Totally different from the previous Krays biopic.

Rating: Null/10 (24 January 2016)

Of course this movie is excellent and Tom Hardy outstanding. Would could deny this? But this film is more a drama than a gangster movie. And the main difference with the Peter Medak's feature, made in 1990, is that in this film from 2015, you don't see the Kray's childhood and the relation with their mother is not so strongly shown. Maybe the most important part of the film. In the 1990 movie, the relationship between the twins and the mom was so poignant, more than with another classical love story. The two movies are quite different for the same story. In the old film, you watch many more things about the twin brother genesis than in the Brian Helgeland's piece of work. But, again, that doesn't remove any of its quality.
The original, as far as there was no film about the twin mobsters made before 1990, is more a gangster film than this one from 2015. In the elder film, you see the real rise and fall of the Krays, and not only their state of grace before their fall. Actually, the Helgeland's film is more in the Hollywood style, in the biopic wave as were some Marty Scorcese's movies, with the vintage music score all long the film and the off voice of the Krays' mistress. In the 1990 film, Ron Kray's homosexuality is clearly shown, far more than in the new one. In the Peter Medak's movie, the story emphasizes on sub characters, such as the old lady friends or relatives of the Kray's mother, for instance their aunt Rose and her war souvenirs. The two films have something in common, although. They perfectly show the brutality and sadism of those gangsters from East Side of London. The best would be to see both films. And I found out that there was a British mini series about the twins, made last year. I have not seen it yet, but it sounds corny. Anyway, I will try.