2 reviews

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Rachael Connelly February 10, 2011

Saw this at a preview a while back. Another in a long line of British bad boy films, period and otherwise. More of a 'renter', whatever that might mean these days.

I thought "Brighton Rock" was the most depressing, disappointing, downbeat film I had seen for a long time. I found it quite boring and the time dragged. I thought there was far too much violence, and that the murders were glorified. I found the gang warfare all through to be horrendously graphic, and I had to cover my face to avoid looking at it. I acknowledge the actors were brilliant but, in the end, I felt the characters they portrayed (and their seedy surroundings) were played in a far too unbecoming way, with a stereotypical Nineteen-Fifties stamp. Because of this I felt I was forced into the position of not caring about the characters at all. They were such no-hopers anyway. I did think, however, that Helen Mirren and John Hurt brought a breath of fresh air (including its only warmth, hope and humanity) to the script. And, sadly, along with this, I thought the stunning seascapes and the views from the cliffs were the film's only salvation.

SUE 28 Feb 2011