--- title: "Bronson: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bronson/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bronson" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bronson (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 14 reviews: 9 positive, 2 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics respond favourably to Bronson, with praise centred on Tom Hardy’s intense, darkly comic performance. The reviews repeatedly describe a portrait of a man who turns violence into theatre, and Hardy’s ability to make that spectacle compelling is the clearest point of agreement. Supporters also value Refn’s tense direction, surreal storytelling and visual style, finding humour as well as menace in the brutality. Photography and editing earn approval even from some who dislike the film. The spread is wide, however, and the central dispute concerns what all that force reveals. Some favourable reviews acknowledge borrowed stylistic ideas, pretension or a loss of momentum. The Guardian finds the portrait indulgent and short on insight, while The Hollywood Reporter argues that its critique of celebrity culture cannot justify the punishing violence. Hardy attracts broader approval than the film’s treatment of its subject. ## Los Angeles Times — Gary Goldstein Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2009. The critic finds the film wildly riveting and audacious. He singles out Tom Hardy’s ferocious, indelible lead performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-16-et-capsules16-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 3.5/4. 5 October 2009. Schager finds the film fast, ferocious, and wickedly funny, with Refn’s portrait of Bronson’s violence both compelling and darkly comic. He especially praises Tom Hardy’s whirlwind performance and the film’s Kubrick-indebted visual style. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/bronson/) ## The AV Club — Noel Murray Rating B+. 8 October 2009. Murray finds the film an entertaining, tense study of a man who turns brutality into performance, though it can feel derivative and pretentious. He singles out Tom Hardy’s boisterous performance and Refn’s dynamic use of stillness to build anxiety. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/bronson-1798207155) ## Little White Lies — Anton Bitel Rating 3/4/4. 12 March 2009. The review finds the film’s mix of brutal ultraviolence and art-house oddity arresting. It particularly praises Tom Hardy’s intense, serio-comic performance. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/bronson) ## Empire — Damon Wise Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2009. Wise views the film as a darkly hilarious biopic whose unconventional approach makes it a likely cult item. He singles out its playful riff on A Clockwork Orange. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bronson-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film a remarkably bold, cinematic portrait, while noting that its free-man sequences are less successful. Tom Hardy’s astonishing performance is singled out for praise, alongside the film’s tense direction and editing. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/bronson-is-a-hard-case-to-crack-7439012.html) ## Variety — John Anderson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2009. Festival review. Anderson finds the film disturbing, innovative, and likely to become a cult hit, though it loses momentum at one point. He especially praises Tom Hardy’s outstanding performance and Larry Smith’s cinematography. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/bronson-1200473184/) ## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2008. The page identifies this as a review, but the accessible text does not reveal the critic’s verdict. No specific praise or complaint is available in the visible material. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/bronson/4041648.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2009. The page appears to be a New York Times review of the 2009 film. Its text is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/movies/09bronson.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 13 March 2009. Bradshaw finds the film indulgent and unenlightening, arguing that it offers no meaningful insight into Bronson. He singles out Matt King’s cameo as a bizarrely camp former convict as a bright spot. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/12/bronson-film-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Stephen Farber Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2009. Festival review. Farber finds the film punishing and ultimately repellent, arguing its critique of celebrity culture does not justify its violence. He praises Tom Hardy’s convincing performance and the film’s striking photography and editing. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/film-review-bronson-92791/) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 1/5. 10 March 2009. The publication’s one-star rating indicates a strongly negative verdict. The available page text does not reveal what the critic specifically praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bronson) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 March 2009. The critic finds the film captivating, audacious and thought-provoking. They single out Tom Hardy’s mesmerising performance and the film’s surreal storytelling for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a148732/bronson/) ## Eye for Film — Tony Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2009. The review is strongly positive, calling the film a powerhouse without making Bronson a martyr. It especially praises Tom Hardy’s astonishing, feral performance. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/bronson-film-review-by-tony-sullivan) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bronson.md