Harry Brown

Michael Caine using guns, long jackets and that trademark accent to extract justice from those who killed his nearest and dearest… Get Carter part II then? Well, the comparisons are there, but not quite. Instead, newcomer Daniel Barber gives us a raw and gritty British Gran Torino where our hero is more justice-seeking codger than cold-hearted hitman.

Living on a run-down council estate, elderly Ex-Royal Marine Harry Brown (Caine) watches as his neighbourhood is overrun by young hoodlums and drug dealers. However, when his sick wife passes away and his best friend is killed by some gang members, Harry is pushed over the edge and decides to clean up the streets himself.

The end result is a bit overlong - still, while the ultra slow-burn approach drags early doors, it gives us a few scenes with tension to spare (just check out the how-did-they-film-that? opening scooter video or the drug den shootout) and is never anything other than bleakly realistic. Similarly, while Harry's transformation from chess-playing pensioner to thug-dispensing avenger could have come across as contrived in lesser hands, Barber ensures it's completely credible. Indeed, you really wouldn't know it's his first full feature.

One thing it isn't is Caine's first feature - yet he's as magnetic as always. Sure, he's no Jack Carter anymore (that's sort of the point), but Sir Michael commands the screen every second he's on it, while making you hope you're gonna be that cool later in life. Elsewhere, despite Emily Mortimer's Detective being a bit undercooked, the assorted cast of youngsters portray the street delinquents exactly as they are in real life: vicious, irredeemable and sadistic. It's arguable that you won't find a movie where you want the 'villains' to get their comeuppance as much as here.

Not quite Get Carter the senior citizen years, but essential Michael Caine.