Review: Harry Brown (2009)

Harry Brown (Michael Caine) is an elderly ex-marine who lives a lonely life in a decaying estate in London. After suffering the loss of his wife who has been in a coma for some time, he plays chess with his best friend Len (David Bradley) at a local pub. Len tells Harry about the harassment he’s been suffering from the lads who post dog-poo and lit newspapers through his letter box and describes how fearful the experience has made him feel. He shows Harry a bayonet that he carries to protect himself and his desperation has been made worse by the fact that the police are unable to provide any form of assistance.

Shortly after, Detective Alice Frampton (Emily Mortimer) informs Harry that Len has been killed by one of the local gangs and then, on a second visit adds that it might not be possible to make a murder charge stand because the gang could argue that they acted in self-defence as Len was carrying his bayonet. The police interview some gang members including their leader, Noel Winters (Ben Drew), but soon have to release them again. Following Len’s funeral, Harry’s threatened at knife-point by a thug who tries to rob him. On the spur of the moment, his old marine training takes over and he kills the assailant. This is a significant turning point because since he’d completed his military service in Northern Ireland, Harry had kept his most distasteful memories buried deep inside him. This sudden resurrection of his old skills and instincts then leads him on a violent trail of vengeance.

This film feels very much like having all the best elements from classics like Death Wish, Gran Torino, Taxi Driver and Death Sentence all intertwined into one! First-time director Daniel Barber’s use of hand-held cameras and editing make some of the action sequences very compelling and the pacing of the early part of the film is successful in enabling Harry Brown’s lifestyle and character to be introduced in a way which is both simple and effective. Ben Drew did a brilliant job as the detestable gang leader who exemplifies perfectly the way that most people see thugs like Noel Winters, who’s completely devoid of any remorse, decency, respect or concern for the victims of his actions.