The Legend of Tom Hardy

Rating: 7/10 (17 October 2015)

The jury is still out on 'Legend'. I know it was trying to be a great 'gangsta' film but it never climbed to great heights like I hoped it would nor did it seem to have any particular purpose other than to let the audience know that in 1960's London, the infamous Kray twins ruled the streets. Brian Helgeland, who gave the world the pointless 'A Knight's Tale', has tried to give his Directing career some much needed street cred by tackling the 'Old Darts' notorious Reginald and Ronald Kray and their violent rise and fall on the mean streets of London's East End.
Helgeland's version is based on John Pearson's book 'The Profession of Violence' and the movie is told through the eyes of Reggie's unfortunate wife, Frances Shea (Emily Browning). Frances's blind love for her man inevitably leads her down a path that would ultimately challenge her fragile state of mind. Her honest belief that she could change her husband's ways falls on deaf ears as Reggie refuses to see past his own life as a successful 'Club Owner'. Her brother-in-law, Ronnie, knows exactly who HE is and has no problem admitting to his life of blood thirsty crime but Reggie at times seems conflicted. He loves his wife dearly but has tremendous loyalty for his psychotic twin. All said and done, its obvious that Reggie enjoys his life on the wrong side of the law.
Tom Hardy is given the enormous challenge of playing both the Kray twins and it is his performance alone that makes 'Legend' more than just a mediocre charmless piece of cinema. Hardy's portrayal of Ronnie Kray is down right scary and amusing as the mentally unstable twin reeks havoc across London without any regard of consequence or respect to his own brother. Hardy moves back and forth seamlessly as both twins, convincing the audience that there just might be two completely different identities on the screen. Hegleland has done a terrific job in bringing Tom Hardy and Tom Hardy together in certain shots and the epic fight scene between the two brothers is quite magnificent. Not for a second did it look unauthentic as Hardy lays into himself with all the ferocity of a heavyweight boxer.
Emily Browning seems to take a back seat to Hardy's imposing performance with her delicate presence sometimes going unnoticed. A selection of England's finest actors join in on Helgeland's little playground with both Christopher Eccleston and David Thewlis playing solid roles as Nipper Read and Leslie Payne respectively. Paul Bettany has a cameo as rival gangsta, Charlie Richardson but he is on and off camera quicker than you can tie your own shoe lace.
Where 'Legend' is let down is not in the acting but in its narrative. The film doesn't really know what it wants to be. At times it is extremely violent as to say, confronting, and at other moments you can't help but cackle at the amusing dialogue. A lack of an inspiring score creates an emotionless atmosphere that doesn't allow the audience to connect with the film on a deeper level and at 131 minutes long, is a little overdone for what it is. Hegleland could still have told his story in a film that should have been under two hours. Towards the end it became a little tiresome and I couldn't help but look at the time on my phone.
It is violent, it is crazy and at times it is amusing but you cannot deny Tom Hardy's performance. Any actor taking on duel roles should be commended and his reputation will not be lost here. He single handedly adds another star to a film that is good but not great.