Legend (2015) [DVD]

Awesome movie about British gangsters

Legend was a really interesting movie. Tom Hardy plays both of the Kray twins, and he does an amazing job making each brother feel like a completely different person. The way he switches between the calm, charming Reggie and the unpredictable, intense Ronnie is honestly the best part of the film. The story itself is a little slow in spots, but it’s still engaging, especially if you like crime dramas based on real events. The cinematography and style really capture the 1960s London vibe, and the soundtrack was a nice bonus. It’s not a fast-paced gangster movie, but more of a character study with a gritty edge. If you’re a fan of Tom Hardy or true crime stories, it’s definitely worth watching.

How Tom Hardy wasn't nominated for best lead AND supporting actor after viewing Legend, I have no idea. I also own the movie The Krays, starring the (real life) Kemp brothers as Reggie and Ronnie Kray and I feel that both movies are well done, yet show very different views of the Krays and their story. The Krays (movie) focused a great deal on the brother's mother and aunt's influence in shaping their lives early on. Legend however, barely acknowledged their mother at all (which I found a bit odd). The Krays (movie) focused a great deal on both brother's "activities" within the firm. Legend meanwhile, focused more on Reggie and his relationship with his wife Francis (and the effects of that marriage on the brother's relationship). In Legend, the movie is narrated by Francis, so I suppose it makes sense that it would be slanted a bit more towards Reg. Something I found interesting in the movie The Krays, Ronnie (played by Gary Kemp) is portrayed as openly homosexual, in complete control of his mental faculties but with a hair trigger temper and very prone to violence. Reggie (played by Martin Kemp) is portrayed (I thought) as taking a bit more of a backseat and letting Ronnie run a good deal of the show. Conversely, Legend shows Reggie as the brains behind the firm and struggling to keep Ronnie and his schizophrenia under some sort of control. Legend also addresses Ronnie's open homosexuality and "deviant, men only" parties that included several top politicians of the day. Unlike The Krays (movie) Legend delves into Ronnie's documented mental illness and how it added to the violent circus that followed him around (and ultimately was his undoing). The Krays movie never indicates that Ronnie has anything more than a violent temper. Both movies are top notch, but I'd have to categorize The Krays as perhaps being a touch more "Hollywood" in the way some things were glossed over. I did think the story about their mother (Violet) and aunt Rose was an important aspect of influence in their childhood. Tom Hardy was truly amazing the way he was able to portray both men as looking alike, yet managing to define them as individuals. There are still things that neither movie got right, or just plain omitted, but I don't think either movie glorified the brothers in the way that say The Godfather glorified the mafia. I would recommend Legend (and The Krays) to anyone interested in the Kray brothers, just remember to take it all with a grain or two of salt. One thing I wish the powers that be would rectify is the annoying fact that the movie The Krays STILL is NOT available on DVD in region 1 areas (North America and Canada). If you want to discover that cinema gem, you must have access to a VHS tape player (one of the few VHS tapes I held onto when I switched over to DVD). Somebody needs to get that movie on disc!!!

This movie was very well executed. All the cinematic bits that help a movie are there, the production value was very good, but was able to keep itself from becoming obtrusive which can sometimes happen in a period piece about such a flashy time such as the '60s. This is a gangster movie about a place and section of the UK that flirted with the glitz and glam of that era but was never really changed by it. The two main characters of this story, the twins have much the same feel. Their success and wealth they acquire through their criminal activities never really change them. The story shows the humanity in both men but never tries to justify or romanticize the type of men they were. They were who they were due to their own choices and chose their ultimate destinies, even if the consequences of that were ultimately tragic. If you like crime or ganster stories, you will enjoy this movie. Now for a bit of story criticism. The female lead in this movie, while still well cast and acted, does not feel as well fleshed out as the twins. She is presented a bit too one note from a story telling perspective. She has a similar role as the wife in Goodfellas but remains largely umblemished, innocent character till the end. While this serves the movie adequately, it is perhaps why the story does not quite feel that it reaches it full potential. Overall though, still a very good movie.

The Title for this film is very appropriate. The Kray Brothers — Reginald and Ronnie Kray — are and always will be the stuff of modern legend. Masters of self-promotion, if not unwittingly, and rubbing elbows with politicians and members of the jet set, they were as so aptly portrayed in this movie, blood-thirsty, psychotic, thugs. Kudos to Tom Hardy who masterly portrayed both brothers, the clinically insane Ronnie and the merely psychotic Reggie. He was able to convincingly pull off the nuances and individual quirks in their individual, diseased minds. He was also able to do the impossible, at times make the viewer feel sorry for the poor blokes but always be interested in their characters. There have been comments in some of the reviews that the movie ran too slow. I disagree. The emphasis in this film is to dissect the personalities of each brother. While it would have made for a boring movie if that was the only theme, the director very wisely interjects just the right amount of ultra-violence every now and then to even out the playing field when it comes to what made the brothers tick. They were all about exerting control and getting what they wanted, even if meant cracking some heads to get it, though they exercised that control differently. In this respect this movie is very different from the other film about the Kray Brothers, simply called The Krays. The 1990 film (I can’t believe director Peter Medak had the cajones to make that film while Ronnie was still alive!) focused more on their violent natures, and is very much a cult-ish film. Legend, on the other hand, will probably only go down as fine gangster movie with great acting from everyone involved — which, indeed, it is. Having said that, an American viewer will probably have some trouble following the dialogue, especially from Tom Hardy. Hardy, and the rest of the actors, lay on that East End accent a bit thick. If I had any suggestion at all it would be to supply subtitles! Still, it’s a great movie that should not be missed.

Great Blu-ray movie !!

Legend is one of those films that sticks with you long after the credits roll, thanks almost entirely to Tom Hardy’s masterful portrayal of both Reggie and Ronnie Kray. Watching him switch seamlessly between the charming, business-minded Reggie and the unpredictable, volatile Ronnie is nothing short of mesmerizing. The way Hardy gives each twin a distinct physicality, speech pattern, and energy makes you forget you’re watching the same actor — it feels like you’re seeing two completely different men on screen. The 1960s London setting is beautifully recreated, with sharp costumes, moody lighting, and a soundtrack that captures the era perfectly. The story blends grit and glamour, showing both the seductive appeal of the Krays’ power and the dark, violent undercurrent that ultimately tears them apart. Emily Browning delivers a heartbreaking performance as Frances Shea, grounding the film with emotional weight and reminding you that behind the glitz and gangster bravado are real human costs. While Legend doesn’t shy away from the violence and criminal exploits, it’s the character work — the psychology of power, loyalty, and self-destruction — that really makes it compelling. This isn’t just a gangster movie; it’s a tragedy wrapped in sharp suits and smoky rooms. If you love crime dramas with powerhouse acting, stylish visuals, and a true-story edge, Legend is a must-watch.

Any movie should be able to stand on its own, independent of whatever source material or basis in historical fact it has. Keeping that in mind, I'm not terribly concerned with LEGEND's historical accuracy. More importantly, does it efficiently tell an interesting story? I'm a bit mixed on that element, but there is no denying that, however gimmicky the decision was, Tom Hardy killed it in his double role as Reggie and Ronnie Kray, gangsters from London's East End. No matter what flaws the film has, and there are more than a few, LEGEND is worth at least one viewing for Tom Hardy alone, who seems to choose projects where he can shine as an actor, regardless of whether the material deserves it, or his supporting cast is given much to do. I thought he did a great job differentiating the two performances, although the actor's bag of tricks was more obvious with his choices for Ronnie (fake teeth, glasses, accent, etc.). The next most engaging character was Emily Browning as Frances Shea, Reggie's wife, who also serves as the film's omniscient narrator. What initially seems like an oddball choice actually makes sense later on, although divulging why would be a spoiler (for those unfamiliar with the history, which I was). The film also has gorgeous cinematography, immaculate production design, and a well-chosen soundtrack full of 1960's pop tunes. It's these last few things, outside of the gangster genre, tie it to something to which it never quite lives up, i.e., Martin Scorsese's own forays into gangster pictures. One would have to be completely ignorant of cinema to miss parallels between LEGEND, and Scorsese's GOODFELLAS and CASINO. Director Brian Helgeland clearly shows affection for those films, but nothing he does here rises above the level of simple homage or, in a few cases, outright theft. Just to provide a few examples, Reggie and Ronnie's relationship has shades of key relationships in GOODFELLAS and CASINO, and Ronnie at times seems like a riff on Joe Pesci's character from those films (with homosexuality thrown in for good measure). There's also a wedding scene set to the Dixie Cups' "Chapel of Love" and a scene late in the film which is kind of like the "Get your shinebox!" scene in GOODFELLAS. Again, there's nothing inherently wrong with lifting elements or paying homage to previous films, which is something that happens all of the time. For it to work, there needs to be some fresh perspective or take on it, and I don't think that Helgeland ever does that. Outside of the Krays' contentious relationship with each other, there was no unifying theme to drive forward what was a rather unfocused narrative, often feeling like a collection of scenes instead of a coherent story. In short, it was like a jewel-encrusted plastic crown. There's also the issue of the title, which I don't think it earned. Nothing in the film would suggest that the Krays were "legends," and merely asserting it as fact was insufficient. All of this being said, there definitely is an audience for this film and I have a feeling like they (including myself) will want to see it at least once. It doesn't compare favorably to its cinematic forebears, but there is enough good in it to make a loose recommendation.

"Legend" - Wer klassische, raue Gangsterdramen wie "Casino", "Goodfellas", "Donnie Brasco", "Scarface", "Der Pate", etc. liebt oder eine Vorliebe für typisch britisches Kino aus der Schmiede von Guy Ritchie oder Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) hat, wird auch dieses hier lieben! Ein elegantes Gangsterdrama in Hochglanzbildern, feiner Inszenierung und einem rundum starken Cast! Tom Hardy als 2 Zwillingsbrüder ist einfach nur brilliant absurd! Man muss es gesehen haben, um es zu verstehen! Sein beständiger Wechsel zwischen gesittet fokusiert und völlig jenseits von Gut und Böse ist durchweg konsistent beeindruckend, auch die Technik, die Hardy ermöglichte, beide Figuren gleichzeitig vor der Kamera zu spielen, ist beeindruckend! Fazit: Klassiche Gangstergeschichte in starken Bildern, mit toller Musik und angereichert von einem einzigartigen, ungleichen Duo und einer tollen Erzählerin gespielt von Emily Browning.

Brilliant old film

Excellent. Tom Hardy is an amazing actor.

Good movie

私の不注意なのですが、日本語吹き替えが無いのでその分マイナスにしました。