If you took the always perplexed neighbour Mr Wilson, added a touch of Dirty Harry and pinch of Jigsaw from the Saw series, you might get close to the character of Harry Brown. I said might.
The always-awesome Sir Michael Caine plays the title character in this dark and twisty British film from director Daniel Barber. Harry Brown is an elderly ex-serviceman and widower who lives in a council estate in South London. The highlight of his day is playing chess with close friend Leonard, another pensioner who complains about being tormented by the gangs in the neighbourhood. A few days later Leonard is viciously murdered by one of the gangs after trying to confront them and although some of the thugs are arrested; they are released after refusing to answer questions.
Frustrated by the police and heartbroken by the loss of his friend and the deterioration of his neighbourhood, Harry Brown recalls his skills as a former Royal Marine and Northern Ireland veteran and becomes somewhat of a vigilante. Soon he's hunting down and killing drug traffickers, murderers, arms dealers, rapist and picking off the gang members one by one.
Overseas critics desperate to associate on thing with another have called this Britain's answer to Gran Tarino. Harry Brown exceeds Clint Eastwood's film on almost every conceivable level. After his Oscar-nominated short film The Tonto Woman, Barber has done what so many film makers fail to do and made an impressive feature film debut. From a faux-documentary opening scene which portrays the violent realism of gang life to lingering close-ups with a muted colour palette to foreground Brown's isolation, Barber really knows what he's doing.
It's no wonder this film has been so well received by the British public, as it is a very poignant and socially relevant film that commentates on a disenfranchised youth population that exists in the country at the moment. Technically and emotionally the film is flawless, with superb performances. Harry Brown is the role Michael Caine was born to play and it feels as if his whole career has been building towards this role.
However, the only drawback is in his bid to make the film as gritty and realistic as possible, Barber has sacrificed pace at times. Those expecting an exciting action film will not be disappointed, but they should be warned this is a very dark thriller with soul. This is an important film and one that achieves its aim of generating discussion. Harry Brown is released in cinemas this Thursday, May 20 and stay posted for my exclusive interview with director Daniel Barber next week (he’s hilarious).