Rent Legend (2015)

Tom Hardy at his best - Legend review by MH

This is an extraordinary film. It's a love story at heart both between Reggie and his wife and the love between him and his brother Ronnie. The chemistry between this threesome is palpable. It made me want to find out more and of course when you discover the truth, it isn't quite what is portrayed in the movie. But, even so there are elements of the truth here which are worth exploring. I thought though the Kemp movie was good, this is much more visceral and probably nearer the truth. You find yourself routing for Reggie but the dark side surfaces late in the mood and brings you back to reality. I will probably watch this movie again.

Another version - Legend review by NC

Hardy does well, so has to be a 3 star, if not for that would have been 2. Slightly TV style format. Not as entertaining as Hoskins in Long Good Friday, or as disturbing as Burton in Villain...........the first proper nasty criminal.

If it is supposed to be documentary, neither character is very near the mark, and certainly not the Richardson. I was around at the time and got my MG spares from the Richardson's car-breakers-front. Most of the time they were quite normal, the violent aspect was pretty much internal, with other criminal types. Out and about they were well dressed and well behaved!

Nothing new to learn here - Legend review by Mart

This was a disappointing depiction of the Kray twins. I expected to learn something new about how they came to be who they were but instead sat through a dismal two hours of violence for violence sake. We all know about their reign of terror and violence so why make a film purely to repeat what we already know? Yes Tom Hardy's acting isn't in question but the narrative was irritating and painted yet another sad picture of a female lead sinking without trace. Honestly one of the worst scripted films I have seen in a long time. Poor.

TOP MOVIE - Legend review by S.S

Tom Hardy is gorgeous and a pleasure to watch, his acting skills are very good, and so is the story line, what more do you need to know.

Top movie, loved it! A must see movie!

An excellent Tom Hardy lifts up an otherwise mediocre film - Legend review by TB

Like with Bronson, Tom Hardy has again saved and elevated a film which otherwise would have been nothing more than a standard relatively boring biopic. Playing both Ronnie and Reggie to fantastic effect, he perfectly defines them as individual people but also clearly shows the bond that they have which will forever join them.

Brits have always had a fascination with the Krays, even though they were effectively just like every other standard London-based gangster. Their iconic status, captured in many unique ways, including posing for Bailey, has elevated them to the appropriately film-named Legends.

The film attempts to unpeel that myth and show us what it was that exactly made these two tick. But as much as there is great use of humour and a couple of amazingly choreographed fight scenes, beyond that there isn't that much that is different.

The film also has a great cast with many great British actors featured. Paul Bettany is great, as is Emily Browning. But this film is and always will be Tom Hardy's. A fantastic mesmeric showcase of just how talented he is.

Very Entertaining Gangster Drama - Legend review by GI

An excellent gangster drama based on the infamous Kray twins who dominated the London crime scene of the 1960s. In many ways this is a star vehicle for Tom Hardy who plays both brothers in a superbly edited and constructed film. The temptation will be to assume this is an accurate biopic of real life gangsters but it's reported to be inaccurate in some key areas and indeed one major plot point and overall the film has the vibe of an adapted graphic novel with the characters sharply exaggerated and the film is all the better for it. Ronnie and Reggie Kray are two East End villains who are rising up in the underworld by taking over clubs and similar venues through threats, intimidation and brutal violence. They have to contend with the attention of the police (their nemesis being detective 'Nipper' Read played by Christopher Eccleston, although the film hardly delves into any investigation narratives and Read is a sidelined character in this depiction) and the Richardsons, a rival gang (Paul Bettany cameos as their boss). The main focus though is on Reggie and his besotted relationship with Frances (Emily Browning), who struggles with the violence she gets caught up in. The insanity of both brothers is neatly portrayed with the clearly psychopathic Ronnie who is always close to ruining their empire to the slowly revealed Reggie as an equally violent sociopath. Hardy is excellent throughout and the film recreates London in the 60s with aplomb. There's some excellent set pieces and although mostly restrained there is some brutal violence on display. A better film than The Krays (1990) which was dark and had an unpleasantness to it, mostly because of Hardy's great screen presence. Overall highly entertaining.