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| Sam Riley as Pinkie (centre) in Brigton Rock |
Gangs! Murder! Good vs. evil! Awesome suits! You can tell why Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock has been made into a film twice over.
The film centres around Pinkie, a small time gangster with delusions of grandeur. After seeing the murder of his father figure and gang leader, Kite, Pinkie decides that he’s the best candidate to take over Kite’s racket and sets about trying to gain control of the protection of Brighton’s bookies. During this time he reaps bloody revenge on Fred Hale, the guy that murdered his boss and has dealings with Rose, witness to the last few minutes of Hale’s life, tea girl and later on, Pinkie lover. The pair fall into a love affair, although Pinkie has obvious disdain for naïve Rose, and he sets about marrying her as quickly as possible so she is unable to give evidence in court for all his misbehavings. Add Ida, tea shop owner and friend of Hale (and the good to Pinkie’s evil) and you have yourself a recipe for disaster.
It’s hard to give a review of Brighton Rock without being carried away by the whole remake argument (though it’s important to add that Joffe didn’t want Brighton Rock seen as a remake, but that his film was homage to the book). Granted BR 2010 differs in many ways from the 1947 original, especially in the timeframe arena (a change from 1930s to the 1960s), but the newer version has a lot of charm and I don’t think it deserves to be slated as much as it has been. That said, hauling the setting into the 1960s doesn’t sit quite right. The two gangs aren’t part of the Mods/Rockers argument, which considering the importance of the fight at the time seems a bit strange. Surely they’d have some sort of opinion on it at least?
The film centres around Pinkie, a small time gangster with delusions of grandeur. After seeing the murder of his father figure and gang leader, Kite, Pinkie decides that he’s the best candidate to take over Kite’s racket and sets about trying to gain control of the protection of Brighton’s bookies. During this time he reaps bloody revenge on Fred Hale, the guy that murdered his boss and has dealings with Rose, witness to the last few minutes of Hale’s life, tea girl and later on, Pinkie lover. The pair fall into a love affair, although Pinkie has obvious disdain for naïve Rose, and he sets about marrying her as quickly as possible so she is unable to give evidence in court for all his misbehavings. Add Ida, tea shop owner and friend of Hale (and the good to Pinkie’s evil) and you have yourself a recipe for disaster.
It’s hard to give a review of Brighton Rock without being carried away by the whole remake argument (though it’s important to add that Joffe didn’t want Brighton Rock seen as a remake, but that his film was homage to the book). Granted BR 2010 differs in many ways from the 1947 original, especially in the timeframe arena (a change from 1930s to the 1960s), but the newer version has a lot of charm and I don’t think it deserves to be slated as much as it has been. That said, hauling the setting into the 1960s doesn’t sit quite right. The two gangs aren’t part of the Mods/Rockers argument, which considering the importance of the fight at the time seems a bit strange. Surely they’d have some sort of opinion on it at least?
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| Sam Riley in Brighton Rock |
The ending is different too, but is the way that Greene wanted the original to end, so in that respect you’ve got to give it credit. In terms of cinematography, the film is shot brilliantly, even if there is some very obvious juxtaposition (though not as bad as that in the recent Mr. Nice). The sky is always overcast and dull, a change from the book, and the crashing of the waves seems to echo the turmoil of the main characters. Colour does present itself at points however, highlighting Rose’s face when she’s in the church and at the altar next to Pinkie and hammering home the idea of innocence good vs. evil and redemption, which are the mainstays of the story.
Sam Riley, who has been most previously noted for his role as Ian Curtis in Control, makes for uncomfortable watching at points; such was the forcefulness of his character and the power with which he played it. His eyes seem to lack all emotion and bore into Rose with a startling intensity. Andrea Riseborough, who plays Rose, seems very comfortable in the role and plays innocent tea girl and gangster’s wife with equal gusto, however, I don’t think she comes off as innocent as portrayed in the book, becoming more of a pragmatist than an innocent, which works very well to add an extra element to the film. The rest of the cast also put in an admirable performance, with Helen Mirren and Andy Serkis providing their usual high standard.
The film as a whole, regardless of what the critics say, was enjoyable. Go there, watch it with no preconceptions and come out feeling like you’ve watched an enjoyable gangster type thriller. And then never eat a stick of Brighton rock again.
Sam Riley, who has been most previously noted for his role as Ian Curtis in Control, makes for uncomfortable watching at points; such was the forcefulness of his character and the power with which he played it. His eyes seem to lack all emotion and bore into Rose with a startling intensity. Andrea Riseborough, who plays Rose, seems very comfortable in the role and plays innocent tea girl and gangster’s wife with equal gusto, however, I don’t think she comes off as innocent as portrayed in the book, becoming more of a pragmatist than an innocent, which works very well to add an extra element to the film. The rest of the cast also put in an admirable performance, with Helen Mirren and Andy Serkis providing their usual high standard.
The film as a whole, regardless of what the critics say, was enjoyable. Go there, watch it with no preconceptions and come out feeling like you’ve watched an enjoyable gangster type thriller. And then never eat a stick of Brighton rock again.
Brighton Rock is showing at Broadway cinema until Thursday 17 February
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