[yasr_overall_rating]
The film tells the story of the identical twin gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray, two of the most notorious criminals in British history, and their organized crime empire in the East End of London during the 1960s.
Brian Helgeland burst onto the scene with his screenplay for 1997’s “LA Confidential,” a film-noir which perfectly tilted police work and politics over enough for audiences to see the corrupt connection between the two. In “Legend,” he brings a tale based on the true exploits of London’s twin gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray (both portrayed stunningly by Tom Hardy). The film is sparingly narrated by Reggie’s ex-wife, Frances (Emily Browning), with a story built around the romance between Reggie and Frances.
The plot doesn’t tread much new ground, aside from a few unsurprising twists (and one or two real shockers). It simply weaves the rise and fall of the romance between Reggie and Frances into the rise and fall of the Kray brothers and their East London empire. “Legend” comes with all the obligatory violence demonstrating how vicious and brutal the Krays brothers can be, especially Ron. Very little of it is imaginative, it just carries along as any gangster film normally does with Frances bringing clarity in her narration.
The mesmerizing performances save “Legend” from listing along as an average film. Browning doesn’t miss a beat as the love struck girl turned weary wife. Paul Anderson (“Peaky Blinders”) and David Thewlis double down as Reggie’s advisers. Thewlis portrays Leslie Payne, often the focus of Ronnie’s scorn, as a man whose loyalties will only stretch so far. Though typecast, it’s good to see Chazz Palminteri representing the American mob as Angelo Bruno. His few scenes give the film a breath of fresh air as he plays the “friendly” heavy.
Tom Hardy pulls of the impossible and gives the best twin performance since Haley Mills flabbergasted her divorced parents in “The Parent Trap”. As Reggie Kray, he’s the smooth gangster trying to walk a fine line between legitimacy and criminal enterprise. He likes the respect he receives from his lifestyle, but is torn by his love for Frances as she begs him to go straight. Hardy takes this simple character and turns him into a likeable, for a time, complex individual. As Ronnie Kray, he’s a ravager. Having been diagnosed a psychotic schizophrenic, Ronnie is a caged animal held back only by the medication he takes. When he doesn’t take the meds, his irrational paranoia takes over and the beast inside him comes out. Helgeland’s script makes him somewhat of a buffoon, so he gets a few laughs. Tom Hardy takes the buffoonery inherent in his character and uses it to his advantage, making Ron both feared and sympathetic. The stark contrast between brothers is highlighted by Hardy’s mesmerizing duel performance. It is perfection defined.
Helgeland’s direction isn’t quite up to par with his screenplay. He gets great performances out of his actors. The setting, costumes, everything is beautifully rendered but feels artificial at times. He keeps most of the action claustrophobic inside small pubs and apartments or East End streets and alleys. The action moves slowly, dragging in the second act especially. While his screenplay could use a better plot, the characterization and dialogue are fantastic. His strength lay in his ability to communicate who a character is and what he or she will become. I think this is why actors love working with him.
“Legend” brings to life an interesting group of characters portrayed by a cast hitting on all cylinders at all times. Without these performances, the film would fail miserably. It’s worth watching for Tom Hardy alone, but if you want to see a great British gangster film, watch “Layer Cake” instead.
In select theaters now
