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Harry Brown (2009)

Director: Daniel Barber

Time Out rating

Average user rating

59 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

I ended up feeling a bit sorry for Michael Caine by the time this hateful vigilante flick set in modern-day London came to a close. Did the old boy know what he was getting into? The funny thing is that ‘Harry Brown’, bar a violent prologue, begins fairly soberly, even reflectively, as if the makers were thinking more of ‘All or Nothing’ than ‘Death Wish’. Harry (Caine, below) is a widower who shuffles around a crumbling housing estate with only fellow army vet Leonard (David Bradley) for company. But life changes when Leonard falls prey to the hoodies who linger in the local underpass. When distraught Harry gets short shrift from the police (badly written, and poorly played by Emily Mortimer and Charlie Creed-Miles), he decides to take the law into his own hands and drives this already wobbly wagon straight into hysterical genre territory. By now, all you can do is sigh, laugh and try not to get upset at the stupidity of it all.

Although it takes a while before ‘Harry Brown’ shows its true colours, there’a a vulgar whiff from the off: in the first seconds of this debut from director Daniel Barber (who, technically, shows a fair amount of talent) we watch grainy mobile footage of a kid on a scooter as he confronts a young mum and shoots her dead before he comes a cropper himself on the road. It’s horrible stuff, but there must be a good reason for it, surely?

As it turns out, this scene is a random first glimpse of a warped portrait of our city that’s straight out of the Daily Mail – a place where your granny might get shot, stabbed or battered at every turn. It’s also the first hint of the sick ideology of the film, in which ill-informed pessimism is bolstered by childish ideas of revenge. There’s always a punishment around the corner, not only to avenge bad behaviour but also to give the makers sneaky licence to indulge in violence. As narrative – and moral – maths go, this is a cooking of the books that sidesteps any smart commentary on real life.

Author: Dave Calhoun

Time Out London Issue 2047: November 12-18, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Liam said...

Posted on Apr 10 2012 08:54 Starts reasonably enough, some poor acting aside (even Emily Mortimer is on autopilot) but descends into cliché and silliness on about the hour mark. I had to check to see if Guy Ritchie wasn't responsible for it. A waste of Caine and completely insane to mention it in the same sentence as Get Carter.

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WindsorNaz said...

Posted on Mar 04 2011 15:11 Seems most people feel like I do ..its a great flick.
Many exciting parts. Not a typical shoot em up
and far fetched hollywood movie. I have lived in
areas just like that. I feel safer in detroit than a british
low income estate.

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Deec said...

Posted on Feb 21 2011 20:52 I really enjoyed this film. Loved Michael Caine. The film shows there are many groups in society who are "above the law" and many groups in society that the law feel are "above the law".

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Are You Kidding ME said...

Posted on Dec 06 2010 12:35 The "professional" review sucks. He says he felt sorry for Michael Caine blah blah blah. Whats a douche. The thugs are all great. The area is gross. I truly felt like I lived there and was glad I dont . The pompous british cops reminded are sickening. I watch this movie weekly. I love it.

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Thomas Noctor said...

Posted on Dec 05 2010 17:58 I hate the 'this film is predictable' stance. So are true stories, what's your point? Excellent movie in which the cowards in hoods that only attack in numbers, get what they deserve! Caine is excellent, this is probably a bit too much for 'Transformer' fans, great gritty film, better than the funny 'Gran Torino'! Well worth a watch!

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TommyBond said...

Posted on Oct 18 2010 13:26 All in all a very good film - playing on fears and stereotypes and realities. Obviously slightly exagerated for film purposes (guns, while becoming more common on the streets, aren't that common -YET)but everyone who knows a part of town/estate like it will say they got it spot-on. For those that don't think it's a realistic portrayal then I am envious of the bubble wrapped world you must live in. Only downer for me was the two main coppers characters - Emily Mortimer looked like she was going to burst into tears at any moment and her partner had crappy dialogue (except for one memorable rant when they are alone in the police station - which was very funny AND captured the mood of what a lot of people think about hereditary criminal families)

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John Cooper said...

Posted on Sep 08 2010 15:06 The film is a valid and authentic examination of the London's dark underbelly. Though it paints a grim
picture of life on council estates , eschewing the cosy
world of chavdom in `Shameless`, it paints a picture of urban despair which is all to
regconizable in Britain's inner-cities. The Time Out
reviewer has obviously spent too long in the Wine Bars
of Islington, where you're not going to see much in the way of teenage violence . whereas if you venture only a mile away in the concrete wasteland of the North Islington estates
around North Rd ( where Ben Kinsella was stabbed to death ) it's a different story . . . .I don't agree that
films should have moral themes reflecting the ideology
of the left-wing intelligentsia who manage to keep themselves at a safe distance from the violent thuggery
which teachers, policemen and social workers come across every day. . . . . The film doesn't recommend
vigilante violence as an alternative to ASBOs . . . .it's more subtle than that . . .. It's also gripping and entertaining . . Recommended.

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Mike said...

Posted on Aug 01 2010 17:18 As a General Practitioner working in some of the most deprived areas of the country, the so called "hysterical vignette of a nu-Britain that only exists in the pages of the Daily Mail" is unfortunately not strictly accurate anymore. We are increasingly seeing evidence true to the central theme of this film - as unpleasant as it may be to accept. I have heard countless stories of the elderly made hostage in their own homes. I think there is more of an issue here than some may recognise - however I understand that our affluence often protects us from some social realities.

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SamWise said...

Posted on Jul 17 2010 00:11 Caine just about holds this together, but there's some serious pasting over of a very weak script with wanton gore and OTT violence. It ends up being a very poor film for me. And I'm sorry, but I've seen more believable police acting on The Bill. Starts quite promisingly (if a little bleak) but ends up being completely absurd. I can't understand all the glowing reviews for this, we must have been watching different films (unless your idea of a good film is a pointless council estate voilence-orgy)

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canada eh said...

Posted on May 26 2010 12:31 I love the fancy comments. Siskel and Ebert types putting it all in perspective. I guess we can all have an opinion. Like it or hate it , the movie at least reflects how nasty some parts of England are. I lived there , glad I got out. My neighbourhood in Liverpool was nicknamed Cannibal Farm. Long history of nastiness there. Living across from Detroit now , I realize why guns are needed there. How dare these hooligans abuse old people.
I loved the movie , very heartfelt.

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Luke said...

Posted on May 26 2010 12:22 A solid performance from Caine does little to help the weak script and one dimensional characters. I'm surpised at reviewers who seem to think this film is unique and original, it has all been done before. This said, there are some moments when the gang culture depicted seems quite realistic, but the use of guns is very exaggerated. It isn't LA, and guns are still few and far between in comparison. Overall the film is full of cliches and cringingly bad dialogue ( especially from the two police officers) If this is the best British film in years, then we should worry.

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ollie b said...

Posted on May 12 2010 20:28 sometimes i think critics get too caught up in the picking faults in films and forget that films are meant to be enjoyed. this is a fairly original and enjoyable film

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canada review said...

Posted on Apr 01 2010 03:56 To each his own I guess. This is a fine movie and works well . Always a naysayer out there. England looks worse than Detroit

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Mark said...

Posted on Mar 27 2010 01:36 Anyone who has seen interviews with Caine, will know that he understood exactly what he was 'getting into'.
This movie is a raw and thoughtful warning of the direction we are heading in our inner cities, showing the challenges for law and order battling the legacy of grotesquely demeaning living spaces and the anger and helplessness of the young with nowhere to go.
Great soundtrack; brilliant performances from fresh young actors; Sean Harris (Stretch - dealer) especially gives a memorably chilling performance...
Watch it, enjoy and ponder!

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Dan in enfield said...

Posted on Mar 19 2010 09:34 Watched harry brown last night and it made a lot if memories come back such as my brothers friend Paul erahon getting stabbed to death just because the other lad was bored. I was involved in gangs and fair enough the whole gun toting thing is exagerated but only slightly in the fact that everone seemed to have one like Romeo and Juliet. I've seen shootings, stabbings and extreme violence. What no one mentions on these reviews is the connection between sid and Noel and how sid is the main reason everything goin to pot because he is using the young ones to do his dirty work. I dare anyone who reads this to go to catt hall underpass in a Friday night and not wish they had a weapon. I used to be a part of this culture and spent three years in prison for knife crimes. If anybody comes on here and slates someone that's Trying to improve themselves is an idiot because that why a lot of kids don't try, because people hold stereotypes about them being stupid. Before I went to prison I gained a BTEC national in sports sciences with distinction but didn't know to do with it. The portrayal of gang culture is spot on and when the estate blows up in the end is probably what wiuld happen if you tried doin mass arrests at beumont estate in leyton. If your a carrot munchin idiot writing reviews on a subject you have no experience in ur a mug. I couldn't comment on the realism of a political drama because I have no knowledge of it so you shouldn't comment on it untill you move into an estate and get attacked, then you will see the realism behind the cinematography.

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