Don't be fooled, this isn't just a 1960's gangster movie, full of violence and cockney slang. This adaptation of the famous Kray Twins rise to crime lord status is much more than that, its deeper, darker and also much funnier than any take before it.
Although it feels like an American gangster movie, Legend is a biopic on an exuberant scale. Undeterred by the fist fights and dodgy dealings, it's a very clean film, a pleasure to watch. The 60's looks cool, old Ford's shining in the streets and music stars starring in the clubs. The soundtrack isn't one to be missed either, rivalling the coolness of Guardians Of The Galaxy, only with more Burt Bacharach.
Helgeland skips the boxing years of the Kray twins youth, and instead moves straight to the jumping 1960's. With Reggie already a self-proclaimed prince of the East End and Ronnie controversially being released from a mental institute.
As well as being the movies narrator, Frances Shea (Emily Browning, Sucker Punch) also becomes Reggie's love interest, and gives a backlight into Reggie and Ronnie's relationship as the film progresses. Although a key figure, and ultimately a catalyst in the Kray's crime-fuelled experiment, Browning's Frances is overshadowed by what can only be known as yet another stupendously delivered fantastic performance by Hardy.
His Reggie is an arrogant yet charming "businessman", madly in love with Frances and madly in love being (but never admitting to being) a gangster. His Ronnie is a paranoid schizophrenic, a violence-fuelled family man who's love for his Mother's tea is overpowered only by his love of young men. Ronnie is a theatrical character, brought back down to earth by either Reggie's way with words, or Reggie's right fist.
At times it's hard to take this movie seriously. Scenes of graphic violence are sandwiched between Ronnie in a near Little Britain-esque comedy sketch and Reggie in an endearing love scene (be it in prison or not). That being said, its entertaining, from start to finish, and climaxes with a conclusion that can only be taken seriously.
In the final third of the movie Browning comes to life. Frances becomes a stronger woman and with it Browning becomes a stronger actress. Although Hardy's delivery is nigh-on impossible to criticise, she stakes a fantastic claim for herself in a supporting role.
Hangeland has landed on his feet with Legend, producing a fine script with a fine host of actors to see it through, two of which, are Tom Hardy. Humour weaves itself around the script from top to bottom, smoothing a softer edge on an otherwise tragic love story. Hardy amalgamates into two actors in a effortlessly seamless double-headed production, and undoubtably steals the show.
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