Well made violent romantic comedy.

Rating: 7/10 (10 September 2015)

There were many aspects of this film to like. Both Tom Hardy performances were excellent, and I cannot imagine any other choice for the lead roles would have worked better. The cinematography and production was also very good with a nicely constructed sixties London. The choice of music also complemented the film well, giving a comprehensive viewing experience. The basic viewpoint of the film was also interesting as it is taken from the double edged sword perspective of Reggie's wife. As an added bonus, it was actually pretty funny too.
However, there are many elements of the film that I felt could have been done better. The threat of violence was there, but somehow the film made both characters slightly too smooth to be menacing (this is the intent with Reggie but not with Ron and so the chemistry doesn't quite work). There was also a distinct lack of character development for the other players. Although the focus of the film was clearly meant to be around the brothers and Reggie's wife (Emily Browning) and what those relationships showed about their characters, there were so many other peripheral elements that could have been developed further to make this a more rounded film. The presence of the police was almost an afterthought for example, with the hint of an ominous outcome, but with no real impact other than to say the police were ineffective.
Is it worth a watch? Yes. However, do not go in expecting this to be the ultimate Kray movie, as I believe that film is yet to be made.