BritishFilmNews.Com

Bronson is one of those films where the strength of the central performance outweighs the choices around it. Tom Hardy absolutely owning every frame as Michael Peterson/Charles Bronson is the main reason to watch this movie: he’s feral, unpredictable, and magnetic, bringing a raw physicality and dark humor to a character you never feel you’ve fully understood — but can’t look away from either

The film’s greatest success lies in Tom Hardy’s commitment. He transforms himself — mentally and physically — into a volatile prison legend obsessed with fame and notoriety. There are moments of genuine intensity and oddball humor, like his bizarre yet funny interactions and the way violence is choreographed almost like performance art

However, the movie’s embrace of surreal, theatrical flourishes is a double-edged sword. Director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, The Neon Demon) frames huge chunks of the story through Bronson’s imagined stage performances and highly stylized sequences that blur reality and fantasy. While this gives the film a distinct flair, for many viewers it also creates distance rather than immersion. Those theatrical bits can feel self-indulgent and interrupt the emotional rhythm, making the overall pacing feel uneven

That surreal tone also means the film doesn’t offer much in the way of insight into why Bronson became who he did — it’s more spectacle than psychology. If you’re craving a conventional biopic or deeper character exploration, this isn’t it. But if you enjoy films that are stylistically bold and more interested in mood than narrative clarity, there’s a lot to appreciate here.

In short: a compelling central performance and some genuinely great moments, but also a fair share of stylistic choices that can feel hollow or distracting. Bronson is captivating in flashes — even if it doesn’t always cohere into something truly satisfying. 6/10.