Taglines: Love. Murder. Revenge.
With the aesthetics of a British gangster flick and the soul of classic film noir, screenwriter Rowan Joffe’s debut feature “Brighton Rock” tells the story of Pinkie, an ambitious teenage gangster who will stop at nothing to make a name for himself in Britain’s sinister world of organized crime.
His aspirations are nearly derailed when Rose, a naive local waitress, stumbles upon evidence linking him to a revenge killing. To keep his alibi alive, Pinkie seduces Rose, weaving a chilling web of deception and passion, violence and love.
Set in the picturesque seaside resort of Brighton, England, the film updates Graham Greene’s iconic 1939 novel to 1964-at the height of Britain’s Mods and Rockers riots-and stars the sexy, up-and-coming British pair Sam Riley (Control, On the Road), in a performance of intense cunning and charm, and Andrea Riseborough (Made in Dagenham, Never Let Me Go) as the young couple.
Veterans Helen Mirren and John Hurt co-star as friends who set out to protect Rose from Pinkie and the dangerous world she is quickly falling into. Rowan Jaffe’s first feature is a triumph, perfectly capturing Graham Greene’s violent and sexually daring masterpiece.
Brighton Rock is a British crime film loosely based on Graham Greene’s 1938 novel of the same name. Rowan Joffé wrote the screenplay and directed the film, which stars Sam Riley, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Serkis, John Hurt, Sean Harris and Helen Mirren.
The novel was previously made into a film in 1947 by the Boulting brothers under the same title. Although the novel and original film are both set in the 1930s, the 21st century adaptation takes place in Brighton and is set during the Mods and Rockers era of the 1960s.
Riley plays “Pinkie”, the role originally played by Richard Attenborough. It was largely filmed in the nearby town of Eastbourne, with Eastbourne Pier standing in for Brighton Pier, and at Beachy Head. Some scenes were shot at Hedsor House in Buckinghamshire and in Brighton itself.
Brighton Rock
Directed by: Rowan Joffe
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Helen Mirren, John Hurt, Sam Riley, Sean Harris, Andrea Riseborough, Steven Robertson, Andy Serkis, Francis Magee
Screenplay by: Graham Greene, Rowan Joffe
Production Design by: James Merifield
Cinematography by: John Mathieson
Film Editing by: Joe Walker
Costume Design by: Julian Day
Art Direction by: Paul Ghirardani
Music by: Martin Phipps
MPAA Rating: R for violence, language and some sexual content.
Studio: IFC Films
Release Date: August 26, 2011
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