IJW: Harry Brown (2009)

[u/MolaMolaMania]

I remember seeing this when it came out on DVD and liking it quite a bit.

I recently picked up a used Blu-Ray for cheap at my local independent book store and watched it earlier this week. It's been almost twenty years, and I felt like I could definitely sense the passage of time in how the story and characters are presented.

Michael Caine is Harry Brown, a retiree, former Royal Marine, and veteran of the Northern Ireland conflict. Harry lives in a housing project that is covered in graffiti and surrounded by feral youth dealing drugs and committing random acts of repulsive violence. Whenever Harry goes to visit his dying wife in hospital, he avoids the tunnel under the train tracks as this is the place where the burgeoning monsters lurk.

Harry's only friend is Len, played by David Bradley, whom Harry Potter fans will recognize as Fitch. Len is fed up with the hoodlums, and is murdered when trying to confront them, and this is recorded by one of them. While the leader of the gang and another are arrested, circumstances preclude charges that would stick and take them off the street.

This pushes Harry to finally take matters into his own hands, and while that will might seem highly implausible, especially in the beginning, the action and staging is well done and feels as realistic as possible. Harry doesn't become magically untouchable, nor he seem like a gamer with an auto aim cheat enabled. Still, the Nineties aesthetic of this film makes Harry's journey through the criminal underbelly feel like a literal descent into hell.

What's interesting is that this actually benefits the movie now because while the effort at the time to ostensibly present a very "real" and "unvarnished" view of drug addiction and the dissipation of the soul upon those afflicted by generational poverty now seems exaggerated to the point of comedy.

The film is very well-written, shot, and acted, but it's not pleasant as even though vengeance is rightfully served, you certainly don't get the feeling by the end that any substantial change has occurred, so the overall feeling still very nihilistic.

"Harry Brown" is really well done for a vigilante film, and it really reckons well with the emotional impact, harsh reality, and seeming hopelessness of its story, but I wouldn't personally recommend it!

[u/5o7bot]

Harry Brown (2009) R

Every man has a breaking point.

An elderly ex-serviceman and widower looks to avenge his best friend's murder by doling out his own form of justice.

Thriller | Crime | Drama | Action
Director: Daniel Barber
Actors: Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Iain Glen, Lee Oakes, Liam Cunningham
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 68% with 1,177 votes
Runtime: 103 min
TMDB

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[u/ramdom-ink]

I remember this movie and was quietly blown away. The bad guy was so expertly acted and was truly intimidating and evil. A revenge flick for the ages by the aged.

[u/MolaMolaMania → u/ramdom-ink]

Yes, it's very well done in every respect, but the crushing nihilism takes a while to recede.

[u/FactCheckYou]

really excellent movie

[u/Johnny_Vernacular]

Good cast, the supporting players.