I don't like the title Legend given to yet another film based on yet another book about the Krays.
Glamourising crime has proved to be a useful earner for both the film and publishing industry over the years. It always surprises me that a store as right-on as Waterstones has a whole section of its shop devoted to crime. Not fiction but fact based books celebrating the lives of various hardmen.
It was a former armed robber who hit the nail on the head for me. He described how he had wasted his life up till the age of 40, spent more years in prison than free and missed his chidlren growing up. He had eventually turned his life round and now worked with youngsters on the periphery of crime, persuading them to make better life choices than he had. This man was scathing about Guy Ritchie 'a posh ponce who glamourises crime in his gangster crap films. I'd love to meet him and tell him the damage he does.'
At least this latest attempt by the British film industry to cosy up to crime lords made some effort to show the Krays for what they were. There was no 'old ladies could walk the streets, strike a light me old china, Ronnie and Reggie, salt of the earth' urban myth rubbish. Fact is Reg Kray was a wife beating thug, and Ron Kray a psychopathic peodeophile - and this just about comes out in the film.
Oh and Tom Hardy, the actor who played both Kray twins, did a very good Michael Caine impression. Still feel guilty for watching it though.
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