THE PLOT THUS FAR
Charts the headlong fall of Pinkie, a razor-wielding disadvantaged teenager with a religious death wish.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Brighton Rock” takes place in 1964 in Brighton, once a quiet seaside town, is suddenly overrun by gangs of sharp suited Mods and greasy Rockers looking for a riot. Looking to be the top Mod gangster, Pinkie Brown (Sam Riley) will stop at nothing to be the biggest name in the crime world – bigger than the competitor Colleoni (Andy Serkis). Pinkie witnesses the vicious death of fellow Mod Kite (Goeff Bell) and is determined to kill the perpetrator Hale (Sean Harris). Pinkie’s ruthless and violent ambition takes over his mission and when he discovers that a waitress named Rose (Andrea Riseborough) who works at Snows, a café run by Ida (Helen Mirren), is involved tangentially in the murders.
Pinkie decides to court the plain Jane Rose, knowing that if he marries her she cannot testify against him should she discover Pinkie’s guilt in the murders. Ida had a ‘connection’ with Hale and sees through the veils of deceit Pinkie is placing on the innocent Rose, and she and her longtime friend Phil (John Hurt) undermine Pinkie’s plans. Pinkie marries Rose – a gesture that secures Rose’s fascination and new love for Pinkie – to keep her from testifying against him. As factors around the conflicts between the two gangs tighten and Pinkie fears for his end, he convinces his new bride to take part in a mutual suicide, an act that has a surprising end.
The mise-en-scene; however, is quite convincing. Brighton is shot as cold, bleak, and gray; adjectives which aptly describe that city in the winter time. There seems to be nowhere else to go or spend time other than the Brighton Pier, which is true. Brighton Rock desperately wants to be an epic with its serious moments on the Dover cliffs, brutal knife fights under the pier, and its dangerous love story. The plot is so thin and trivial though that it cannot match, but only hinder, the help all the other film components are trying to give it such as the score, costumes, and set design.
The DVD comes with a trailer, featurette and behind-the-scenes feature. There are some interviews, but mainly it’s about EPK material and a little about the film’s literary origins. The A/V Quality is strong enough with a healthy transfer and Dolby 5.1 track. It’s just that it’s still a crime drama, so there’s not a lot of big reference scenes. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!
