Bronson

R

Released Oct 9, 2009

1 hr. 32 min.

Biography

Drama

List

75%

80 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this drama based on a true story, there's no one tougher or more brutal in the English penal system than prisoner Michael Peterson, aka Charles Bronson (Tom Hardy). First incarcerated after robbing a jewelry store, the married Bronson is sentenced to seven years. But his incorrigible, savage behavior quickly gets him in trouble with guards, fellow inmates and even a dog. The only place where Bronson can't do any harm is in solitary confinement, where he spends most of his time.

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Critics Consensus

Undeniably gripping, Bronson forces the viewer to make some hard decisions about where the line between art and exploitation lies.

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Tim D

How this didn't get >90% we will never know.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/24

Full Review

Giuseppe S

"Bronson" di Nicolas Winding Refn supera i confini della narrazione convenzionale, regalando un'esperienza cinematografica audace e avvincente. Il film, un omaggio deliberato all'estetica kubrickiana, ci introduce all'enigmatico Michael Peterson, magnificamente interpretato da Tom Hardy, la cui performance magnetica è nulla meno di un tour de force. In questa esplorazione biografica surreale, Refn cattura l'essenza di un uomo la cui esistenza prospera nel caos. La rappresentazione di Hardy di Peterson, che adotta il soprannome di Charles Bronson, è uno spettacolo di fisicità grezza ed energia incontenibile. La testa rasata, il trucco da clown minaccioso e un baffo da opera comica creano un'immagine indelebile di un personaggio la cui imprevedibilità tiene il pubblico sul filo del rasoio. La struttura del film, reminiscente di una narrazione episodica, amplifica la sua stranezza e umorismo nero, sfidando le convenzioni delle banali storie biografiche. Ogni episodio si svolge in uno scenario di spazi grandi e bloccati e movimenti di macchina fluidi, magistralmente orchestrati da Refn e dal direttore della fotografia Larry Smith, collaboratore di Kubrick. Questa scelta deliberata immerge il pubblico in un mondo che riflette la psiche erratico di Bronson. L'impegno di Hardy nel ruolo è evidente in ogni fotogramma. Dai movimenti esplosivi e imprevedibili ai momenti di relativa tranquillità, naviga il film con una temerarietà che confina con l'ipnotico. La sua interpretazione diventa un mezzo attraverso cui il film esplora il sottile confine tra follia e arte, sfumando i confini tra realtà e performance. "Bronson" evita spiegazioni e motivazioni tradizionali, abbracciando una purezza temibile che rifiuta di dissezionare la psiche del suo protagonista. L'assenza di un retroscena ordinato aggiunge impatto al film, lasciando gli spettatori con un senso di smarrimento nichilista. La decisione di Refn di far parlare le azioni di Bronson più delle parole mostra l'audacia di un autore nel creare una narrazione che sfida le aspettative. In conclusione, "Bronson" è un trionfo cinematografico: una sinfonia visiva che eleva la narrazione a forma d'arte. La performance elettrizzante di Tom Hardy, unita alla visionaria regia di Refn, regala un pezzo di cinema audacemente audace. Questo film non è solo un'esperienza visiva; è un'immersione nel mondo caotico e affascinante di un uomo che sfida la definizione.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Scarface

Tom Hardy's best performance.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Chris H

A triumph of style over substance. The story is told by Bronson (Tom Hardy) as a kind of music hall pastiche; there is dark humour, violence and no real attempt to understand the person himself. Is it right to make a film out of such subject matter? Whether it is or not, it's a riveting watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

Bill F

A real mess of a movie, which can't decide if it's a thriller, comedy or musical. Rampantly plagiaristic of A Clockwork Orange and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, it singularly fails to hit the mark and eventually just becomes irritating and incredibly boring. A waste of a potentially great story and a fine actor. Pretentious rubbish!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/03/23

Full Review

Emilliano Jr S

Tom Hardy's portrayal was great.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/25/23

Full Review

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Nicolas Winding Refn

Director

Tom Hardy

Charles Bronson

Kelly Adams

Irene

Luing Andrews

Hysterical Screw

Katy Barker

Julie

Amanda Burton

Charlie's Mum

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Robert Hanks

Independent (UK)

It's not a masterpiece by any stretch; but it's original and pacy, and those qualities are rare enough.

Nov 15, 2017

Full Review

Chris Chang

Film Comment Magazine

...the film can barely contain Tom Hardy's performance. It's a Method turn so bloodily immersive it's hard to imagine the actor getting his head straight afterwards.

Sep 26, 2014

Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 16, 2011

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Episode 27: Valhalla Rising / Bronson / Starred Up / True Detective S3

Rated: 78/100

Sep 9, 2021

Full Review

Felicia Feaster

Charleston City Paper

Refn probably burns too much of the juice he could be using for character motivation or some perspective on crime and punishment on the style-for-style's-sake gangsta glam of Guy Ritchie.

Jan 23, 2020

Full Review

Ard Vijn

ScreenAnarchy

Whichever part you feel the most uncomfortable with, it's worth enduring it for "Bronson" is filled with imaginative and memorable imagery.

Jan 17, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this drama based on a true story, there's no one tougher or more brutal in the English penal system than prisoner Michael Peterson, aka Charles Bronson (Tom Hardy). First incarcerated after robbing a jewelry store, the married Bronson is sentenced to seven years. But his incorrigible, savage behavior quickly gets him in trouble with guards, fellow inmates and even a dog. The only place where Bronson can't do any harm is in solitary confinement, where he spends most of his time.

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Executive Producer: Nick Love, Paul Martin, Allan Niblo, James Richardson, Rob Morgan, Simon Fawcett, Suzanne Alizart, Kate Ogborn, Thorhallur Sigurdsson, Þór Sigurjónsson
Screenwriter: Nicolas Winding Refn, Brock Norman Brock
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Perfume Films, Str8jacket Creations, Vertigo Films, Aramid Entertainment Fund, EM Media, 4DH Films
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Sexuality|Violent and Disturbing Content)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $104.8K

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