Â
Brighton Rock is an impeccable period film the kind that the British industry specialises in but it cannot overcome its two main flaws. The first is the casting of Sam Riley as Pinkie, an actor who simply looks too old to portray the supposedly 17-year-old character, and who creates a one-dimensional psychopath that is almost impossible to relate to.
The second problem is that the story has been set in front of a very particular historical background in this case, the clash of the youth subcultures of the Mods and Rockers and simply assumes that audiences know about these local events. A pivotal scene takes place in the midst of one of those riots, and those who have never heard of the Mods and Rockers will be left absolutely confused about what`s going on.
The film`s saving grace is Dame Helen Mirren as the fearless woman trying to bring the anti-hero to justice, and Riseborough`s breakthrough performance in a role originally written for Carey Mulligan. She shows promising talent, so much that one can only wish that more time had been devoted to Rose`s story instead of on generic mafia war moments.
An uneven remake let down by its lead actor.
Miguel Gonzalez