Tom Hardy gives 200 per cent portraying both Ronnie and Reggie Kray.
Actors have played multiple characters in the same film on numerous occasions throughout cinema history – but usually it’s either too gimmicky or too distracting to the story.
With Tom Hardy giving an outstanding performance while playing both Kray brothers – this is anything but the case.
He portrays each twin distinctively, with Ronnie as a paranoid schizophrenic and Reggie as a tough and smooth talking gangster – as we see the rise and fall of London’s most notorious gangster duo in Sixties London.
They intimidate their way into owning a club – where criminals rub shoulders with the rich and famous – and soon the Krays become celebrities themselves.
The club goes from strength to strength, which catches the eye of American gangsters keen to invest with the brothers. But with Ronnie being a bit of a loose cannon, Reggie struggles to keep his sibling under control.
Throughout the years, a lot has been said about the twins through various media forms. With Legend, the writer and director, Brian Helgeland – who wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for LA Confidential (and was nominated for Mystic River) – has found a new voice and perspective for this tale.
It’s told through the eyes of Frances Shea (Sucker Punch’s Emily Browning), who became Reggie’s wife at the tender age of 16 after a whirlwind romance – and it’s fair to say their relationship was anything but plain sailing.
I was surprised to see that this movie was just as much (if not more) about the relationship between Francis and Reggie than it is about the brothers. The fact that a love story has been thrown in will make this a better film for some, while leaving others underwhelmed. I guess it depends on your personal taste.
Ultimately, this is an enjoyable watch but it’s no way near as stylish as the trailer would have you believe – or as violent as the ‘18’ certificate implies.
This Legend sadly won’t become legendary due this uneven feel – but it’s well worth a look for Hardy’s enigmatic performance(s) alone.
See Legend at Showcase Cinema, Peterborough. Visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for the latest up-to-date show times. You can also join the chat on Twitter @showcasecinemas or on Facebook by searching for ‘Showcase Cinemas UK’.
Mikey Clarke
Genre: Crime & Thriller
Cast: Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Christopher Eccleston, Chazz Palminteri, Colin Morgan, TaronEgerton, Paul Bettany, David Thewlis & Tara Fitzgerald
Running Time: 2hrs 11mins
Written & Directed by: Brian Helgeland
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