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Bronson (2008)

R | | Action, Biography, Crime | 13 March 2009 (UK)
Bronson Poster
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2:11 | Trailer

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

Director:

Nicolas Winding Refn

Writers:

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

Stars:

Tom Hardy, Kelly Adams, Luing Andrews | See full cast & crew »
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Popularity
2,393 ( 121)
3 wins & 6 nominations. See more awards »

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Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hardy ... Charles Bronson / Michael Peterson
Kelly Adams ... Irene
Luing Andrews ... Hysterical Screw
Katy Barker ... Julie
Gordon Brown Gordon Brown ... Screw
Amanda Burton ... Charlie's Mum
Mark Devenport Mark Devenport ... Nurse 1 (as Mark Davenport)
Paul Donnelly Paul Donnelly ... Screw
Andrew Forbes Andrew Forbes ... Charlie's Dad
Jon House Jon House ... Webber
Matt King ... Paul Daniels
James Lance ... Phil
Holly Lucas Holly Lucas ... Young Man
Juliet Oldfield ... Alison
Jonny Phillips ... Prison Governor
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

In 1974, a hot-headed 19 year old named Michael Peterson decided he wanted to make a name for himself and so, with a homemade sawn-off shotgun and a head full of dreams he attempted to rob a post office. Swiftly apprehended and originally sentenced to seven years in jail, Peterson has subsequently been behind bars for 34 years, 30 of which have been spent in solitary confinement. During that time, Michael Petersen, the boy, faded away and 'Charles Bronson,' his superstar alter ego, took center stage. Inside the mind of Bronson - a scathing indictment of celebrity culture. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

male full frontal nudity | prison | sadism | art teacher | mustache | See All (196) »

Taglines:

The Man. The Myth. The Celebrity. See more »

Genres:

Action | Biography | Crime | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent and disturbing content, graphic nudity, sexuality and language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

UK | Cayman Islands

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 2009 (UK) See more »

Also Known As:

Бронсон See more »

Filming Locations:

Great Central Railway, Leicestershire, England, UK See more »
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Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£258,360 (United Kingdom), 15 March 2009, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,940, 9 October 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$104,792, 27 December 2009
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vertigo Films, Aramid Entertainment Fund, Str8jacket Creations See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS (uncredited)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Jason Statham was originally asked to play Charles Bronson but scheduling conflicts prevented him from appearing in this film. See more »

Goofs

At (11:00) The tutor asks Charles "What's the matter, Charlie?" But in this stage of the story Charles Bronson still had his original name Michael Peterson. He had not yet changed his name to Charles Bronson. See more »

Quotes

Charles Bronson: You don't want to be trapped inside with me sunshine. Inside, I'm somebody nobody wants to fuck with do you understand? I am Charlie Bronson, I am Britain's most violent prisoner.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Sean Bradley Reviews: Dunkirk (2017) See more »

Soundtracks

La vergine degli angeli
From Verdi's La Forza del Destino
Written by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala (as Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan)
Conducted by Riccardo Muti
Licensed courtesy of EMI Records Limited
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What song is played when?
See more »

User Reviews

 
Watch it for Hardy
20 November 2011 | by Leofwine_draca – See all my reviews

The real-life story of Britain's toughest prisoner, and not a film I would choose to watch – except when it comes to the casting of the lead actor. Tom Hardy, who I've noticed cropping up more and more in recent years, gives a tour-de-force performance as a psychotic inmate and man to whom violence is a way of life. His eerie voice, hulking frame and dead eyes all combine perfectly to make him one of cinema's most memorable villains in recent years, and with most of the scenes consisting of him speaking monologues in solitary cells, the film belongs to him.

Which is good, because the story isn't up to much. It's a loose dramatisation of the life of Michael Peterson, a man who robbed a post office and ended up becoming Charles Bronson, one of the most famous convicts of all time. To be honest, the events aren't all that interesting, and in other hands the continuous brawls with prison officers could become repetitive. Thank Heaven then for the presence of Nicolas Winding Refn (VALHALLA RISING) as director. This is a guy who understands cinema and the beauty of cinema, and he makes the film intensely watchable as a result. BRONSON looks a thing of beauty, even if that beauty is stark, brutal and minimalistic.
11 of 13 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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