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Brighton Rock (2010)
By Alistair Lawrence,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
British gangster remake cranks up the violence and language.
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Brighton Rock (2010)
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What's the Story?
In BRIGHTON ROCK, Pinkie Brown (Sam Riley), a young gangster in 1960s England, becomes embroiled in a murder and a relationship with a young, naive waitress called Rose (Andrea Riseborough).
Is It Any Good?
This second movie adaptation of Graham Greene's classic novel lacks the 1948 original's stylish film noir atmosphere and performances. Director Rowan Joffe also wrote this 2010 version of Brighton Rock, which transplants the action to 1960s seaside Britain. But he does little with the notorious mods and rockers -- two rival British subcultures so associated with the city and era -- with Pinkie and the other gangsters feeling bolted onto the city in which they operate, rather than being integral to it.
Joffe's attempt to expand the role of Rose only creates an awkward, unconvincing romance between her and Pinkie, and a character that lacks any real consistency. Riley is miscast in the lead role too. He's too old and not menacing enough. He's also partially hamstrung by a script that tries to reintroduce more of the original book's questions about faith and fate to little dramatic effect. The supporting cast fair better, with Helen Mirren making the most of her turn as Ida, the movie's moral center. With the superior 1948 film -- and the original book -- available, this haphazard version is best forgotten.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Brighton Rock. How did it make you feel? What did the movie have to say about violence? Did it glorify it?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Was it shocking? Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Talk about Pinkie's relationship with Rose. Did the power imbalance between them seem odd? Did Pinkie's attitudes toward women seem sexist?
Have you seen the original movie or read the book? How did this version compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 26, 2011
- On DVD or streaming: December 27, 2011
- Cast: Sam Riley , Andrea Riseborough , Helen Mirren
- Director: Rowan Joffe
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: IFC Films
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters
- Run time: 111 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence, language and some sexual content
- Last updated: March 18, 2023
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