Brighton Rock

Brighton Rock is the second film adaptation of the 1938 novel of the same name by Graham Greene. The first film, renamed Young Scarface in the U.S., was made in 1947 and is a well regarded film noir of that era. Greene was a prolific novelist but he is best remembered in film circles as the author of the novella and subsequent script for the cinematic classic The Third Man. Brighton Rock will not be loved and remembered as much as The Third Man but it is a solid retelling of Greene's tale.

Pinkie is a junior member of a gang running a protection racket in the beachside tourist community of Brighton, England in 1964. The story begins when young Pinkie's mentor, Kite, is murdered by members of the rival Colleoni gang. In retaliation, Pinkie and other members of the gang go after the man who murdered Kite. However, during a scuffle Pinkie’s psychopathic side emerges and he murders the man under a Pier in broad daylight. To make matters worse, Rose, a naive waitress at a local restaurant, accidentally comes into possession of a key bit of evidence linking Pinkie and his gang to the murder. Pinkie then begins a sadistic courtship of Rose in order to keep her quiet while at the same time moving to usurp a senior gang member, Spicer, as the new leader.

Pinkie treats Rose brutally but she seems so meek and lacking in self esteem that she accepts any attention from a man as affection. Both Rose and Pinkie are Catholics and there is a strong strain of Catholic guilt and redemption – hell and heaven – underpinning the film. Rose is clearly an innocent offering redemption to the guilty Pinkie. Below his violent exterior he actually seems to have some genuine affection for her. The question is, will Pinkie accept Rose’s offer of redemption or just kill her to shut her up forever. Brighton Rock skillfully combines this story of the suspenseful and cruel relationship between Rose and Pinkie with the ongoing conflict of the local gang war.

Screenwriter and Director Rowan Joffe made the inspired decision to move the story to 1964 Brighton amidst the riots between the Mods and Rockers. This rivalry mirrors the gangland war – there is teenage rebellion in the air and violence on the streets. The swinging ‘60s styles add a colorful ambiance to the proceedings with images of flashy Mods on tricked out Vespa scooters battling with slick haired Rockers. It was a time of cultural change in England and teenagers were flexing their muscles. Pinkie is connected to this younger generation and is rebelling against the older gangsters and their old fashioned ways. Pinkie’s ties to the youth culture are apparent when he steals a scooter to escape from the Colleoni gang and ends up leading a parade of Mods along the seafront road. He keeps the scooter and also begins dressing in Mod fashions. Later, in one of the film’s best scenes, when Pinkie attempts to kill Spicer they are engulfed by a beachside riot between the Mods and Rockers. In addition to the betrayal of Spicer, the film includes several other strong mob confrontation sequences. The initial pursuit and murder of Kite’s killer by Pinkie is an exciting chase scene with the gang cornering their rival on the crowded boardwalk before Pinkie jumps him under the pier.

Modern audiences may find some of the dramatic scenes overwrought but filming this story in the classic melodramatic style is an appropriate homage to the film’s noir roots. The entire cast is stellar and the ‘60s English seaside resort setting adds style and thematic resonance to the conventional genre elements and make Brighton Rock an entertaining crime thriller.

Brighton Rock was available in the U.S. in August 2011 through IFC Films Video On Demand services and a very limited theatrical release. It will be available on DVD beginning December 27.

Jar City (Myrin)

This 2006 Iclandic mystery, based upon a crime novel published in 2000, predates the incredible surge in public interest for Nordic Noir that has come in the wake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and its sequels. Jar City is an interesting but somewhat conventional mystery set in a barrenly beautiful landscape that touches on themes of broken family relationships and the genetic ties that bind us all to our ancestors.

As cynical veteran policeman Erlunder investigates the murder of an elderly man in Reykjavik, he begins to uncover secrets that connect his death to events that happened 30 years ago. The victim has a long criminal past and mysterious photos hidden in his apartment that take Erlunder to a small town outside of Reykjavik and lead the investigation to uncover police corruption and buried family secrets. To reveal many details of the plot would spoil the enjoyment of watching this police procedural unfold. While the mystery element of the film is familiar to any fan of the genre, it is well plotted with a few twists to keep you guessing about the resolution until the end of the film.

What makes this film unique is not so much the story as it is the unfamiliar details of the Icelandic setting. Both the urban and rural landscapes are photographed in a cold, dull light that shows them as isolated and harsh, yet oddly scenic. By contrast, in both form and function, the Icelandic Genetic Research Institute represents a more progressive and modern Iceland. Director Baltasar Kormakur shows a country trying to move forward while being uncontrollably tied to the past, as are the characters involved in the central mystery. 

Erlunder is a stoic but likeable cop and his character shows how the dichotomy between Iceland's past and future plays out in daily life. He is old-school Iceland - he might buy dinner at a fast food drive-through but he orders sheep's head. His daughter rebels through the typical generational provocations of drugs and casual sex, and the younger police officers irritate him with their modern ways. Erulunder cannot hide his disdain for a young policeman who asks for a vegan menu and latte at a traditional local restaurant. However, Erulunder is clearly focused on the crime throughout the film and it is his detective work that ultimately solves the puzzle.

Jar City is not a ground breaking mystery but it is an engaging story with a unique Icelandic setting, compelling characters and stark, picturesque cinematography. Any fan of Nordic Noir is sure to be pleased with this film and, although they cannot be directly compared, I found it a more compelling movie experience than my viewing of the flawed Swedish adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Apparently, like Dragon Tattoo, Jar City is also slated for a Hollywood remake.

There is no DVD released in the U.S. but it can be viewed through Netflix streaming as well as iTunes and Amazon.