Bronson Film Review

Released: 2008

Producer: Rupert Preston/Danny Hansford

Director: Nicholas Winding Refn

Running time: 1 hr 32 mins

Genre: Biography, Crime

Budget: $230,000

Distributed by: Magnet Releasing

About the film

Bronson is a biographical film about Charles Bronson, who has been incarcerated for more than 30 years. 30 of these years have been spent in solitary confinement. Born Michael Peterson, he originally was sentenced to 7 years in prison for robbing a Post Office in 1974. But his sentence has continually lengthened over the years due to all the trouble he causes while he is in prison. He starts fights with the guards and other prisoners, and is thus put into solitary confinement. As Michael Peterson fades into obscurity, Charles Bronson as he is most famously known as nowadays, takes over.

Played by Tom Hardy, I think he acts out the role of Charlie Bronson to a tee. With dialogue throughout the film from Charlie, this film gives an account of his early life at home with his parents, and his time being locked up behind bars. Widely known as Britain's most dangerous man, this film gives the viewer a unique insight into what Charles Bronson is like as a man and how he is seen by the people around him, like the other prisoners and guards, and also the general public. Solitary confinement seems to be the only place where he cannot cause harm to the people around him, and himself. So what we see is Charlie spending the majority of his time, away from other people.

Clearly, Charles Bronson is a violent and dangerous man. But this film depicts another side to him, in the fact that he is a very talented artist and has drawn some stunning pictures in his time behind bars. This is shown in the film as we see the artistic side of Charlie.

Born Michael Peterson, he has since changed his name to Charles Bronson. Although latterly he is now referred to as Charles Salvador. Most widely known as Charles Bronson though, he is one of the most well-known prisoners in Britain. And this film gives us a unique look at who this man is. Why he decided to choose the path he did in life is, I assume, only known to Charlie himself. We never really get to the bottom of why he chose to be such a violent man. But, he did. As I said, he's spent nearly all of his prison life in solitary confinement, just for the safety of the other people in prison.

There is even a scene when he is spending time in Rampton Secure Hospital where he is heavily sedated to try and manage his behaviour. But we also get to see his violent side in here. What I found interesting though is his unique ability to draw and his artistic skills. It made me wonder about the man. How can someone so violent be so calm and talented when it comes to drawing? Not only that, he has also written books over the years.

This film is an interesting look at a man who is infamous and famous at the same time. He seemed to come from a seemingly normal family and had good parents. So why did he choose to take this path in life? We'll never know. But one thing I do know, he is clearly a very dangerous and violent man that, I assume, will spend the rest of his living days behind bars. Tom Hardy plays an excellent part as Charlie Bronson and portrays him excellently. Even the way he talks and walks he managed to do well. This film is available to watch on Netflix.