Legend 2015 Review — a look at Tom Hardy’s performance as the Kray twins, in one of the most talked-about British gangster films of the decade.

They were iconic and easy to glamourise. Look at the image below of photographer David Bailey’s shot of the real Kray twins — you’ll know the one I mean. Far more intimidating than the real film’s publicity poster.

Who Were the Kray Twins? ( Is Legend Based on a True Story? )

Yes — Legend is based on the real lives of Ronald and Reginald Kray, London’s most notorious gangster twins of the 1960s. The Krays were “legitimate businessmen” who dabbled in both legitimate business and criminal gangsterism. Reggie was the more business-minded of the two; Ron was the criminal. It is worth noting that Ron was a violent paranoid schizophrenic — you could say he was driven by his own worst impulses as much as anything else.

Tom Hardy as the Kray Twins: A Dual Performance

One of the biggest draws of this Legend movie is Tom Hardy playing both Kray twins. He handles the dual role brilliantly — Ron is Ron, and Reg is Reg. On set, he could switch pitch and character in an instant, making this one of the standout Kray twins films for that reason alone.

Plot Summary

SPOILERS

Like all gangsters, the police eventually caught up with them. Ron was volatile and left criminal traces of himself everywhere. Reg, who usually cleaned up after Ron through sheer intimidation. However Reg was arrested for the murder of Jack “The Hat” McVittie. He committed the crime in front of numerous witnesses. Without Reg to look after him, Ron was sent back to a secure psychiatric ward because of his violent tendencies.

Legend 2015 Review: Final Verdict

I love this film. There are so many memorable moments. Some say it glamourises what were, at the end of the day, a couple of thugs — and they probably were. But they were identical twins: big, strong, and larger than life. What’s not to like in a gangster film?

The fights are well choreographed, and it’s a credit to the director that two characters played by one man never “look shit” on screen.

Legend vs Goodfellas and Casino

Whether this Legend movie stands up against Scorsese films like Goodfellas or Casino is up for debate. But it holds its own for a different reason — they were English. They were ‘our gangsters’.

Whereabouts can I watch Tom Hardy Kray Twins

Prime Video Is the Only Streaming Platform that does it for ‘free’. You can watch it on other platforms for about £3.50