Legend (2015)

Two Tom Hardys, one great trick, and a movie that never figures out what to say about either of them. Legend is narrated by Frances, Reggie’s young wife, but the script gives her almost nothing to do besides watch and worry, and her story deserved far more than that. The film is also a little too charmed by the twins, all sharp suits, nightclubs and crooners, when the real Krays left real victims behind. Hardy, though, is something. His Reggie is smooth and coiled, a gangster who thinks he’s a businessman. His Ron is a lumbering, blunt wildcard, and the performance sometimes tips into broad comedy, which sits awkwardly with a man the film says is seriously ill. Watching the two of them brawl with each other is a technical marvel. It made $43 million worldwide on a reported $25M. A 5.5 because Hardy is doing double duty for a film that doesn’t know what it thinks. $852.96 says you rewind the twins’ fight hunting for the seam where one Tom Hardy ends and the other begins.

What works: Tom Hardy’s dual performance is a genuine feat, with Reggie and Ron feeling like two completely different men who happen to share a face.

What doesn’t: Frances narrates but barely gets a story of her own, and the film glamorizes the twins while treating Ron’s illness as comic relief.

Who it’s for: Tom Hardy fans and anyone curious about the Krays who wants style and a showcase performance more than a deep crime drama.