Brighton Rock – 2010 | 111 mins | Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Rowan Joffe’s flawed adaptation of Graham Greene’s classic novel that was masterfully adapted by the Boulting Brothers in 1947 follows teenage sociopath Pinkie Brow as he attempts to gain control of Brighton’s gangs against the backdrop of 1960s youth riots between the mods and rockers. Joffe has attempted a bold reworking of Greene’s noir by transferring the story from 1930s Brighton to the same town in 1964, but the move isn’t entirely successful and feels superficial as the story appears rigidly fixed to the 1930s.

There are elements of the film to commend including well-preserved Eastbourne locations doubling for Brighton, the authentic 60s costume and culture and John Mathieson’s exquisite cinematography, but much of the original films menace is lost as the unconvincing script focuses on human relations and this change in emphasis is underscored by a number of poor performances. The shy Sam Riley is miscast as the brooding amoral Pinkie Brown and Helen Mirren hams it up as vigilant Ida.

Ida Arnold (Helen Mirren), a kind-hearted and decent woman, is drawn into the action by a chance meeting with the terrified Fred Hale (Sean Harris), whom ambitious gangster Pinkie (Sam Riley) murders in obscure circumstances shortly afterwards. Pinkie, whose Catholic faith and fear of hell and damnation make him dread the death penalty, attempts to cover his tracks by courting and marrying naive local waitress and accidental witness Rose (Andrea Riseborough). With elder gangsters Kite and Hale murdered, aspiring hoodlum Pinkie attempts to take over and muscle in on the protection racket of Colleoni (Andy Serkis), but his youthful appearance makes many dismiss his authority. Meanwhile, matriarchal tea-room owner Ida pursues Pinkie relentlessly and becomes his determined nemesis, in part to protect Rose from the deeply disturbed boy she has now married.