Legend (Brian Helgeland, 2015): The notorious Krays

It could be said that a gangster film should be enhanced with guns and action, but a true to life story about gangster life is a lot more intriguing, as the narrative structure doesn't leave any enigmas. Legend is a film that does just this. The Krays were probably the most notorious and ostentatiously vulgar and violent gangsters in British history, dominating London for a period of time before their imprisonment in 1968. This film highlights each Kray and they level of importance in east end London. It could be considered that this film text employs different codes to make the audience empathise with Frances (Emily Browning), a young, beautiful woman who falls in love with the famous Reggie Kray (Tom Hardy) who is a ruthless east London man who seems to do what he wants. The pair are a force not to be reckoned with, defiant and filled with empowerment, and the way it's been portrayed in this film is so mesmerising.

The characterisation is hard to explain, since these are true events that are only merely emphasised to fit the certain criterion for the given genre and to also attract a certain target audience. But regardless, the protagonists are the ones that we have to like, so regardless of their personalities, we still find the Krays slightly humorous, we enjoy following their story with them, even with the tragedy and heartache. Reggie is the elusively charming and lesser violent out of the two, but we do become distant from him as his and Frances' marriage goes downhill and he seems to go 'off the rails'. Ronnie is the paranoid schizophrenic twin, who's bigger, scarier, and not to mention homosexual. He reminds me of Lenny out of 'Of Mice And Men', regardless of all the tragedy he may have caused, we still can't help but like him and enjoy the comedic value that he brings.

The movie's main enticer would be Tom Hardy, being a high paid actor and starring in multiple high budget films (one being Batman: The Dark Night Rises) he brings the life to the characters, and he takes on their personas so well, no one else could have played the twins better than him. I believe that the soundtrack is also an advantage to the film, evoking the 60s culture more and more, which almost creates a nostalgic setting for the spectator. With Duffy also aiding the soundtrack, making it more appealing. Helgeland did a good job on the casting, directing, cinematography and editing. Following this text is clear and consists of a normal flow, not too complicated, after all, there is only so much manipulation you can put in a true life story until it's more fictional than real.

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