over the years, all while providing a memorable and entertaining experience that vastly improves on the meek attempts of cinematically fleshing-out the Krays in the recent past.

Lucky for him he had the talents of the ever intense Tom Hardy on double-duty to rely on, Hardy pulls of two seamless tour-de-force performances portraying Reggie Kray as the more level-headed and business minded gangster and Ronnie Kray as the unpredictable and blood thirsty paranoid schizophrenic, make no mistake though, both are ruthless and ambitious individuals.

‘Legend’ is a slightly uneven mix of two projects really, a biopic on the criminal lives of the infamous Kray Twins and a stylish over-the-top darkly comic & violent British gangster drama, the former just doesn’t work but the latter more than makes up for it.

It’s ironic that ‘Legend’ starts with the narrator Frances (Reggie’s 1st Wife) declaring how most of the stories about the twins are fanciful but hers is the truth. In fact much of the narrative here as debatable as anything you might hear about the Krays, indeed ‘Legend’ often walks the line of caricature and glosses over many of their exploits, making them look like little more than violent club owners without going beyond skin deep.

But ‘Legend’s’ limitations as a biopic are not all bad, leaving it uninhibited by the constraints and predictability of the sub-genre, despite the uneven story we get a stylish and highly entertaining over-the-top British gangster drama along the lines of ‘Goodfellas’. From being based on true events and boasting memorable performances to a fantastic 60s rock, pop & soul soundtrack, ‘Legend’s’ black comedic heart does a commendable job of reaching for the unattainable heights of the Martin Scorsese gangster classic.

The Bottom Line…

‘Legend‘ doesn’t quite work as a biopic and has its issues, but the darkly comic nature and mix of ingredients makes it an entertaining and noble effort at a British version of ‘Goodfellas’, with a double-duty Tom Hardy performance that commands your attention.

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Similar films you may like (Home Video)

The Krays (1990)

Gary Kemp and Martin Kemp of Spandau Ballet fame star as infamous London gangster twins Ronnie & Reggie Kray in this violent biopic about their rise and fall on the streets of the capital.

Directed by Peter Medak and starring Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp and Billie Whitelaw among others.

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