Bronson (2008)

Director:

Nicolas Winding Refn

Writers:

Brock Norman Brock (screenplay) and
Nicolas Winding Refn (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 March 2009 (Ireland)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

The Man. The Myth. The Celebrity.

Plot:

A young man who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for robbing a post office ends up spending 30 years in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter ego, Charles Bronson.

Plot Keywords:

Post Office | Solitary Confinement | Alter Ego | Prison | Jail

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Tom Hardy	...	Charles Bronson / Michael Peterson
Kelly Adams	...	Irene
Luing Andrews	...	Hysterical Screw
Katy Barker	...	Julie
Gordon Brown	...	Screw
Amanda Burton	...	Charlie's Mum
Mark Devenport	...	Nurse 1 (as Mark Davenport)
Paul Donnelly	...	Screw
Andrew Forbes	...	Charlie's Dad
Jon House	...	Webber
Matt King	...	Paul Daniels
James Lance	...	Phil
Holly Lucas	...	Young Man
Juliet Oldfield	...	Alison
Jonny Phillips	...	Prison Governor
Mark Powley	...	Andy Love / Friendly Screw
Hugh Ross	...	Uncle Jack
Andrew St. John	...	Workshop Supervisor
Joe Tucker	...	John White
Tracy Wiles	...	Jewellery Shop Assistant 1
Mark Fish	...	Fish and Chips Shop Manager
Kalron Scott Busuttil	...	Baby Charlie (as Kairon Scott Busuttil)
Raphael Cilla	...	Baby Michael
Sam Cullingworth	...	Prison Officer (as Sam Cullingwick)
Adryan Puicella	...	Prison Officer
D. Keye	...	Prison Officer
Peter D. Brammer	...	Prison Officer
Lee Alvey	...	Prison Officer
James McIntyne	...	Prison Officer
Sebastian Rodgers	...	Prison Officer
Rob Frost	...	Prison Officer
Wez Smith	...	Prison Officer
J.H. Bond	...	Prison Officer
Simon Field	...	Prison Officer
Peter Barry	...	Prison Officer
Alexander Jablonskas	...	Prison Officr
Roger Camden	...	Prison Officer (as Roger L. Camden)
David Clayton	...	Prison Officer
Jason Whiteby	...	Prison Officer
Bob Brookes	...	Prison Officer
Anthony Oddy	...	Prison Officer
J. Keye	...	Prison Officer
Nick Stock	...	Prison Officer / Screw
Alan Hefferon	...	Prison Officer
David Jackson	...	Prison Officer
June Bladon	...	Prison Officer
Ian Kitch	...	Prison Officer
David Nixon	...	Prison Officer
Michael Gregory	...	Prison Officer / Screw
Matthew Meakin	...	Prison Officer / Screw
Matthew Bennett	...	Prison Officer / Screw
Dean Daly	...	Prison Officer / Screw
Alain Greaves	...	Prison Officer / Screw
Bob Gale	...	Prison Officer / Screw
M. Shirra	...	Prison Officer / Screw
Lee Birkett	...	Prison Officer / Screw
Les Fitzakly	...	Screw
Steven Smith	...	Screw
Matt Mathew	...	Screw
Christopher Smith	...	Screw
Malcolm Scotten	...	Screw
Phillip Sharpe	...	Screw
R. Hools	...	Screw
Martin Kay	...	Screw
Adam Bacon	...	Screw
Mark Shiran	...	Screw
Ian Kitchenham	...	Screw
Gary White	...	Prisoner / Gangster
Jimmy Ball	...	Prisoner
Barry Lee	...	Prisoner
Michael Nurse	...	Prisoner
Kevin Rutter	...	Old Con
G.R.L. Horobin	...	Old Con
E.T. Harry	...	Homo Con
Chris Thompson	...	Con
Matt Legg	...	Con
Lee Jables	...	Con
Shane Barker	...	Con
Zah Siddall	...	Con
Brendan McCoy	...	Con
Dean Spicksley	...	Con (as Dean Spinksley)
John Jennick	...	Con
Rick Wake	...	Con
Tonylee Brown	...	Con
Andy Moffatt	...	Con
Iain Hines	...	Shower Con
Adam Karimjee	...	Shower Con
Davey Smith	...	Shower Con
Darren Pegg	...	Shower Con
Philip Catham	...	Shower Con
A. Hendons	...	Shower Con
J. Gains	...	Shower Con
Joe Corr	...	Shower Con
Paul Baguley	...	Shower Con
M. Connolly	...	Shower Con
Graham Bishop	...	Shower Con
R.F. Florence	...	Gangster
Lindsay Frayne	...	Gangster
Leighton Frayne	...	Gangster
Kas Syed	...	Gangster
Mark Stocks	...	Gangster
Jonathan Morrish	...	Gangster (as John Morrish)
Tony Nixon	...	Gangster
Wayne Robinson	...	Gangster
Matthew Whitaker	...	Gangster
Garry Green	...	Gangster
Mick Coult	...	Psychiatric Nurse
Jeff Scott Smith	...	Nurse
Darren Edge	...	Nurse
David Pleasance	...	Nurse
Daz Lelah	...	Nurse
A. Gough-Martin	...	Nurse
Michael Whitehead	...	Nurse
Paul Carty	...	Nurse
Chris Hill	...	Nurse
Ben Dean	...	Nurse
Gerry Brown	...	Loon / Patient
Paul Igoe	...	Loon / Patient / Additional Background Artist
Ian Pickering	...	Loon / Patient
David Benton	...	Loon / Patient
Yvonne Varnier	...	Loon / Patient
Frank Campbell	...	Loon / Patient
Jack Gavin	...	Loon / Patient
Martin Ramsay	...	Loon / Patient
Terry Fielder	...	Loon / Patient
Dan Knower	...	Loon / Patient
Richard Jones	...	Loon / Patient
M. Risdon	...	Loon / Patient
Darren Turner	...	Loon / Patient
Simon Ray	...	Loon / Patient
June Bredon	...	Topless Dancer
Amy Fisher	...	Topless Dancer
Zoey Sheppard	...	Topless Dancer
Portia	...	Topless Dancer
Daniel Wilson	...	Barman
Laura Cucu	...	Barman
Philip Hackley	...	Train Customer
Martin Berry	...	Train Customer
Carol Cummings	...	Train Customer (as Carol Bunting)
Denise Felt	...	Train Customer
Kimi Gill	...	Party Guest
J. Blake	...	Party Guest
Jane McLennan	...	Party Guest / Uncle Jack's Party Guest
Angela Allen	...	Party Guest
Cath Bedson	...	Party Guest
Jill Bowring	...	Party Guest
Robin Drake	...	Party Guest (as Rob Drake)
Mark Bower	...	Party Guest
Raphael	...	Party Guest
R.E. Leonard	...	Headmaster
Neil Broome	...	Headmaster
Shaun Darker	...	Policeman
Nick Baglaly	...	Policeman (as Nick Baglalv)
Colin Thompson	...	Policeman
Danny Hansford	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Colin Shakh	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Mandy Kay	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Chris Ainsworth	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Julian Plumb	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Duncan Barber	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Tim Ewin	...	Boxing Crowd Member (as Tim Ewins)
Alex Beumer	...	Boxing Crowd Member
David Steggles	...	Boxing Crowd Member
D.L. Hartill	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Shelia Scott-Smith	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Jan Deebawk	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Sofia Smith	...	Boxing Crowd Member
Mohammed Iftkhar	...	Boxing Crowd Member / Theatre Crowd Member
Terry Silk	...	Boxing Crowd Member / Theatre Crowd Member
Richard Hilton	...	Boxing Crowd Member / Theatre Crowd Member
Shane Cooke	...	Boxing Crowd Member / Theatre Crowd Member
Gail Cooke	...	Boxing Crowd Member / Theatre Crowd Member
Nick Spencer	...	Boxing Crowd Member / Theatre Crowd Member
Lee Griffiths	...	Boxing Crowd Member / Theatre Crowd Member
Paul Corbitt	...	Boxing Crowd Member / Theatre Crowd Member
Darryl Spencer	...	Inflatable Crowd Member
Spencer Lammy	...	Inflatable Crowd Member
Nick Golden	...	Inflatable Crowd Member
Neil Gregory	...	Inflatable Crowd Member
Victoria Barker	...	Crowd Member
Esther Jeanes	...	Crowd Member
Abigail Webster	...	Crowd Member
Loraine Salvage	...	Crowd Member
Jason Chambers	...	Crowd Member
Ifty	...	Crowd Member
Andy Loot	...	Passer-By
Simon Broadhurst	...	Passer-By
Darren Godfrey	...	Bronson Family Member
Andrew Mowbray	...	Drag Queen
Eoin Mount	...	Drag Queen
Peter Edwards	...	Traveller
Brender Jackson	...	Traveller
Ade Andrew	...	Traveller
Leah Hinton-Fishlock	...	Uncle Jack's Party Guest
Sonnia Wheatley	...	Uncle Jack's Party Guest
Helen Grayson	...	Uncle Jack's Party Guest (as China Black)
Phillip Powel	...	Uncle Jack's Party Guest
Kate Hesketh	...	Uncle Jack's Party Guest
Andy Walton	...	Additional Background Artist
Scott Clarke	...	Additional Background Artist
Gwyn Jones	...	Additional Background Artist
Daniel Knowles	...	Additional Background Artist
P. Lee	...	Additional Background Artist
Dan Leigh	...	Additional Background Artist
Tony Gough-Martin	...	Additional Background Artist
Stuart J. Dall	...	Additional Background Artist
Gordon Smith	...	Additional Background Artist
P. Burke	...	Additional Background Artist
Charlie Whyman	...	Additional Background Artist
Allan Price	...	Additional Background Artist
G. Rooke	...	Additional Background Artist
Emma Camm	...	Additional Background Artist
Lucy Ball	...	Additional Background Artist
Denise Davenport	...	Additional Background Artist (as Denise Devonport)
Emma Streeter	...	Additional Background Artist
Rachel Starer	...	Additional Background Artist
Diane Powell	...	Additional Background Artist
Steven Spence	...	Additional Background Artist
Dave Clipston	...	Additional Background Artist
Simon Stook	...	Additional Background Artist
Tristan Barudon	...	Additional Background Artist
David Orange	...	Additional Background Artist
Zens Zinnemann	...	Additional Background Artist
David Whiteley	...	Additional Background Artist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edward Bennett-Coles	...	Brian (uncredited)
William Darke	...	Charles Bronson - Age 13 (uncredited)
Anna Griffin	...	Train Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Nicolas Winding Refn

Writing credits
Brock Norman Brock		(screenplay) and
Nicolas Winding Refn		(screenplay)

Produced by
Suzanne Alizart	....	executive producer
Jessica Cooke	....	co-producer
Sean Faughnan	....	co-producer
Simon Fawcett	....	executive producer
Danny Hansford	....	producer
Jane Hooks	....	co-producer
Nick Love	....	executive producer
Paul Martin	....	executive producer
Rob Morgan	....	executive producer
Allan Niblo	....	executive producer
Kate Ogborn	....	executive producer
Rupert Preston	....	producer
James Richardson	....	executive producer
Thor Sigurjonsson	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Larry Smith		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Matthew Newman		(as Mat Newman)

Casting by
Des Hamilton

Production Design by
Adrian Smith

Art Direction by
Jane Levick		(as Janey Levick)

Costume Design by
Sian Jenkins

Makeup Department
Lily Beckett	....	hair stylist
Lily Beckett	....	makeup artist
Vikki Lawson	....	hair stylist
Vikki Lawson	....	makeup artist
Niamh Morrison	....	makeup designer
Zoey Stones	....	hair stylist (as Zoey Stone)
Zoey Stones	....	makeup artist (as Zoey Stone)
Heather Manson	....	makeup artist: dailies (uncredited)
Andy Seston	....	makeup artist: dailies (uncredited)

Production Management
Rebekka Garrido	....	post-production supervisor
Daniel Gulliver	....	production manager (as Danny Gulliver)
Matthew Newman	....	post-production supervisor (as Mat Newman)
Jason Nightingale	....	unit manager
Michael Reuter	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rachel Dargavel	....	third assistant director
Ian Hughes	....	additional third assistant director
Jamie Macdermott	....	first assistant director
Adam Morris	....	second assistant director
Nickie Sault	....	additional first assistant director
Jake Rollins	....	daily assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Adam Ali	....	construction manager
Hannah Boyton	....	art department assistant
Lizzie Dixon	....	art department assistant
Eva Freeman	....	art department assistant
Alex Giles	....	art department assistant
Neil Gregory	....	art department runner
Emma Minshull	....	stand-by props
Andrew Ranner	....	assistant art director
Andrew Ranner	....	property master
John Savage	....	art department daily assistant
Dean Spicksley	....	art department assistant
Neil Thomas	....	art department assistant
Joe Withers	....	stand-by art director
Daz Spencer-Lovesey	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Felix Andriessens	....	adr editor
Tim Barker	....	sound recordist
Chinna Boapeah	....	sound maintenance (as Chinna Udenze)
Grant Bridgeman	....	sound maintenance
Christian Conrad	....	sound designer
Lars Ginzel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Noemi Hampel	....	foley editor
Carsten Richter	....	foley artist
Dominik Schleier	....	supervising sound editor
Hanse Warns	....	foley recordist

Visual Effects by
Philipp Großmann	....	scanning supervisor
Patrizia Jendrzej	....	compositing artist
Florian Obrecht	....	visual effects artist
Kolja Schoon	....	scanning operator (uncredited)
Juri Stanossek	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Sean Adames	....	stunt performer
Gary Arthurs	....	stunt performer
Stuart Clark	....	stunt performer (as Stuart Clarke)
Rob Cooper	....	stunt performer
James Embree	....	stunt performer
Dean Forster	....	stunt performer
Paul Heasman	....	stunt performer
Lyndon S. Hellewell	....	stunt performer (as Lyndon Stuart-Hellewell)
Rowley Irlam	....	stunt performer
Vincent Keane	....	stunt performer (as Ginger Keane)
Paul Kennington	....	stunt performer
Paul Kulik	....	stunt performer
Derek Lea	....	stunt performer
Maurice Lee	....	stunt performer
Tony Lucken	....	stunt performer
Ray Nicholas	....	stunt performer
Brian Nickels	....	stunt performer (as Brian Sunny Nickels)
Gordon Seed	....	stunt performer
Matt Sherren	....	stunt performer
Andy Smart	....	stunt performer
Julian Spencer	....	stunt coordinator
Tony Van Silva	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Binnall	....	camera operator
Robert Binnall	....	director of photography: second unit
Freddie Bonfanti	....	electrician (as Frederico Bonfantil)
David Churchyard	....	additional loader (as Dave Churchyard)
Rachel Clark	....	clapper loader
Aidan Dungait	....	camera assistant
Jermaine Edwards	....	video assistant
James Foster	....	focus puller
Daniel Gadd	....	additional clapper loader (as Dan Gadd)
Chris Harris	....	additional still photographer
Chris Hewitt	....	assistant grip
Jamie Hicks	....	additional focus puller (as James Hicks)
Kevin Noble	....	electrician
Steve Potts	....	electrician
Dean Rogers	....	still photographer
Ravinder Singh	....	electrician
Chris Sowden	....	electrician (as Chris Sowdern)
Alan Walker	....	gaffer
Phil Whittaker	....	key grip
Barry Squires	....	assistant camera: selected assignments (uncredited)

Animation Department
Britt Dunse	....	animator: 2D

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Spencer Lammy	....	costume trainee
Jo Mapp	....	costume supervisor
Emma Rees	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Bernie Greiner	....	digital grader
Henning Hahn	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Louise Killin	....	post-production coordinator
Alyson Pengelly	....	post-production assistant
Jason Rayton	....	assistant editor
Gregor Wille	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Marie Ernst	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Simona Harrison	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Lol Hammond	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Louisa Dance	....	runner driver
Craig Hudson	....	driver: facilities
Ian Kitchingman	....	driver: camera truck

Other crew
Andi Aikman	....	caterer: Kendrick Caterers
Suzanne Alizart	....	representative: EM Media
Abigail Atkinson	....	assistant production coordinator (as Abi Atkinson)
Joe Barcham	....	epk director
Wahida Begum	....	publicity and marketing
Mark Birmingham	....	financial controller
Vicky Chapman	....	location assistant
Victoria Chapple	....	production assistant: Producers, Vertigo Films
Camilo Colaço	....	adr loop group
Dan Connolly	....	location manager
Danielle Dajani	....	representative: Aramid Capital Partners
Kate de la Grense	....	representative: Aramid Capital Partners
Mark Durkin	....	representative: EM Media
Yvonne Eastmond	....	production accountant (as Eve Eastmond)
Mark Fish	....	film consultant
Mochele Frankland	....	representative: Aramid Capital Partners
Malcolm Freeman	....	adr loop group
Anna Griffin	....	assistant: director
Ruth Halliday	....	clearances
Robbie Hamilton	....	adr loop group
Emma Hartley	....	development executive
Stephen Hole	....	head of finance: Vertigo Films
Andie Jackson	....	adr loop group (as Andi Jackson)
Emily Kg	....	management accountant: Ingenious Films
Aaron Koch	....	location runner
Anna Kolber	....	development assistant
David Louis Lankester	....	epk director (as Dave Lankester)
Emily Lappin	....	representative: EM Media
Dwayne Lawson	....	accountant: post-production
Kerensa Magnusson	....	script supervisor (as Kerensa Burton)
Kelly Marcel	....	script editor
Sally Maynard	....	additional location manager
George McKenzie	....	epk director
Joanne McLeish	....	adr loop group (as Joanna McLeish)
Michael Middleton-Downer	....	epk camera operator
Patrick Viktor Monroe	....	personal trainer: Tom Hrdy (as Patrick 'pnut' Munroe)
Jane Moore	....	distribution director: Ingenious Films
Andy Oliver	....	caterer: Screen Cuisine
Becky Paris	....	production runner
Christopher Pavey	....	floor runner (as Chris Pavey)
Tina Pawlik	....	production coordinator
Gustavo Portugal	....	adr loop group
Joe Pyle	....	story consultant: Charles Bronson life
Scott Rice	....	adr loop group
Carl Roberts	....	adr loop group
Jay Simpson	....	adr loop group
Dominic Stabb	....	in-house creative: epk editor
Yu-Fai Suen	....	representative: Aramid Capital Partners
Paul Van Carter	....	development assistant
Huberta Von Liel	....	operations manager: Vertigo Films
Joe Walker	....	crowd coordinator
Debbie Williams	....	representative: EM Media
Lesley Wise	....	legal and business affairs: Ingenious Films
Andy Booth	....	unit medic (uncredited)
Lee Clyne	....	health and safety advisor (uncredited)
Daniel Gulliver	....	location scout (uncredited)

Thanks
Laurence Brown	....	thanks
Dan Hodgett	....	thanks
Nick O'Hagan	....	thanks
Justin Shulman	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Vertigo Films (presents)
• Aramid Entertainment Fund (as Aramid Entertainment) (in association with)
• Str8jacket Creations (in association with)
• EM Media (in association with)
• 4DH Films
• Perfume Films (in association with)

Distributors

• Alliance Films (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Le Pacte (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Magnet Releasing (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Movie Inspired (2009) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Finland) (theatrical) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Vertigo Films (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2010) (Greece) (all media)
• Cinemax (2010) (Hungary) (TV)
• E1 Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• E1 Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Klock Worx Company, The (2012) (Japan) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (all media)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Movie Bank (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• SP Films (2012) (Argentina) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Saint (graphic special effects and titles)

Other Companies

• Aramid Capital Partners  funding
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Kendrick Caterers  catering
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Lee and Thompson Solicitors  legal services
• NHB  2k scanning
• PS-PostScript  post-production scripts
• Post Republic, The  post-production facilities
• Screen Cuisine  catering
• Spirit Studios  adr recording facilities
• Take 2 Film Services  camera equipment provided by
• Tonstudio Hanse Warns  foley stage

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violent and disturbing content, graphic nudity, sexuality and language

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | Ireland:18 | France:-12 | Australia:MA | USA:R (certificate #45505) | Germany:16 | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | New Zealand:R18 | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:R21 | Argentina:18

Filming Locations:

Great Central Railway, Leicestershire, England, UK

Company:

Vertigo Films

Trivia:

Tom Hardy put on 3 stone (42 lb) to play Charlie Bronson, doing 2500 press-ups a day for five weeks.

Goofs:

Continuity: (at around 1 min) The security guard in the background is visible on some scenes but does not appear on others. On certain transitions he not there, then a few seconds later he reappears.

Quotes:

Charles Bronson:[Desperately trying to escape from an insane asylum, Bronson meets a patient named John White who reveals that he is a child rapist. Disgusted by pedophiles and wanting to go back to prison, he unsuccessfully tries to kill White by strangulation before carried off by guards]
[Scene change, Bronson walks onto a theater stage set in his sub-conscious mind]
Charles Bronson:I would now like to reenact what I call, "When Murder Goes Wrong".
[Bronson as himself, right side facing audience]
Charles Bronson:When do I go back?
Charles Bronson (as nurse):[Bronson whips around, revealing stage make-up of a female nurse's face on his left side]
[effeminate voice and body language]
Charles Bronson (as nurse):Now now, Mr. Peterson, we aren't going to start up all that silliness again, are we?
Charles Bronson:[whips back around to Bronson, now aggravated] Listen, Nursey, I just wanna know when my trial is and when I head back to the slammer... 'right?
Charles Bronson (as nurse):[Nurse points at Bronson in a scolding manner] WRONG, Mr. Peterson! Now let's not play sillybuggers, eh? I'll just have to pop you in the botty with one of my special potions, mmm?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Zombieland/A Serious Man/Whip It (#1.30)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Your Silent Face

Not Hardy to sell!

As I was watching the first 30 minutes of the bio flick "Bronson", I thought it had a death wish or something. It does take a while to let this movie hit you. "Bronson" is based on the true story of who is called England's most notorious prisoner, that would be Michael Peterson better known by his alias Charlie Bronson. He has been incarcerated for 36 years, and 31 in solitary confinement. He never killed anyone, just was convicted of armed robbery a few times; but it was his feisty ways in the prisons and psych wards he did time in that got him all that time. Instead of trying to breakout, Bronson wanted to stay in prison but not exactly as a Solitary Man. He relished on physically brutalizing prison guards and other cellmates, not to mention taking a few as hostages. Bronson also had an artistic side that is also highlighted in Writer-Director's Nicolas Winding Refn movie. Refn's screenplay with Brock Norman Brock did escape the rules of viewer engagement from time to time with its extreme bizarreness, but somehow it boldly & bloody worked. Kudos goes to Refn for orchestrating those power-punching scenes where Charlie B. is refn so many up. Also, I must commend his direction of the comedic scenes of observing Charlie readapting to social civilization upon being released after his first "prison tour of duty". But "Bronson" would not be a brawny feature without the tour-de-performance of Tom Hardy. This Hardy Boy sure did not lack a punch with his dead-ringer Bronson transformation. It will be hard to knock out Hardy as a surefire grand actor for years to come. It is hard to fathom that this is the same actor who played The Cleaner in "Inception", two exemplary performances but diverse in so many ways. "Bronson" is worth putting in the time for no better reason just to witness Tom Hardy's extraordinaire hard work. So pass Go and matchup with "Bronson". ***** Excellent