Legend

(Brian Helgeland/2015/France)

A depiction of the Kray Twins, Ronnie and Reggie, tracing their story from small to big time London gangsters, this film doesn’t really add anything to a well known tale or tease out the characters to any extent. There are a couple of reasons for this but the main one is the fact it’s all related via voiceover from Reggie’s girlfriend and eventual wife, Rose, played by Emily Browning. Placing the viewer in the mind of Rose only allows a straight recounting of events and her voiceover does not delve into motivations or reasons for the quirks and psychotic kinks of the brothers in question. As a result it’s not a very insightful film but the centrepiece and one thing that keeps you engaged is Tom Hardy’s dual performance as both Ronnie and Reggie. It is amazing how he deploys the quiet, suave yet latently aggressive charm of Reggie and plays off the more overt, unstable and wilfully violent Ronnie. He even manages to physically transform himself for each twin, Reggie being leaner and more clean cut than the buff and boorish Ronnie. Browning is also excellent as the misfortunate Rose. Legend is worth watching for Hardy and Browning's acting alone.

(2.5/5)