Harry Brown..

Michael Caine adds a presence to any film he is connected with and Harry Brown is no exception.
Visually the film is striking with contrasts shown in the tempo of the film beginning with the opening scene shot from a hand-held camera. The perspective of the film-maker is invoked via a blur of colour and action then contrasted with the gentle awakening of Harry Brown in the morning likened to the slow dripping of a tap.

Emily Mortimer also stars as a detective investigating various street crimes and incidences that originate from the seedy housing estates that both Harry Brown and others live in. Emily is able to show empathy and concern towards Harry Brown even when she suspects he may have more information concerning some of the recent violent crimes that have been reported in the housing estates of late.

Sean Harris (played the role of Ian Curtis lead singer of Joy Divison in the film "24 hour Party People")  role in this film is playing the depraved 'Strech' alongside an equally depraved pal. His sickly, grey and deathlike character is a junky dealing in 'pot', arms and anything else you wouldn't want to consider. Looking like a weedy little rat it's hard to have any concern for his plight and his character highlights the depraved souls terrorising and contributing towards the violence on the streets.

Harry Brown shows us how revenge is not always 'sweet' but painful and in his eyes necessary to restore some normality and security to his life and the lives of others.

With little dialogue much is left to the visuals of the film to make up the story-line. In the beginning we see a cautious Harry Brown unwilling to take the short-cut via the underground subway and at the closing of the film we see him choose this option regardless of whether it's the safest option, the old man once more empowered and no longer afraid of the consequences.

This film predictably has been compared to Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino with both actors being legendary stalwarts of the silver screen. I liked both films in equal measures however Gran Torino takes the time to allow the audience to know the character of the leading man and offers some light humour amidst the violence. Harry Brown on the other hand is unflinchingly a dark and sobering experience which manages to convey the reality of sensless violence by portraying large amount's of violence on the screen.
For those who are a little squeamish and unused to viewing violence in films I urge to reconsider for this film is an exception in the message that it conveys to the audience.