A Masterclass in acting from Tom Hardy

Rating: 10/10 (9 September 2015)

I guess if you want to know the history of the Kray Twins, you can google it and I'm sure all the historical facts will be there. The thing which makes this film so good, is everything about it. You could be tempted to say as I have in my heading , it is a masterclass in acting but it is just so good in all other respects right down to the two brief cameos by John Sessions as Lord somebody to Kevin McNally as Harld Wilson.Everything about it was utterly believable without all the stylised stereo types we have grown accustomed to with films about East End gangsters. Oh yes and whilst we see blood occasionally it didn't take on the proportions of a cartoon which again seems to be the stock in trade of most Hollywood efforts. This was an extremely well made film about real people who were larger than life characters but at no point did it stray into caricature largely due to excellent directing and outstanding performances from Tom Hardy , ably supported by Emily Browning Paul Bettany and of course Chris Eccleston. The periodness seemed perfect to me again without all the silly stereotypes associated with films set at this period and the street sets were stunning in their film noir appeal . If Tom Hardy doesn't get at least nominated for an Oscar then there is no justice but the entire production was nothing short of superb.