
In 1974, a hot-headed 19 year old named Michael Peterson decided he wanted to make a name for himself and so, with a homemade sawn-off shotgun and a head full of dreams he attempted to rob a post office. Swiftly apprehended and originally sentenced to seven years in jail, Peterson has subsequently been behind bars for 34 years, 30 of which have been spent in solitary confinement. During that time, Michael Petersen, the boy, faded away and 'Charles Bronson,' his superstar alte... (Full plot summary below)
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In 1974, a hot-headed 19 year old named Michael Peterson decided he wanted to make a name for himself and so, with a homemade sawn-off shotgun and a head full of dreams he attempted to rob a post office. Swiftly apprehended and originally sentenced to seven years in jail, Peterson has subsequently been behind bars for 34 years, 30 of which have been spent in solitary confinement. During that time, Michael Petersen, the boy, faded away and 'Charles Bronson,' his superstar alter ego, took center stage. Inside the mind of Bronson - a scathing indictment of celebrity culture.
Leave your thoughts about Bronson.
| SalonAndrew O'HehirBronson owes a little or a lot to Kubrick's "Clockwork Orange," but if that's a crime I wish more people would commit it. |
| Little White LiesAnton Bitelin a film closer to A Clockwork Orange or Blue Velvet than to Chopper, brutal ultraviolence and arthouse oddity make for an arresting mix, while it is impossible to take your eyes off Hardy's intense serio-comic turn. |
| Arkansas Democrat-GazettePhilip MartinA stylized portrait of a criminal famous in his native Britain as perhaps the most violent man in Her Majesty's prison system, Bronson serves primarily as a showcase for Tom Hardy's undeniably brilliant performance. |
| ScreenwizeSimon WeavingStrap yourself in for a jaw-dropping performance from Tom Hardy as he completely inhabits the role of Britain's most notorious prisoner in this highly stylised piece of mischievous cinematic vaudeville. |
| Slant MagazineNick SchagerBronson is a fast, ferocious, wickedly funny portrait of one man's acceptance of his bone-deep animalism. |
| New York PressArmond WhiteHardy's portrayal is more than a real-life impersonation of Bronson; it realizes the Stunt Movie opportunity to present an actor's thoroughly romantic admiration of force. |
| L.A. WeeklyScott FoundasTom Hardy proves more than ready for his close-up, cackling, snarling and head-butting his way through Pusher director Nicolas Winding Refn's mercifully unconventional biopic. |
| Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinWhether it's Peterson/Bronson's more theatrical bits or his untamable character's many blood-spitting, knuckle-beating, explosions, Hardy chomps down on his once-in-a-career role with stunning ferocity and never lets go. He's extraordinary. |
| Film Comment MagazineChris Chang...the film can barely contain Tom Hardy's performance. It's a Method turn so bloodily immersive it's hard to imagine the actor getting his head straight afterwards. |
| LarsenOnFilmJosh Larsen...an anthropological study in human viciousness, like a nature film done by Stanley Kubrick. |