In Harry Brown, we have a movie that really does not bring anything new to the typical formula that is found in most revenge thrillers. A guy gets wronged in one way or another, and he decides to do something about it vigilante style. We've seen it before many, many times. So what do you do when you don't have a whole lot of originality? You get a very good and convincing actor to play the lead role. That's exactly what we get with Brown. The plot is nothing new. The script is decent, but nothing spectacular. And the direction never really seems completely sure of itself. But most of that really doesn't matter here. The bottom line is Michael Caine is brilliant. He plays this character in convincing fashion, and that is what makes this film much better than it really ought to be. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if he is awarded with an Oscar nomination come early next year. And he really didn't have to do the work completely on his own. The supporting cast is effective, albeit not very well developed. Emily Mortimer is especially good as the detective who is willing to put her own life in danger in search of the truth. It should be noted though that the film does unravel a bit during the latter part of the second half, and there's a twist at the conclusion that feels a bit forced. However, thanks to Caine, even those hiccups aren't enough to derail the film entirely. During what I personally believe has been a disappointing summer movie season, you could certainly do much worse than Harry Brown.
Review of Harry Brown
