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Harry Brown

Harry Brown

2009

In this British thriller, Sir Michael Caine plays Harry Brown, a modest, law-abiding widower who lives in a depressing council estate. When his best friend, Leonard, is murdered by a gang of thugs, Harry feels compelled to dispense his own brand of justice. As an ex-marine, he has the skills to do so, but his efforts bring him into conflict with the police force, including investigating officer DCI Frampton (Emily Mortimer).

Starring Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Charlie Creed-Miles, David Bradley, Iain Glen, Sean Harris

Directed by Daniel Barber (feature debut)

Written by Gary Young

Thriller, Drama, Crime | 1hr 43mins | Rated (R18) | Contains Violence, Offensive Language, Drug Use & Sex Scenes | Origin: UK | NZ Distributor: Hoyts Distribution | Official Site »

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Flicks review

  •  5

    Steve Newall, Flicks.co.nz

    Steve Newall, Flicks.co.nz

    Flicks Writer

    Ever-watchable, Michael Caine enriches damn near everything he appears in, and he elevates this grim vigilante-fest from pretty darn good to essential viewing. Not for the squeamish, Harry Brown is chilling from its kinetic and brutal opening frames right through to the increasingly explosive violence inflicted by both Brown and the truly horrible council estate scumbags he pits himself against.
     
    It’s not unfair to label Harry Brown a bit of a Death Wish knock-off (with a pinch of Gran Torino and Taxi Driver) but that would be overlooking a couple of important points. The first is the British setting and examination of kids there that, as in Eden Lake, are part of a hopeless generation spiralling out of control into violence and nihilism.

    The other is, of course, Caine. His performance is riveting enough when the film begins, as Harry Brown, doting husband and pensioner, but the deaths of both his wife and then best pal allow him to dig deep into a reservoir of emotion and produce something particularly compelling. And then comes the revenge.
     
    Never seeming an unlikely hero, despite his age, Caine proves an extremely competent vigilante and everything about the film is geared to make you cheer him on. Whether gun-toting pensioners are a real solution to Britain’s youth crime crisis, however, remains to be seen.

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The people's reviews

5 reviews

  • Caine's the business

     4

    AdamatDramaTrain

    Superstar (?)

    Britain's answer to Clint Eastwood's 'Gran Tourino,' Michael Caine is wonderful as this revisionist Harry Palmer character. Just like 'Tourino' was Dirty Harry as an old, retired git - so this is Caine's way of reflecting on the now retired action heroes he played in his youth. A damning insight into British yoof culture gone wrong in a post-Millennial society that just gave up caring... and in the process gave up hope. A darker meditation than Eastwood's - more 'Unforgiven' than 'Gran Tourino' really. It loses one star due to an at times predictable script and pedestrian direction - but Caine raises the game. See it for Sir Mike if nothing else. He totally owns this movie in his best role since 'Educating Rita.'

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • 100 word review

     3

    100WordReviews

    Superstar (?)

    Michael Caine pulls a Gran Torino in the UK. Pensioner Harry Brown has been plagued with an everything-sucks-with-the-world attitude that is fuelled by the death of his wife and the unapologetic murder of his best friend. With an infestation of youth criminal activity, Harry takes it upon himself to clean up the streets, one bullet at a time. It’s a simple premise, and one that can ultimately slide too easily into the gooey realm of corn and cheese. However, the film sticks to its guns (pun intended) well enough that it never strays into outright silliness. Not legendary, but good.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Michael Caine still kicks a#* !!

     4

    freshdude

    Superstar (?)

    Michael Caine, while showing a certain frailty that comes with age, demonstrates real strength. Not a strength in a physical sense, but keeping his cool and a perfect use of weapons, that makes him the great protagonist in this british drama.
    Good thriller.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Gripping

     4

    Mr G

    Nobody (?)

    Great movie. The subject matter doesn't lend itself to delivering pure happyness but that's real life and this is a thriller. It's an excellent movie so go to see Michael Caine at his best while you still can. A great performance that held my attention until the end and shows us what our communities must stand up to in a very real way. It's a shame we too seem to be leaving such messes to the English Dirty Harry Types to clean up. Excellent.

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  • This is cool

     4

    Philip-Moore

    Superstar (?)

    Michael Caine plays Harry Brown a old man turned vigilante when his mate Len gets murdered. This is a powerful performance from an actor who shows age is no barrier. He showed all the young actors out there how you play great characters on screen. Caine shows vunerabilty and a real cool calm violent streak that makes stand up and take notice. This performance by Caine will be remembered for years to come

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Press Reviews

  • Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

    This movie plays better than perhaps it should. Directed as a debut by Daniel Barber, it places story and character above manufactured "thrills" and works better.
    Read full review

  • Christchurch Press (Margaret Agnew)

     4

    Hell is other people. This is especially true if you live on Harry Brown's housing estate.
    Read full review

  • Dominion Post (Graeme Tuckett)

     3

    Clearly it's the week for films you've seen before being done again with better actors.
    Read full review

  • Empire (UK)

     4

    Essential stuff, even by the big man’s considerable standards.
    Read full review

  • Kiwi FM (John Henderson)

    "A study of urban decay... brilliantly shot."
    Read full review

  • Los Angeles Times

    It's a strong directing debut for Barber, who uses the poignant power of Harry's experience to take a universal cut at decaying communities and the poverty of soul as well as pocket.
    Read full review

  • New York Times

    Mr. Caine is one of the few reasons to sit through Harry Brown, an exercise in art-house exploitation directed by Daniel Barber and tarted up with self-importance and a generally striking visual design.
    Read full review

  • NZ Herald (Peter Calder)

     3

    A nasty piece of work
    Read full review

  • Total Film (UK)

     3

    The hero might be Brown, but Harry is black and white in its treatment of inner-city blight. When all the bullets are spent you’re left with the dubious aftertaste of exploitation, but Sir Michael’s charisma keeps you watching.
    Read full review

  • Variety (USA)

    Bleak, gripping, sporadically exciting drama.
    Read full review

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