Marval Movie

Gangster movies are a hard formula to get right. You need violence, but must not let it overwhelm the situation or indulge in it too much. There needs to be glamour and class but with that must also come it's seedy, ugly underbelly. You require fun, memorable characters, however it's also mandatory that they are despicable so their ultimate downfall seems unavoidable and feels satisfying.

Legend has the formula just right. It shows us two of the most notorious gangsters that ever ruled London in the nineteen-sixties, they were cruel, funny, tyrants and knew how to rule people. We are introduced to them through narration by a girl namaed Frances (Emily Browning) that will have a relationship with on of the Kray's.

Reggie Kray is the head of the two, also where most of the focus goes, he's the one that passes for normal and the obvious face of the company. Ronnie is the wild-man of the two. They are both violent and cruel but he is the one that is the most blood-thirsty, he was also (considering the time-period) very open about his homo-sexuality. Also he was completely out of his Goddamn mind.

The movie never sympathies with the Kray's, it knows that they are were evil and doesn't forget to add those moments in nearly all of their scenes. But the best monsters are the ones that can trick you, the ones that let you get close and then cause the true damage.

Tom Hardy's performance is the pinnacle of the movie and will be most peoples talking point. How he distinguishes himself from each of the Kray's goes from more than just putting on a pair of horn-brimmed glasses. Each of them has their own mannerisms, speech pattern, and expressions. You could remove the glasses and you'd already be able to tell with a glace which is which. It is also great special effect that is executed with having the two integrated together. Like with Arnie Hammer in The Social Network, unless you knew that there was only one Tom Hardy you would be completely fooled to believe there are two different bodies on the screen at the same time.

The movie carries many similarities to Goodfella's. Both chronicle the career of a true gangster, they take place over a similar period and use voice-over to tell their story. With such a comparison and similarities it's impossible no to compare. This is a very good movie and is about on the same level with Goodfella's.

The soundtrack is comprised of hit songs around the time-period. It is a cute method in storytelling and they all fit the scene their in and I enjoyed then all. 

Legend tells the story of the Kray's. Like all stories about Gangsters or even when your movie movie has it's main characters be villain's the downfall is inevitable. But it still has everything this kind of movie should have, scenes of glamour, characters with charm that also scare you and a lesson that crime will only pay for a time.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 4