Legend (2015) is a biographical crime drama directed by Brian Helgeland that tells the story of London's most notorious identical twin gangsters, Reggie and Ronnie Kray. What makes this film particularly fascinating isn't just its subject matter – it's watching Tom Hardy take on the ambitious challenge of playing both brothers in what becomes a mesmerizing, if occasionally flawed, showcase of acting prowess.
If you've ever wondered what happens when you give one of today's most transformative actors the chance to literally fight himself on screen, then you're in for quite a ride. The film dives headfirst into the swinging 1960s London underworld, where the Kray brothers ruled through a combination of charm, brutality, and sheer audacity that made them both feared and oddly celebrated figures in British criminal history.
Storyline & Plot
At its core, Legend chronicles the rise and fall of the Kray twins during their reign over London's East End from the late 1950s through their imprisonment in 1968. The narrative unfolds through the perspective of Frances Shea (Emily Browning), Reggie's wife, whose voiceover guides us through the brothers' ascent from local tough guys to tabloid celebrities Roger Ebert.
The story is both dialogue-heavy and punctuated by explosive moments of violence, creating a rhythm that mirrors the unpredictable nature of the Krays themselves. Helgeland structures the film around key relationships – particularly Reggie's romance with Frances and the increasingly volatile dynamic between the twins as Ronnie's mental illness becomes more pronounced.
What struck me most about the narrative approach is how it balances the glamorous mythology surrounding the Krays with the genuine darkness of their actions. The film doesn't shy away from showing these men as both charismatic and deeply disturbing, though it occasionally struggles to find the right tonal balance between black comedy and serious crime drama.
The pacing feels deliberately episodic, jumping between nightclub scenes, violent confrontations, and intimate character moments. While this mirrors the chaotic nature of the Krays' lives, it sometimes makes the film feel less cohesive than it could be The Guardian.
Characters & Cast
Tom Hardy as Reggie and Ronnie Kray - This is where the film truly shines. Hardy's dual performance is nothing short of remarkable, creating two distinctly different characters who feel like completely separate people. Reggie is the suave, calculating businessman-gangster – all sharp suits and controlled violence. Ronnie, suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, is unpredictable, openly gay, and prone to explosive outbursts. Hardy uses different postures, speech patterns, and even facial expressions to differentiate the twins so effectively that you genuinely forget it's the same actor.
Emily Browning as Frances Shea - Browning delivers a committed performance as the fragile woman caught between her love for Reggie and her horror at his world. While the character sometimes feels underwritten, Browning brings genuine vulnerability to Frances, making her tragic arc feel earned rather than manipulative.
Supporting Cast - The film features solid supporting work from Christopher Eccleston as the determined Detective "Nipper" Read, David Thewlis, and Chazz Palminteri as an American mob figure. However, these characters often feel more like plot devices than fully realized people, which is one of the film's weaker elements.
The standout supporting performance might be Hardy's again – watching him literally fight himself in a pub brawl is both technically impressive and dramatically compelling, showing the fundamental conflict at the heart of the Kray relationship Metacritic.
Direction & Style
Brian Helgeland, who previously wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for L.A. Confidential, brings a distinctly American sensibility to this very British story. His direction is polished and visually stylish, but sometimes feels like it's trying too hard to channel Martin Scorsese's gangster classics, particularly GoodFellas.
The film's visual style is undeniably slick – all gleaming nightclub surfaces and carefully choreographed violence. Helgeland creates a world that feels appropriately glamorous and seedy, capturing the contradictions of the Krays' public image. However, his approach occasionally feels more style than substance, particularly in scenes that seem designed primarily to show off period details rather than advance character development.
Where Helgeland succeeds is in managing the technical challenges of Hardy's dual role. The split-screen work and digital trickery are seamless enough that you quickly stop thinking about the mechanics and focus on the performances Roger Ebert.
Cinematography, Music & Technical Aspects
Cinematographer Dick Pope creates a visually rich world that perfectly captures the swinging London aesthetic. The camera work is particularly effective during the nightclub sequences, using long takes and flowing movements that immerse you in the Krays' glamorous public life. The lighting choices effectively differentiate between the bright, public world of celebrity and the darker, more intimate moments of violence and family tension.
Carter Burwell's score complements the period setting beautifully, while the soundtrack features well-chosen period songs that enhance rather than distract from the drama. The film's sound design during the violence is particularly effective – brutal enough to be impactful without becoming gratuitously graphic.
The technical achievements in creating Hardy's dual performance deserve special mention. The seamless integration of split-screen techniques, body doubles, and digital enhancement creates some truly impressive moments, particularly during scenes where both brothers interact extensively CNET.
Audience Appeal
Legend will primarily appeal to fans of crime dramas and Tom Hardy enthusiasts who want to see him at his most transformative. If you enjoyed films like The Departed, Miller's Crossing, or even Hardy's previous work in Peaky Blinders, you'll likely find plenty to appreciate here.
The film also works well for viewers interested in British criminal history or 1960s period pieces. The production design and attention to historical detail create an immersive experience that brings this particular time and place to vivid life.
However, if you're looking for a straight-ahead gangster epic with clear moral lines and traditional narrative structure, you might find Legend somewhat frustrating. The film's tonal shifts and focus on character over plot won't work for everyone Rotten Tomatoes.
Tom Hardy in Legend, 2015 pic.twitter.com/tbNTJQBhhw
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Overall Impression
Legend succeeds primarily as a showcase for exceptional acting, particularly Hardy's tour-de-force dual performance. The film's strengths lie in its technical achievements, period atmosphere, and the compelling psychological portrait of two very different brothers bound by blood and crime.
Where it stumbles is in finding a consistent tone and deeper purpose beyond showcasing Hardy's range. The script sometimes feels more interested in hitting familiar gangster movie beats than exploring what made the Krays such uniquely British cultural figures. Frances's narration, while providing structure, often veers into clichéd territory that the rest of the film's more nuanced approach doesn't quite support.
Despite these flaws, I found myself genuinely engaged throughout. Hardy's commitment to both roles is so complete that you find yourself rooting for and being repulsed by both brothers, sometimes simultaneously. The film may not achieve greatness, but it certainly achieves memorability.
Verdict / Rating
★★★½ out of 5 stars
This is a must-watch if you enjoy: Exceptional acting performances, British crime stories, 1960s period pieces, or films that take ambitious technical risks with their storytelling.
While Legend doesn't quite live up to its lofty title, Tom Hardy's remarkable dual performance and the film's technical craftsmanship make it worth your time. It's a flawed but fascinating glimpse into one of Britain's most notorious criminal partnerships, elevated by an actor at the peak of his transformative powers.
