Why Legend won't have a legacy like its main characters.

Rating: 6/10 (10 September 2015)

When I heard that a new film was going to be made about the Kray twins, I was genuinely excited for two reasons. Firstly, the Kray story is a fascinating one, one which was never properly realised in the 1990 Adaption with the Kemp Brothers.
Secondly, Hearing that Tom Hardy was going to play both of the Twins filled me with excitement. His screen presence and charisma is exactly what the role required
I have read a great deal about the Krays because to me they are simply fascinating. The Profession of Violence by the author John Pearson is like a Bible when it comes to the Twins, and if you haven't read it, then please seek it out and do so. The author spent some time with the twins before their empire crumbled around them, so I was glad to see his name in the writing credits.
So, what do I make of the film after my viewing? Well, I was disappointed to be honest and here is why.
Firstly, I didn't like how the film was narrated by Reggie Krays girlfriend/wife through out. Frances is an important character in relation to Reggie and his development in general, but having her narrate the film, makes it seem like she is the central character of the film.
Secondly, there is so much that hasn't made it into the film. Why didn't we get to see the rise of the Krays and their demise?

They Spent half of their life in prison, and there are plenty of stories to explore here. Reggie in a standard prison and Ronnie in Broadmoor, a psychiatric prison.

They had a very interesting childhood and were both shipped off to the countryside during the second world war.

If my memory serves me right, they accidentally killed a young boy whilst messing around on a milk float in the East End whilst they were still boys. (I read this in a Kray book).

Ronnie was apparently abused during his teens whilst on a camping trip.

Both were aspiring boxers including their elder brother Charlie Kray and they once all fought on the same bill at a boxing event.

They were petty crooks/brawlers in their younger days and made a name for themselves when they took over their local snooker hall.

They deserted the Army and both were punished by being locked up for a small period in the Tower of London.

Reggie once pretended to be Ronnie and switched with him during a prison visit, to get him out, later walking out himself telling the staff he was Reggie and that he didn't know where his brother was.

The prison break of the Prisoner Frank Mitchell aka "The Mad Axeman" from Dartmoor Prison. They later had him murdered.

I could go on, but these elements need to be in a film about the Krays. Some of these stories could be myth, but it is exactly these things which has made them both Legends.
Thirdly, for a great deal of the film, the story seems to jump about a great deal and if you are not familiar with the Krays and their story, I think this can be rather confusing. My Friend said that he found it very bitty, like lots of scenes had been shot and strung together very loosely with no context.
Fourthly, the Performance of Tom Hardy is excellent. I have read that some feel that Hardy plays Reggie very well, but almost parodies Ronnie Kray. I disagree, I think he got the performances bang on. It's just a shame that Hardy and the rest of the cast, who are also excellent, have ended up in a film which hasn't quite lived up to its billing, which is a shame.
Oh and why is the film called Legend? it tells you nothing about the film!! I guarantee people not in the know, won't know what the film is about. It would be like calling the Godfather something like Family Business.
To conclude, Legend is okay if you know nothing about the Kray Twins. Tom Hardy and his supporting cast are very good, but the film seemed to focus too much on production values and not on the story.
In my humble opinion, the story of the Krays could be on par with the Godfather, and whats more, it really happened. I think a trilogy of films is in order chronicling their childhood, their rise to gangland's heady heights and their time in prison. Their story deserves the full cinema treatment, not because they were gangsters, but because their story is simply fascinating which in turn made them Legends.