Movie Preview: Harry Brown

Since the 70's there has been a growing need in each decade to have someone stand up to the bad guys. There was Dirty Harry, and Death Wish, and Die Hard, ect. But what was there recently? What movie gave us a regular sane person that stood up, where in reality people just close their eyes?

Michael Caine has the answer, as the titular Harry Brown. Harry Brown will make many older viewers think instantly of Death Wish.

An older man, long past prime, becomes the justice that so many of us hope for and don't see coming. Brown is an old British combat vet (not sure of which war, but post WWII) living a modest life in an apartment building, and an old friend. The area he lives in now is assaulted by gangs and drugs. The youth of today are rampaging towards their own destruction and willing to take everything and everyone with them.

Harry like everyone else just ignores the violence. Until it hits home in the form of the brutal death of his long-time friend. That's when this old Royal Marine gets out his .45 and gets to work on serving ultimate justice.



The concept worked in the 70's and 80's for Charles Bronson. It matched the growing fear some of the older adults had in watching kids go wild, and the legal system fail to keep up. In 2010, globally it would seem, things have gotten no better.

Michael Caine is a great actor. Even in the worst of films he raises the bar of those around him. This looks to be far from the worst, though not his best. Still you can feel his anger and frustration, as a reflection of the reality of modern day.

Films like this aren't action films, they are social commentaries. Visualizations of the reality of the day as seen by eyes made wise by living more than 2 decades. But most of the audience this film will have likely will not notice the commentary. They will be looking for the violence.

The question in this film is if it can justify the violence enacted. Are the vigillante acts equal to the danger? Is the legal system so corrupt and broken that this solution is best? Can this be worth the consequences?

Harry Brown: I don't reckon you've got long. Seen that before. Gut wound. The slug's probably torn right through your liver. Mate of mine in Ulster got caught in sniper fire. Bullet blew his inside out. He screamed for a good 10 minutes. We couldn't send a medic in, the section was too hot. So we all took cover... and watched him die. I've never told that... to anyone... you should've called an ambulance... for the girl...

I take this cerebral approch to the film because the first Death Wish asked these things. Given Michael Caine's overall reputation I would expect the film would address these issues. Which means it can entertain, and yet have a message. An uncommon combination in an era of movies that choose one or the other.

Perhaps the biggest question on the success of this film )in America) is if the public still agrees with the violent answer to rampant drugs and gangs. In 1974, in America, crime was at incredibly high levels. Today, the very same crimes are the promotions of rap music videos and rappers. Drug use is glorified, in some States legalized. The proliferation of violence merely for the ability to put it on Youtube is escalating. All troubling signs of a vortex of youth wasted in the most stupid of ways.

Ultimately Harry Brown should do well in theaters. But how well it does with the gravy train of movies, those 18 - 30, will determing if another rash of copycats follows for the next decade or not.

Oh, here is one of the songs from the soundtrack of the film