Review: Harry Brown

Film:  Harry Brown

Starring: Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Charlie Creed-Miles, David Bradley, Iain Glen, Sean Harris, Ben Drew, Jack O'Connell, Jamal Downey, Lee Oakes, Joseph Gilgun, Liam Cunningham

Director: Daniel Barber
 
Screenwriter: Gary Young
 
Vigilante films have been around for several years, so it's hard sometimes to make ones that can be considered unique.  They're really designed to tap into our sense of fantasy justice.  While the methods are illegal, we all secretly wish to exact revenge in some way shape or form.  An eye for an eye, and all that.  And since we can't do that within the realms of reality, it's a great release to see someone do it on screen.  This film is no exception to both situations:  being cliche and tapping into a fantasy. 
 
Like most films in this genre, this film is a bit predictable in places.  For one thing, you know that one day Harry Brown (Michael Caine) will avenge the wrongdoings done to his friend.  Being a British film, the cliches go a bit further.  I've watched (and continue to watch) British mysteries and comedies, and there's a theme that seems to occur quite often where management is depicted as a bunch of imbeciles with no real-world experience, who somehow wind up running a squad of police officers.  They seem to be more concerned with their own prestige and the art of mapping a process on paper, rather than what's really happening around them.  And they don't seem to rely on their own officer's judgements.
 
I don't know about you, but if I were a Superintendent and my Detective Inspector told me that an ex-marine was killing off gang members, I'd take notice, despite the fact that the ex-marine in question is in his 70's.  Films like these are about the art of surprise and good aim, and not about whether you can chase after someone and kick their butt.  The gang members in this film are depicted as a bunch of short-fused, trigger happy, power hungry punks, and not special forces trained, ninja fighters.  So could an old marksman take them out?  Absolutely, despite the fact that the marksman in question has emphysema.  It's not about stamina.  It's about cunning, timing and aim.  So I found the tired plot of the conceited, image conscious Superintendent a bit... well... tired.
 
Emily Mortimer was pretty good as the Detective Inspector, although there were some scenes in which she seemed a bit too weak.  I had trouble with the scene where she apparently had whiplash, but was able to carry her unconscious partner with his arm draped over her back.  She couldn't take her hand off her neck, but yet she could carry him without crying out in pain.  Granted, Harry was helping her carry him, or was she helping Harry carry him?  I'm not too sure.

Another unbelieveable moment is when Harry manages to get back to his home amidst the chaos around him.  He just materialized.  I turned to a friend and quipped, "How did he get there?"  My friend replied, "He knows Batman."
 
Michael Caine did a fantastic job of portraying Harry.  He always manages to bring depth to his characters.  Adding to that was the director's vision of showing Harry's world as meticulously neat and clean, and organized, while the rest of the world around him was in chaos.  The close-ups of Harry and his morning ritual at the beginning of the film was a nice touch and gave us some insight into Harry's life without any need for narration or dialog.  I thought that was very well done.
 
Overall the film is watchable and kept my interest.  It follows the predictability of its genre, but does not become repetitious or boring.
 
Actress Emily Mortimer visited the screening and imparted some interesting trivia about the film.  She said that Michael Caine was a very funny man, and a joy to work with.  He revealed that he was born in the housing estate (equivalent to what we in the US would call "the projects") where they filmed.  Also, she said that there was a mural of Michael on the building of his Get Carter character.  She said he spent a lot of time bonding with the kids who played extras in the film, some of whom were in gangs.  She said they were excited to work on the film, and he spent a lot of time talking with them.
 
 


 
Emily herself said she had a great time playing such a unique character, and enjoyed working with Michael Caine on the film.  She said he made her laugh quite often.  Emily researched her part by spending the day with a female Detective Inspector who told her what the job entailed and what she would encounter. 

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