Bronson

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, Bronson follows Tom Hardy’s title figure as his pugilistic ways land him in prison for most of his adult life. Filmmaker Refn, armed with his and Brock Norman Brock’s screenplay, delivers an audacious biopic that rarely, if ever, unfolds as one might’ve anticipated, as the movie boasts a decidedly (and distinctly) unconventional approach that’s reflected in its various attributes – with the recurring emphasis on the protagonist’s imaginary vaudeville show certainly exemplifying Refn’s far-from-common modus operandi. It’s clear, too, that Bronson benefits substantially from a perpetually electrifying and thoroughly commanding turn by Hardy, and there’s little doubt that the actor’s striking, captivating work here proves effective at compensating for a somewhat less-than-engrossing midsection (ie the thin narrative results in a few admittedly repetitive, meandering stretches). By the time the compelling third act rolls around, however, Bronson has confirmed its place as an impressively bold endeavor that contains, at its core, an absolutely spellbinding central performance.

*** out of ****