Harry Brown, the "unmissable" revenge thriller starring Michael Caine, is the film to watch this weekend. Released in 2009, the film aired on BBC One on Friday (10 July) and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, though it isn't a new addition to the service.
Directed by Daniel Barber, the film sees Caine play the titular character, a pensioner and widower living on a council estate. When his friend is murdered by local hoodlums, Harry takes it upon himself to dish out some vigilante justice.
With a stacked cast of British talent and the legendary actor in somewhat of a unique role compared to the rest of his filmography, this film is perfect for those who want a gnarly treat over the weekend.
Who's in Harry Brown?
• Michael Caine as Harold "Harry" Brown
• Emily Mortimer as DI Alice Frampton
• Charlie Creed Miles as DS Terence "Terry" Hicock
• David Bradley as Leonard "Len" Attwell
• Ben Drew as Noel Winters
• Sean Harris as Stretch
• Jack O'Connell as Marky
• Liam Cunningham as Sidney "Sid" Rourke
• Joe Gilgun as Kenneth "Kenny" Soames
What did critics say about Harry Brown?
Harry Brown garnered a largely positive response from critics and audiences alike. It currently holds an approval rating of 64% on Rotten Tomatoes from 127 reviews, while its user rating on IMDb is currently 7.2/10.
In the film's trailer, Shortlist was quoted as saying it was the "best British film of the year" as they dubbed it "unmissable", while The Chicago Reader (via Rotten Tomatoes) praised Caine's "magnificent" central performance.
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The New York Times (via Rotten Tomatoes) said of the film: "[Caine] performs his nasty work with verve, not only because he's fired a lot of movie guns, but also because he brings the memory of his great roles to every part."
"Caine remains a sublimely enjoyable actor to watch. He's so smooth, even when he's playing rough, that he can convince you that you're watching something artistic rather than just a prettily rendered piece of peculiar formula," wrote TIME Magazine (via Rotten Tomatoes).
The Los Angeles Times opined: "It's a strong directing debut for Barber, who uses the poignant power of Harry's experience to take a universal cut at decaying communities and the poverty of soul as well as pocket."
Where can I watch Harry Brown?
If you'd like to watch Harry Brown, it's available on BBC iPlayer for free, for UK viewers with a TV licence. It is also available via 50 Cent Action, a Prime Video channel which comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers.
Other Michael Caine movies you can watch right now
If you're after more movies starring Caine, Children of Men, the dystopian action-thriller from 2006, is currently available to stream in the UK on BBC iPlayer. You'll have to be quick, however, as it leaves the service on Tuesday (14 July).
Don't fancy Children of Men? Caine's period thriller The Prestige, directed by Christopher Nolan, is available via Prime Video's HBO Max channel. The film features Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as a pair of 19th-century magicians who engage in a bitter feud.
Harry Brown is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.
