Harry Brown

Daniel Barber’s Harry Brown begins with an act of shocking violence followed by a bone crunching car accident, all captured by nausea inducing shaky camera work. It is an assault on the senses that leaves you gasping for breath. However, the film then slows down to walking pace and lasts that way until the end with the occasional scene to set the pulse racing. This isn’t to say the film doesn’t grip though. The storyline concerns Michael Caine as the eponymous title character and his pursuit of a teenage gang who kill an elderly friend of his. The main point of discussion of the film has been it’s portrayal of vigilantism. Barber doesn’t point the audience in either direction as to what’s acceptable and what isn’t, but he is careful to make the teenage gang repulsive individuals which somewhat dilutes any moral concerns you may have as Caine goes to work. Caine himself is superb and his performance is another major triumph is his everlasting Indian Summer. Less successful are some of the other actors whose caricatures give the impression of watching an X-rated version of The Bill at some points. On this point, Emily Mortimer is horribly miscast as the plod on the case, coming across so wet it’s hard to believe she could open the police station door let alone take on the gangs of the means streets of London. Talking of that, Barber’s film is well shot and superbly lighted. It may seem over the top at times, but it gives a fairly accurate (if depressing) description of life in a less than salubrious estate of modern England. Not one for the tourist board then.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Not really a film to “enjoy” as such, but it will leave you with much to ponder, and Caine is fantastic. Rating: 6/10.