The Film
Vigilante films are typically going to be compared to Death Wish, and there is little getting round that fact. But with Harry Brown - starring Michael Caine in the title role - this is probably a fair and apt comparison. Both tell the tale of former military veterans who are pushed way beyond the typical breaking point, where the "hero" takes the law into his own hands racking up a body count, whilst the viewer is left with the question of whether it was really such a bad thing.
Given the setting of the film, and the renaissance that many American cities have seen in the past decade, not to mention the hype of low gun crime in the U.K., it is almost shocking to see the world that Mr. Brown resides in. It certainly seems way off the beaten path that most American audiences (or tourists for that matter) would expect to see in the U.K., and even further from the almost "loveable" gangsters that Guy Ritchie and his imitators have created. Michael Caine does a good job stepping into the Charles Bronson-styled role, making him worth rooting for, even if his motives are questionable.
For another take on Harry Brown, read David Kempler's review.
The Picture
Yet another Brit film with washed out colors, but in this case it is to be expected as the life has been drained from Brown and his pal Leonard (David Bradley). There is a constant haze in the housing project where the title character lives and this makes for a soft picture, but it hardly detracts from the film. In fact, it may enhance it. The 2.35:1 presentation is free of any visual flaws, but Caine certainly could use a bit of sun, as could Emily Mortimer or just about any of the characters. The visuals do make the blacks stand out in the evening scenes. A Technicolor film this is not, it looks dreary, but then, that seems to be the point.
The Sound
For Harry Brown life is slow and monotonous, and the audio is mostly the same - until it isn't. When something happens, it is loud and clear just as it would be in life. The sudden gunshots, screams in the night and other sounds of intense actions ring true as well, thanks to the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray. The film makes good use of the ambient sounds as well, such as the almost so subtle you don't hear sounds of rain in one scene and the hum of grow lights in another. About the only complaint is that the musical cues seemingly rush to a crescendo at times, which is both distracting in a few instances and actually is so over-the-top that it actually destroys the tension.
The Extras
The extras come up short, plain and simple. Other than a commentary track with star Michael Caine, director Daniel Barber and producer Kris Thykier, and a few deleted scenes this one lacks any notable extras. It is a BD-Live disc and features Sony's movieIQ+sync, but we'd have hoped for a bit more.
Final Thoughts
It is hard not to think of other vigilante films, but unlike recent outings such as The Brave One, Harry Brown doesn't pull punches with unbelievable plot twists. It is easy to see where it is going, without being completely predictable.
Product Details
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