Harry Brown

This film addresses the very present-day issues that are violent behaviour and injustice in our allegedly civilised nation. Sir Michael Caine plays a retired Royal Marine living in "The Elephant and Castle" district of South London. To some degree Gran Torino will spring to mind as a similar film, but there all similarities will end as the Clint Eastwood film confronts the issue from the perspective of racism, while the realism of Harry Brown cannot but make us aware of our flawed individualistic society.

The casting is wonderful and the thugs that petrify the local community are utterly believable. But from start to finish this is Caine's movie. He plays his part with enormous suffering. We feel genuinely sorry for him as, his wife and, then, his only best mate Leonard Attwoll dies leaving him quietly tormented and then incredibly angry as he learns that his best friend's death was contemptuously filmed on a mobile phone to the complement of inconsiderate laughter.

The brutality of this movie is scorching and really appalling at times. The riot scene is totally believable, which is difficult to achieve on a fairly low budget film but positively hits the right chords. It plays a significant role in undermining the effectiveness of the police and presenting them as the ineffective and uncaring force that director, Daniel Barber was keen to highlight.

On top of this, living in a city of chaos, drugs, juvenile and capital crime, Harry is visited by the police informing him of Leonard Attwoll's murder and that the likelihood of bringing anyone to trial was next to implausible.

Filled with fear, rage and despair Harry finds himself filling his anger with a quest for vengeance, and decides to keep track of the street gangs by posing as a businessman trading in illegal guns.

This story depicts the critical environment in which the unlucky few attempt to survive the anger, the fear and the injustice, which predictably feed the criminal minds creating anarchy and pillaging our human race. This film is not only worthy of an Oscar, but most importantly, worth your attention. If you enjoy high-quality cinema and an idealistic debate, then you will most definitively appreciate this genuine perspective on humanity!

This is quite simply one of the best films Ive seen in a long time!
Set on a housing estate over run with the ever present feral youth of today, this film shows what many people would love to do!

Michael Caine is excellent as Harry, an ex marine who is pushed to his wits end by the young thugs who have taken over a housing estate. Afraid to use a subway which the youths use as a hang out, Harry is forced to make a longer journey to the hospital where his poorly wife is a patient. The delay leads to him arriving at the hospital only to be told his wife has passed away. The subsequent murder of Harry's elderly friend becomes the final straw and, realising that the police arent doing a thing, Harry takes matters into his own hands.

Brutal, violent and shocking in places (Harry's interrogation of a young thug he's kidnapped had me wincing and cheering in equal measures) this film is all the more enjoyable because deep down you want Harry to hurt the people who have caused so much misery to innocent people.

Along the lines of Gran Torino but way more violent. I'd advise anyone to watch this film. Worth more than 5 stars!!

What a fantastic film this is Michael Caine is superb in the title role of Harry Brown the average guy who is unfortunate enough to have to live on one of these run down council estates that are run by drug dealers and gun wielding youths.
After the killing of his best friend by these kids that think they rule the streets and the police basically telling him the killers will walk free Harry feels he as no other option but to teach these kids a lesson and dispatch some vigilante style justice.
This film really is amazing and touches some of the major issues that trouble our country these days kids that think they rule the world with guns and drugs one line in this film sums it up and the world we live in now Your not in Northern Ireland now Harry. Harry replies i know thats what scares me at least they killed people for a reason a belief these kids kill people just for something to do.
Michael Caine is simply amazing in this film and i loved the entire film it was great from start to finish and is one of the best British made films i have seen for sometime.

Michael Caine plays this very straight indeed. They could easily have made His actions look faster and more aggressive and His retorts more cutting but thankfully they resisted. Because Sir Michael just plays an old fella who happened to know a thing or two back in the day. Like most of the older generation, they do not boast or go on about their war time experiences and I was touched when Harry Brown said "You can't ask me that".
When Len asks Him if He had killed anyone in the war.
I feel that most of the bad characters could be based on any of todays headlines and therefore this film is entirely credible and not trying to cash in on any shock factor.
It's a shame that we dont get to know our older generation and a bigger shame that we don't know our younger one.
Nice to see a film without any American accents and not a cockney gangster in sight...5 stars for that alone.

This what we want to see - brilliant acting throughout, I wanted to stand up and cheer. It shows the scum there is fight in the oldies. I am 60 next month and have just seen some Halloween hoodies off with a broom, no gun. Well done Sir Michael - theres fight in the old dog yet.