Bronson (2009)
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A volatile prisoner recounts his life of violence and defiance within the British penal system.
The story
Michael Peterson, a man known as Charles Bronson, narrates his life as one of Britain's most violent criminals. The narrative unfolds through a mix of direct-to-camera addresses in prison garb and performances in a vaudeville-style theater. The story traces his journey from his first conviction in 1974 to his various periods of incarceration and the escalating incidents of violence that defined his reputation. As he recounts his history, the film explores his defiance against authority and the circumstances that led to his status as a notorious figure in the British justice system.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Michael Peterson narrates his life, transitioning between a prison cell and a vaudeville theater. He recounts his 1974 conviction for robbing a post office and his subsequent time in a psychiatric hospital where he was drugged. In 1978, he attempted to escape by assaulting a detainee. After being released in 1987 following a 1982 rooftop protest, he briefly reunited with family before being rebranded as 'Charles Bronson' by a former cellmate. After a brief period of freedom and a failed romance, he was returned to prison. In 1993, he took a librarian hostage, and in 1999, he engaged in a staged artistic standoff with an art teacher, painting his body black and creating a human still-life. The film concludes by revealing he has spent 30 years in solitary confinement and remains Britain's most dangerous prisoner.
- First release year
- 2008
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Nicolas Winding Refn
- Writers
- Brock Norman Brock · writer; Nicolas Winding Refn · writer
- Cast and characters
- Tom Hardy · Michael Peterson / Charles Bronson; Matt King · Paul Daniels; James Lance · Phil Danielson; Amanda Burton · Charlie's mother; Kelly Adams · Irene Peterson; Juliet Oldfield · Alison; Jonathan Phillips · the Prison Governor; Mark Powley · Prison Officer Andy Love; Hugh Ross · Uncle Jack; Luing Andrews · Prison Officer; Joe Tucker · John White; Gordon Brown · Screw
- Genres
- biographical; prison; black comedy
- Themes
- violence; identity; institutional control
- Tone and mood
- darkly humorous; gritty
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; prison drama; true story
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based on the life of Michael Peterson (Charles Bronson).
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the lead performance, writing, and direction, though it was noted for its violence.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 75% · scale: percentage · review count: 80; Metacritic · score: 71 · scale: 100 · review count: 22
- Production trivia
- Tom Hardy met the real Charles Bronson before filming.; The film shares stylistic similarities with Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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