The mythology of the Krays is built around their characteristically unorthodox actions to seek the limelight to cement themselves as notorious gangsters and heroes of London. Legend (2015) mirrors this mythology by presenting a brash, glamorised, artificial and cartoonish narrative which although may be far from the truth, is one which is extremely enjoyable, filled with deadpan humour and contains a seminal double performance from the brilliant Tom Hardy.
Assuming the director's chair, Brian Helgeland (who co-wrote the screenplay for L.A. Confidential and directed Payback (1999)) produces a glitzy and colour-saturated representation of 1960's London which skips the Kray's childhood and dabbling in boxing to join them at the height of their London stardom finding them engaged in a turf war with the Richardson gang. This ultimately comes to a head in the infamous events that occurred in the Blind Beggar pub in 1966. Emily Browing's subtle performance as Frances Shea, Reggie Kray's love interest and wife, effectively displays the psychological degradation of the fragile youth throughout the twins glory years. However, the juxtaposition of this performance with the peculiar decision to have Frances as the narrator undermines the gravity of gangsters effect on the youth and partially detaches the audience from any real emotional attachment to her tragic story.
Legend (2015) boasts a strong supporting cast from the likes of Christopher Eccleston’s Leonard “Nipper” Read- the relentless London copper who obsesses over catching the twins, Sam Spruell’s Jack “the Hat” McVities, Paul Bettany's psychotic Charlie Richardson and uprising star Taron Egerton as Teddy Smith. These characters often seem like caricatures of the real people, over-exaggerated for comic effect, producing a feel that Helgeland is attempting to simulate Goodfellas rather than The Long Good Friday. The inclusion of the talented singer, Duffy, as the long-forgotten singer Timi Yuro creates an absorbing ambiance in the nightclub scenes. However the rest of the movie is somewhat marred by a bizarre soundtrack which wouldn't sound out of place in a 1980's TV cop drama.
The ace of the draw is Tom Hardy's double performance of the seemingly calmer and collected Reggie Kray to the psychotic, violent, uncontrollable and proudly homosexual Ronnie Kray. When approached for the part, Helgeland sought Hardy for the role of Reggie but Hardy was more interested in the character of Ronnie, hence they settled on Hardy playing both roles. The danger of doppelganger and twin performances by one actor is the unbalanced emphasis on one character or the use of distracting shoddy visual effects. Hardy expertly encapsulates the differing physicality and emotionality of each twin to provide two memorable performances. Kudos should also go to the visual effects team who create one of the most aesthetically pleasing and expertly crafted scenes of the film where Ronnie fights Reggie. Kray on Kray: Hardy on Hardy.
8/10
