Harry Brown – 2009 | 103 mins | Thriller | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Set in modern-day Britain, Harry Brown seeks to reflect the outraged tabloid image of a broken society with many people scared by the walk home past drug dealers, the kids harassed by feral gangs in the playground, living in flats and buildings not fit for purpose. The story draws parallels with western stories like Shane and High Noon, and the character of Harry Brown is reminiscent of some of Michael Caine’s more memorable roles, particularly Jack Carter, but lacks the authenticity of the iconic mobster. The story opens slowly and reflectively, but once Brown decides to become a vigilante and take the law into his own hands, it descends into unintentionally hilarious and morally ambiguous territory.

Harry Brown marks Daniel’s feature film debut and his a predictable direction shows glimpses of talent, but it’s Martin Ruhe’s bleak cinematography that creates a evocative atmosphere of fear and neglect. Caine is now Get Carter with a pipe and slippers, but the veteran actor is consistently excellent and never less than watchable. Emily Mortimer meanwhile seems ill at ease in a badly written and poorly acted role. The film was shot on location in and around London’s The Elephant and Castle, and at Elstree Studios.

A modest law-abiding citizen, 76-year-old Harry Brown (Sir Michael Caine) is a retired Marine and a widower who lives alone on a depressed housing estate. His only company is his best friend and fellow ex-serviceman Leonard (David Bradley). When Leonard is murdered by a gang of thugs, Harry feels compelled to act and is forced to dispense his own brand of justice. As he bids to clean up the run-down estate where he lives, his actions bring him into conflict with the police, led by investigating officer DCI Frampton (Emily Mortimer) and Charlie Creed-Miles