Tom Hardy:Exuberant or Exaggerated?

After recently viewing the film Bronson four times in the last week and a half, I have been pondering the performance of Tom Hardy as the main character, Charlie Bronson (Michael Peterson). In my opinion, the film itself is well done and appropriately stylish, not allowing the fictional elements to weaken the non fictional narrative. As far as the performance from Tom Hardy goes, I think it’s possibly one of the best leading performance from a male actor in the last five years. His transformation into “Britian’s most violent criminal” is astounding in all aspects: physical and mental. As a young actor with a few films under his belt (Rock N’ Rolla, Inception), I think he has all the tools to become one of the great actors of our generation (with due time obviously).

I was wondering, for those of you who have seen the film, what is your take on Hardy’s performance? I can understand if some feel the performance is too forced or over the top but I don’t feel that he exxagerated to the point of over acting. The subtle things, such as Bronson’s gruff accent and physical mannerisms, are all on display perfectly. Even Bronson himself said that he was mesmerized by Hardy’s commitment and claimed to have the utmost respect for him as an actor and as a man.

So….what do you think?

the fact that tom hardy met bronson in prison in pre production must have really helped him develop the character… i remember seeing an interview where he said bronson insisted he grew a moustache and not wear a fake one

just found this interview also :O)

tom hardy is highly attractive and that’s really all that i care about with acting so he’s ok in my book

the special features on the DVD are actually pretty good (not if you pay full price for the DVD but I didn’t) and especially the one that shows Hardy and his trainer talking about his workout routine for the film (Hardy put on 42 lbs. of muscle for the role in 6 weeks). Also, there are monlogues conducted by the actual Charlie Bronson who states that he was thoroughly impressed with Hardy’s dedication and performance. He has even stated that they are very good friends who talk on a regular basis.

@ALEXANDRA HOPKINS Hardy is certainly an attractive man, which makes it easy to watch him, but I think his skill as an actor overshadows that. It always helps to be a charming, good looking British lad though (i.e. Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield—neither of them are half as good as Hardy though)

he was good in bronson. that was a pretty cool movie. i liked the little vaudeville vignettes they put in between scenes. isn’t he going to be in the next batman movie?

Isn’t he from Wessex or something?

he’s from London.

Are you sure he’s not from Dorchester?

@ALEXANDRA HOPKINS I think Hardy is signed on to do the next (and last) of Nolan’s Batman films. I don’t know what role he will play but I think he would make a great Riddler but I’m almost positive he will not play that role. Probably going to be the really buff, veiny guy from the Batman that had Poison Ivy in it. Not sure of that character’s name.

Both – jawdropping performance, I loved it. He wasn’t a bad Heathcliff either although my favourite Heathcliff out of the half dozen or so I’ve seen is Timothy Dalton

“Hardy, an only child, was born in Hammersmith, and raised in East Sheen, London.¹ His mother, Elizabeth Anne (née Barrett), is an artist and painter of Irish Catholic descent, and his father, Edward “Chips” Hardy, is an advertisement and comedy writer.²³⁴ Hardy studied at two private schools, Reed’s School and Tower House School, then at Richmond Drama School, and subsequently at the Drama Centre London. He began his career in war dramas, winning the part of United States Army Private John Janovec in the award-winning HBO and BBC miniseries Band of Brothers. He made his feature film debut in Ridley Scott’s 2001 war thriller Black Hawk Down."

His Heathcliff resembles Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

I think he spent part of his childhood in Casterbridge.