By Fred Blosser
The conventions of the gangster movie are rigidly defined, critic Robert Warshow observed in a famous 1948 essay. At heart is the character arc of the socially deviant protagonist, whether Rico Bandello, Tony Montana, or Michael Corleone: “a steady upward progress followed by a very precipitate fall.”
In Brian Helgeland’s excellent biopic “Legend” (2015), currently playing in limited theatrical release, the twin brothers Reggie and Ronnie Kray (Tom Hardy, in a dual role) are already on the upward curve of Warshow’s character arc in the 1960s London underworld as the film begins. “Reggie was a gangster prince of the East End,” Reggie’s future wife Frances (Emily Browning) muses in voiceover. “Ronnie was a one-man mob.” In the first scene, the dapper Reggie derisively brings tea to two rumpled detectives who are staking him out, the senior of whom, Inspector Nipper Read (Christopher Eccleston), is determined to bring him down.
The conventions of the gangster movie are rigidly defined, critic Robert Warshow observed in a famous 1948 essay. At heart is the character arc of the socially deviant protagonist, whether Rico Bandello, Tony Montana, or Michael Corleone: “a steady upward progress followed by a very precipitate fall.”
In Brian Helgeland’s excellent biopic “Legend” (2015), currently playing in limited theatrical release, the twin brothers Reggie and Ronnie Kray (Tom Hardy, in a dual role) are already on the upward curve of Warshow’s character arc in the 1960s London underworld as the film begins. “Reggie was a gangster prince of the East End,” Reggie’s future wife Frances (Emily Browning) muses in voiceover. “Ronnie was a one-man mob.” In the first scene, the dapper Reggie derisively brings tea to two rumpled detectives who are staking him out, the senior of whom, Inspector Nipper Read (Christopher Eccleston), is determined to bring him down.
- 12/11/2015
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Duffy snapped up the role of Reggie Kray's favourite singer Timi Yuro for Tom Hardy's new film Legend, and she even wrote a song for the occasion.
In a clip given exclusively to Digital Spy you can watch Duffy performing the track, as well as some extra double Hardy action as he continues to play the role of both Ronnie and Reggie.
The film's director Brian Helgeland approached Duffy for the role because of the classy nature of her 'Mercy' music video.
"There was a guy who was in 'The Firm' who went to prison with The Krays named Chris Lambrianou and I asked him who Reggie's favourite singer was, because I knew music was going to be important," Helgeland told NME.
"He said to me Timi Yuro was his favourite singer. Chris told me how he would book her in all the clubs because he liked her so much.
In a clip given exclusively to Digital Spy you can watch Duffy performing the track, as well as some extra double Hardy action as he continues to play the role of both Ronnie and Reggie.
The film's director Brian Helgeland approached Duffy for the role because of the classy nature of her 'Mercy' music video.
"There was a guy who was in 'The Firm' who went to prison with The Krays named Chris Lambrianou and I asked him who Reggie's favourite singer was, because I knew music was going to be important," Helgeland told NME.
"He said to me Timi Yuro was his favourite singer. Chris told me how he would book her in all the clubs because he liked her so much.
- 9/10/2015
- Digital Spy
Style photographer Elaine Constantine is making a film about her teen crush: the Northern Soul scene. Bob Stanley joins the kids polishing their moves and hoping to make the grade on screen
On a Thursday afternoon at the Old Queens Head pub in north London, it's pretty quiet. There are just three or four customers at the bar downstairs, but coming through the ceiling is an insistent, Motown-like bassline. Climb the stairs and you're in another world. Skating across the parquet floor are some 200 kids spinning, dropping, sweating to a five-decades-old tune called Suspicion by the Originals. Around the edge of the floor are a few furrow-browed, older onlookers. This isn't a club, it's a practice session. It has the atmosphere of a boxing ring.
Photographer Elaine Constantine has been obsessed with Northern Soul since 1976, when she went to a youth club in her home town of Bury, Lancashire. "I...
On a Thursday afternoon at the Old Queens Head pub in north London, it's pretty quiet. There are just three or four customers at the bar downstairs, but coming through the ceiling is an insistent, Motown-like bassline. Climb the stairs and you're in another world. Skating across the parquet floor are some 200 kids spinning, dropping, sweating to a five-decades-old tune called Suspicion by the Originals. Around the edge of the floor are a few furrow-browed, older onlookers. This isn't a club, it's a practice session. It has the atmosphere of a boxing ring.
Photographer Elaine Constantine has been obsessed with Northern Soul since 1976, when she went to a youth club in her home town of Bury, Lancashire. "I...
- 9/1/2011
- by Bob Stanley
- The Guardian - Film News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.