Bronson (2008)

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

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

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.

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Plot Keywords:

male full frontal nudity | prison | sadism | art teacher | mustache | 

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Taglines:

34 Years in prison. 30 in solitary confinement. Loving every minute.

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Genres:

Action | Biography | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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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.

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Quotes

Charles Bronson: You shouldn't mess with boys that are bigger than you.

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Connections

Spoofed in Brad Neely's Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio: For Aretha (2016)

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Soundtracks

Nacht
from Strauss' Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64
Written by Richard Strauss
© Copyright by F.E.C. Leuckart Musikverlag, Munich/Germany
Licenses by Peter Editiion Limited, London
Performed by David Zinman
All rights reserved. International copyright secured
Licensed courtesy of EMI Records Limited

User Reviews

Watch it for Hardy

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.

Details

Country:

UK Cayman Islands

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

13 March 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Bronson

Filming Locations:

Great Central Railway, Leicestershire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$230,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,940, 11 October 2009

Gross USA:

$104,979

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,260,712

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vertigo Films, Aramid Entertainment Fund, Str8jacket Creations

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS (uncredited)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1