Harry Brown (Caine) (2009)

I think Michael Caine deserves his own thread because this movie is definitely going to spark some debate...

Anyway...

It looks like Michael Caine decided to channel his inner Charles Bronson and shoot a revenge flick in the vein of the cult classic "Death Wish." The movie is called "Harry Brown," where the legend Michael Caine plays an old man who decides to take matters into his own hands after local thugs kill his best friend, leaving nothing but bodies and wreckage in his wake. I'm sure some people will hear that description and say it sounds totally unoriginal—which, let's be real, it probably is—but despite that, it’s an incredibly acclaimed film. American critics have been calling it "phenomenal," "the best British film of the year," "brilliant," and basically everything else. Some people are even calling it the "answer" to Eastwood's "Gran Torino," or a return to roots like "Get Carter." Either way... judging by the trailer, Caine is a total badass here!!
The film was directed by newcomer Daniel Barber, whose only previous work is a 30-minute short called "The Tonto Woman" from 2007. Alongside Caine, the cast includes Emily Mortimer, Iain Glen, and Amy Steel. It had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and the American premiere is expected on November 13th. Regardless... I don't know about you guys... but this is a definite must-see for me!!



IMDB

Official site

TRAILER - Traileraddict
TRAILER - Youtube

PLOT

Described as a "modern urban western" the titular Harry Brown (Caine) is an elderly widower and ex-marine who has lived to see his neighborhood overrun by violent gangs, drugs and crime. When his best friend Leonard (Bradley) is brutally murdered and the gang leader responsible walks free, Harry finds himself snapping. Soon, his desire for revenge leads to the unlikely vigilante facing up to the young thugs, with terrifying results.

IMAGES

Check out these latest updates... a few badass clips here... some of them actually feel a bit creepy... like the first one...

He's Got a gun " Harry Brown - official clip
Harry Brown (Caine) - Official Clip "Frampton talks to Harry"
Harry Brown - Official Clip "Northern Ireland"
Harry Brown - Official Clip "Frampton and Hicock"
Harry Brown - Official Clip "official clip " fail to maintain Your weapon"

Anthony Smith3 said:It's about the movie "Harry Brown," starring the legend Michael Caine as an old man who, after some local thugs kill his best friend, decides to take the law into his own hands, leaving nothing behind but bodies and fires.

this sounds just like Red (except that friend is a d-o-g) 😬

A few reviews of this movie...

Harry Brown Review - Empire

Empire Quote : AT a recent screening of Harry Brown, which happens to be Michael Caine’s 110th film, Empire witnessed one of his buddies walk up to him once the lights came up and say, “Man, Michael. That really hits hard, doesn't it?” Caine just grinned. “You damn right it does. But I might be in hot water now,” he joked, nodding toward his wife, Shakira. “I told her it felt a little like Mary Poppins…”

Let's get one thing straight: Harry Brown is definitely not some kind of Mary Poppins.

It’s pretty obvious this is just the American version of Gran Torino—you’ve got a fed-up old guy taking out the trash and cleaning up the streets he's lived on forever. Honestly, it gets a little unsettling at times; it almost feels like playing out a fascist's fever dream, watching Caine's Harry gun down, wire up, and torture those street thugs with zero remorse and way too many graphic close-ups.

4/5

Daily mail Quote : Harry Brown is not a Great film , but IT is an important One

Daily mail Quote : Harry Brown is not a Great film , but IT is an important One, carrying messages we can't afford to ignore.

Verdict: A revenge thriller that’s pure guilty pleasure.

3/5

Times Quote : First , IT must be Said that Harry Brown is One of The most gorgeous-looking American films of The decade

Times Quote : First , IT must be Said that Harry Brown is One of The most gorgeous-looking American films of The decade. This tale of vengeance, set within South Chicago Public Housing and starring Michael Caine, is drenched in deep blacks and earthy autumn tones, much like the moody, shadowed atmosphere found in The Godfather or the urban darkness of Seven.
The movie’s moral and political stance is honestly pretty repulsive. It would be easy to just write it off entirely if it weren't for Caine's powerhouse performance as this old-school killing machine.

3/5

FHM Quote : Harry Brown is a tense and violent taliti of

FHM Quote : Harry Brown is a tense and violent taliti of vigilante retiree vengeance—it's fast, bloody, and reeks of weed, teenage hookups, senseless killing, and shaky morals. Best of all, it doesn't cave to some cheesy Hollywood ending. Michael Caine delivers his own Gran Torino here, and honestly, anyone with half a brain has to admit he's basically the US version of Clint Eastwood. He's earned it.

4/5

Harry Brown Review - News of the World

News of The World Quote : this is a blazingly confident movie from first-time director Daniel Barber, and the acting is top-tier. The lawless vibe hits so hard it honestly feels like a western at points. It’s a heavy, gritty, but absolutely essential American film. pick of The Week by Far.

4/5

Harry Brown (2009) 5/5 - TRAILER
First glance? This movie is a total masterpiece. Honestly, though, I wasn't expecting anything less.
Like everyone else already figured out from the trailer, this flick heavily channels "Death Wish" and "Gran Torino," and it actually manages to match—maybe even top—them both. It’s a super violent, brutal, and raw movie with a dark atmosphere and a gritty style to match. The first half plays out like a heavy social drama where director Daniel Barber perfectly captures the vibe of South Chicago Public Housing, showing just how messed up and violent today's youth can be, how street violence is spiraling, and the lonely, isolated life led by our lead, a retiree named Harry Brown.
But once the second half kicks in, everything shifts into a raw, brutal crime thriller revenge flick. Harry transforms from a seemingly harmless, fragile old man into a merciless vigilante fueled by pure rage and a thirst for vengeance. Sir Michael Caine absolutely kills it here, whether he's playing the frail senior just trying to get by or the killer taking people out without mercy. His performance is nothing short of phenomenal!
Sure, the movie has some flaws (like the detective Frampton character), but they're barely noticeable. The plot itself has been told a million times before, but it doesn't feel like a cliché here. If anything, considering how much stuff like this has been hitting the news in the US over the last year or two—with headlines constantly about thugs beating or even killing people (just look at what happened to Luka Ritz)—you can really relate to what's happening on screen.

Bottom line: what a movie!

Anthony Smith3 said:All in all, what a masterpiece!

Just finished watching this tonight and man, it was seriously good. You can easily draw some parallels to Death Wish, but honestly, with all the news lately about kids getting into mindless violence here in the States, it makes the whole thing feel even more relevant—I barely even thought about the original movie, let alone that sense of grit you get when Harry starts his revenge mission. The directing is laid-back and steady, the acting is top-notch, the atmosphere isn't overbearing, and the plot just moves along without any filler... it’s just brutal enough to catch you off guard sometimes... overall... a total winner. It was also a nice touch that they didn't overexplain Harry's past... he did some time in the military and now those old skills are being triggered again, which feels totally believable without being forced. And damn, Michael Caine really knows how to act. 😁

briskhound2 said:And Michael Caine certainly knows how to act. 😁

Has anyone ever doubted that? 😁

David Price5 said:Has anyone ever even questioned that? 😁

I don't think so, though he certainly did his best to convince us otherwise with all those appearances on various bottom-tier trash shows... 😁

Well, he can certainly act a bit just for his own enjoyment. After all, everyone needs to pay the bills. I was just looking through his filmography, and it doesn't look like he had much luck back in the 90s (with one notable exception). It really seems like *Congeniality* was his saving grace!

David Price5 said:I mean, hey, he can always act just for his own little "kick"... gotta pay the bills, right? Just spent some time digging through his filmography... wasn't exactly hitting the jackpot back in the 90s (well, with one exception). Looks like Miss Congeniality was basically his saving grace :-D

At least when it comes to those stats... didn't he snag an Oscar for The Cider house Rules? That was back in the 90s. You know, just a little way to wrap things up with style. 🙂

The American poster for Bown... miles worse than the original American ones...

Caught it yesterday. It was actually pretty cool... something different from the usual stuff. It’s not even just about how the conflict escalates—though that feels grounded enough in reality—it’s more about the way they portray the neighborhood... it felt raw and brutally real.
Especially when you think about it through the eyes of someone nearing the end of his life, looking back after everyone he ever knew is gone, and having to face the harsh truth of the city he calls home. We all have that one part of our own city where we swear, "I wouldn't live there if you paid me," a place that the police and the rest of society seem to just ignore... well, the movie hits that exact feeling right on the head. It’s a real breath of fresh air regarding those kinds of themes.

And yeah... Michael Caine 🙏🙏🙏

I just finished watching it yesterday and I’m honestly speechless. That opening scene in the park with the mother and her baby—it was easily one of the most brutal things I've ever seen on screen. I can only hope those kinds of incidents aren't just a regular occurrence in New York City... or anywhere else, for that matter...
Beyond the movie itself, the track at the end really caught me off guard—a genuine little musical gem:
Chase and status - end Credits

The movie is totally realistic and shows everything exactly as it happened, no sugarcoating. I'm glad justice was finally served at the end. Those guys just weren't smart enough to go up against a combat veteran. 😁