“Everyone has a story about the Krays,” says Frances Shea (Emily Browning), who narrates “Legend,” a stylish, violent and at times drolly funny film about the blood-thirsty twin “gangster princes” of 1960s London. The film opened at the Ritz Theater this week.
Writer/director Brian Helgeland (“L.A. Confidential”) puts Tom Hardy in the double role of the Krays — Ronnie the gay one and Reggie the straight one — and the actor is distinctive in both parts. Reggie is a handsome charmer who effortlessly impresses Frances, while running London’s underworld with an iron fist. Ronnie is more high-strung, and with fewer social skills; he speaks bluntly and acts violently, without care for consequences. As the film shows, he has been sprung from a mental institution (after putting fear into the doctor who declares him sound) and exhibits conditions including paranoia and schizophrenia.
“Legend” recounts the Krays’ criminal mischief, which includes ear-biting and hammer-wielding fights with rival gangsters, as well as a prison stint for Reggie, which puts a strain on his relationship with Frances. The twins also wage an elaborate extortion campaign involving both parties in Parliament being photographed at an orgy Ronnie hosted. The result, which freed the brothers from a possible prison sentence, made them “untouchable.”
Helgeland presents these events with brio, making this an entertaining film but not an especially deep one. The psychological insight seems especially slight. When Ronnie meets Frances for the first time, he tells her he is a homosexual, and “a giver,” adding, “You shouldn’t hide what you are.” And the hotheaded Ron doesn’t, wrecking havoc in a bar when a rival gangster calls him a “poof,” or shocking Philadelphia gangster Angelo Bruno (Chazz Palminteri) by expressing his tastes in various men. However, it is disappointing that Ronnie’s sexual relationship with Mad Teddy Smith (Taron Egerton) is relegated to a line of dialogue or two.
Ronnie’s loose-cannon nature is part of what makes him so vicious, and a subplot involving a private war Ronnie wages against Leslie Payne (David Thewlis), a financial manager for the Krays, shows the lengths he will go to wield his control. But where the Krays’ twin powers of intelligence and intimidation come from is not clearly addressed in the film, which is a distinct drawback.
“Legend” mostly focuses on Ronnie and Frances’ co-dependence on the loyal Reggie, and how it affects each of them. Had the film been told from the twins’ alternating points of view, it might have been stronger. Instead, by having an outsider, Frances, provide the voice-over, it emphasizes Reggie trying to please his girlfriend/wife by promising (and repeatedly failing) to go straight and be free and above board, while Ronnie wants Reggie to get back into the gangster-twin mode.
This push-pull dynamic does not generate sufficient dramatic tension in the film, and makes the film lopsided. Therefore, Reggie’s character is defined by moments such as an intense scene where he acts sexually violent towards Frances; a knock-down, drag-out fight with his brother when Reggie returns from a prison stint; and denying Bruno’s request to get Reggie to work with him alone. Perhaps Reggie’s character is most distinctive when he admits he has to kill someone because he can’t kill his brother. But putting Reggie at the apex of this “love triangle” dilutes the power of the double-barreled story.
Regardless, the film has some strong moments. A key episode has Ronnie murdering an underworld rival, George Cornell (Shane Attwooll), in cold blood at a bar, and then going home to mom (Jane Wood) for tea. Reggie soon turns up and cleans up the mess. He is loyal to his brother, even though he frustrates him.
Moreover, the Cornell murder reinvigorates Scotland Yard and Detective “Nipper” Read (Christopher Eccleston) to resume pursuit of the Krays, who strike fear in the hearts of everyone they meet — such as a barmaid who witnesses Ronnie committing the murder. These scenes crackle, even if the film fails to capture the tension of the noose tightening around the brothers’ necks as they make a series of increasingly bad moves.
“Legend” often sacrifices substance for style, as Hegleland recreates 1960s London with verve, but not heart. The scenes set in the various nightclubs and bars transport viewers, but the film itself never quite engages emotionally. It becomes hard to care about the twins succeeding as they repeatedly harm folks physically or psychologically along the way.
Nevertheless, Hardy gives a bravura performance as Ronnie and Reggie, alternating between playing love-struck and hyper-violent. The actor strikes just the right note of menace in both Kray characters, and excels at showing Ronnie’s tender side. Hardy also has a great chemistry with Browning, who makes Frances’ emotional pain palpable. She also looks fabulous in the vintage clothes and hair.
“Legend” is not the definitive film about the gangsters — Peter Medak’s 1990 film “The Krays” is stronger — but this story is worthwhile despite its flaws.