Cor blimey! Stone the crows! A diabolical liberty is taken of the Kray Twins as their gangster life is turned into a love story!

Rating: Null/10 (14 September 2015)

There have been major criminals in London over the years. However, only two groups of criminals have ever become iconic, legendary and mythic. One lot were 'The Great Train Robbers' whose one big crime and long, long, aftermath, gave them immortality. The other lot were 'The Krays', a gangster family who were the closest British thing to the Mafia, and who comported themselves throughout their lives in such a way, that they created their own legend. Hence the title of this film. The Krays and the Trainrobbers have influenced crime in London ever since, be it culturally, or in the actuality, in other gangs such as the blaggers of the 1980's.
'The Krays' (1990), was a decent gangster film that starred real- life pop-star brothers Gary Kemp and Martin Kemp. Fairly accurate, it suffered from being shown from the POV of Violet Kray, the mother, and thus had women making speeches about swans and other nonsense.
Therefore this reviewer looked forward to this new version of the story, especially as it was said to be based on John Pearson's book 'The Profession of Violence, The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins'. An added attraction was the actor Tom Hardy being in the film. The earlier film had used twins to play the twins, an obvious move, now in retrospect an even more obvious idea was used. In this film Tom Hardy plays Reginald Kray, and Ronald Kray is played by Tom Hardy.
Director Brian Helgeland who also wrote the script based on the book, had attempted to recruit Mr Hardy to play Reggie. However he was much more interested in playing Ronnie. The obvious solution was found!
What was of concern, was the information put out, that the film was to be narrated in the voice of Frances Shea, the wife of Reggie. And so, sadly, it turned out to be. From the opening scene, we have an awful narration. It is so inappropriate! It turns the film into a hagiography. We even have some cod-Marxist class analysis as well as lots of pathetic loved-up philosophical meanderings. Thus the film is transformed from what could have been a good gangster film into a love story. If Frances Shea had declared that there were three people in her marriage, it would have fitted in well with the overall tone.
Film is set accurately in the London of the Swinging Sixties in which the Krays were an integral part. This is shown well. Sadly lacking from this film, is a Scorsese- like soundtrack, that captures the music of the era. Location shooting was generally good as were the period details. However, the real-life Blind Beggar pub exterior, is much grander, and more prominently located on a main street. The stand-in is stuffed down a street so little, it looks like an alley.
Tom Hardy is superb in his two roles. Ronnie is truly terrifying. Reggie too, carries menace. Mr Hardy's appearance as both brothers is very good. Those familiar with the iconic photos will be amazed at the likeness. Scenes with both brothers was part of the attraction of the film. These scenes are all shot superbly. Mr Hardy convinces in each role and is the embodiment of each twin. Recollection of a short interview long ago of the twins, suggests that Mr Hardy has captured their voices well too.
If the narration of Frances Shea is bad, her portrayal by Emily Browning is superb. A brilliant and moving performance. Most of the film deals with the relationship of Frances and Reggie. Frances, so fragile, is stifled by the gangster life. Reggie is torn between his love for Frances and for his brother Ron too. Frances wants Reggie to go straight. Ronnie models himself on Al Capone. Reggie is torn between the two.
As this film concentrates on the love angle, it is not really much of a gangster film. Rated as 18 in the UK, it actually has less bloody violence than the recent 'American Ultra' which has a UK 15 rating. 'Legend' does have three violent and bloody fight scenes. About half of the events in the Kray story are in this film, though often needlessly fictionalized, and chronology is not good. As film progresses you wonder what is going to be left out. As you finally assume something is left out, it's popped in. The fictionalization is often so unnecessary. For example, the early scene leaving the hospital is just so less interesting than what happened in real- life.
This should have been an ultra violent gangster film that showed the violent world of the Krays. The violence in the film is downplayed thus making it nicer and more entertaining. A major flaw!
It was an interesting idea to make this a film about Frances Shea. However this follows the earlier film about Violet Kray. Sure, both women played an important part in the lives of the twins. However this is not the most interesting aspect of the lives of the twins. In this film the differences between the twins is emphasized. However, their similarities is another aspect that deserves attention. Most of all, we are still in need of a definitive Kray gangster film.
There is not enough use made of the John Pearson source material. In fact, much has been fictionalized and rewritten. A shame! The Pearson book is considered the definitive work. He was hired to write an authorized biography which morphed later into it's more revealing shape. Charlie Kray's second edition of his own book is more revealing than the untruthful first edition. Leonard Reed has also collaborated with James Morton on a book.
However, for a final comment about the violent and feared Kray Twins, the book by Frank Cater, tells the story of a terrified girl trying to escape a car and screaming "You're not from Scotland Yard! You're from THEM!
A diabolical liberty! 7/10.