Entertainment
Say Goodbye to Tom Hardy’s Absolutely Bonkers Breakout Role That’s Leaving HBO Max
Tom Hardy is an actor who always commits to giving interesting performances, regardless of the quality of the films that he is in. Although his work ranges from nuanced, subtle roles to eccentric characters, Hardy is never boring. He didn’t have quite the big screen breakthrough that one might expect from such a respected actor, as Hardy’s first major film role was in the disastrous sequel Star Trek: Nemesis. However, Hardy showed signs of what a chameleonic actor he could be with Bronson, a biopic based on the “most violent criminal” in Great Britain’s history. The style of Nicolas Winding Refn can be divisive, but Hardy took an unusual, controversial figure and made him the subject of a film that was shocking, funny, and at times surprisingly moving.
Michael Peterson was a British juvenile who adopted his infamous nickname based on his love of the action star Charles Bronson, whose name he adopted in 1987. Bronson is an impressionistic biopic that plays around with the loose way that its subject viewed the world; above all else, Bronson considered himself to be a showman, as from a young age, the film depicts him as being obsessed with vaudeville and carnivals. Bronson examines how a troubled young man became a legendary figure within the British prison system, and how his strange persona became a fascination amongst other prisoners. It’s not a film that would work unless its lead actor could be both terrifying and charismatic at once, and Hardy expertly depicts a character who is impossible to read.
‘Bronson’ Is Unlike Any Other Biopic
It’s clear from the moment that Bronson begins that Hardy is not intended to be a reliable narrator because of the fanciful way that he explains the troubles he experienced in his youth. While there is something sympathetic in the poverty that he dealt with, and how he was not equipped with the mental healthcare that he needed, there’s a part of Bronson that inherently loved getting into trouble. Hardy could have turned Bronson into a more traditionally tragic figure, but at no point does it feel as if he is ashamed of his behavior. In fact, one of the film’s darkest jokes comes during a rare period in his life when Bronson isn’t locked up; when he’s left to spend time in the world that’s not behind bars, Bronson is overwhelmed by the lack of parameters and disregard for a rigorous schedule. As is the case with many anti-heroes, Bronson prefers a scenario in which he is viewed as an authoritative figure, or at least someone to be feared.
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The non-linear, surrealistic approach to Bronson ensures that Hardy is given the freedom to make unusual choices, and often dons different makeup and costumes to play Bronson’s different personas. While some prison films struggle to make something visually interesting out of a restrained environment, Refn opens up the possibilities for Bronson by showing the subjective ways in which the titular character views the world. However, the fantastical elements of the presentation do not in any way detract from just how violent Bronson was; the scenes in which he engages in bare-knuckled boxing, which is what he became best known for, are realistic in their brutality. It epitomizes the contrast within Bronson’s view of reality, and how it became impossible for the justice system to rationalize. Every moment in which he is faced with consequences, Bronson sees another challenge to surpass, and continues to engage in rebellious behavior.
‘Bronson’ Is One of Tom Hardy’s Most Transformative Performances
Although the pulpy action and dark humor make it a very entertaining watch, Bronson still has aspects of social commentary that prove it to be more than “style over substance.” The film’s main criticism is of the prison system itself; it’s not an infrastructure that is actually interested in rehabilitating incarcerated men or treating them with any sense of dignity, and so it can’t be all that surprising when someone like Bronson abuses any opportunities that it is given. It’s also fascinating to see the strange code of ethics that Bronson chooses to define himself by, as he does not dose out punishment to just anyone; an early scene in which he nearly kills a fellow inmate convicted of pedophilia suggests that Bronson is driven by a larger sense of right and wrong. At the same time, the film ends on a brilliantly ambiguous note in which it’s implied that Bronson simply came to accept his fate; whether that is an indication of his insanity or a sign of his stubborn resilience is up to the viewer to determine.
Bronson feels like a proof of concept for Hardy’s acting style, as the film required a performer who was unafraid to be ridiculed or doubted, as nothing would be truer to the essence of the character he was playing. That Bronson himself was someone obsessed with the ideals of masculinity that he saw in American movies is no coincidence, as Hardy draws from some of the same influences when giving his performance. While Hardy would go on to give similarly ambitious performances in more high-profile films like The Revenant and The Dark Knight Rises, those were blockbusters that would have gained attention regardless of who was starring in them. With Bronson, he elevated an independent film from an arthouse filmmaker and ensured that people paid attention to it. Bronson doesn’t ask the viewer to cast judgments on its subject, but it’s hard not to be blown away by what Hardy accomplished.
Bronson is available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S.
- Language
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English
- Studio
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Vertigo Films
- Run Time
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92 mins
- Director
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Nicolas Winding Refn
- Release Date
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March 13, 2009
- Rating
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R
A young man who was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbing a post office ends up spending three decades in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter-ego, Charles Bronson.
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