Dangerous to name it Legend when it becomes a middling muddle of a watch

Rating: 7/10 (2 October 2015)

There were many parts of this film that left me wanting something more, but it just didn't give.
The acting was for the most part great - as Ron, Hardy was at times awesome, showing real and off the rail menace, but did slip towards silliness on a couple of occasions. as Reg, I just didn't get him, he didn't carry it and couldn't convince me of any underlying menace.
Now, I spent a large part of my time watching this wondering 'why is this an 18?' something which (I guess) is justified by one scene in my opinion. If this was the reason for rating it thus, then they should have gone to town with it and injected a lot more of what the subject matter could demand - otherwise a 15 would be more appropriate.
There were some excellent moments in the film, mainly with Ron in play, where the mix of humour and violence really worked, but again I just felt it was marred by some predictable lead ins and sequences, certainly where the twins were arguing/fighting with themselves, I couldn't really see any emotional tie between them. Difficult to portray I guess, playing both roles.
Another issue for me was the soundtrack and film editing. The editing was poor and sometimes it just seemed to move scenes or even years with no cohesion or real nod to the time gone. The 'feel'of scenes changed too, I know this has to happen sometimes of course, but the whole vibe shouldn't change unless the characters drive it.
The soundtrack was just utterly misjudged and out of kilter with the film.
If it was trying to focus on the romance between Reg and Francis, it didn't really allow enough development or insight to this, but then neither did it offer enough of the gangland side of it to convince. As such it was an aimless film also damaged somewhat by a 'hollywood' touch to it - and I think it may have been much better for this to have been an Amazon or Netflix series, allowing development of both sides of the story. I'm thinking 'Peaky Blinders' as an example of this working well.
I'm glad I saw it however, and it was for the most part and entertaining and well done ride.