If you're a movie fan, and not yet familiar with Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn's work, this needs to be remedied. First thing you should do is watch his fantastic, gritty "Pusher" trilogy on DVD or Netflix's Watch Instantly, then check out "Bronson" at the Uptown this weekend. It tells the true-ish story of Michael Peterson, who at 19 attempted to rob a post office for a nominal sum of money and was captured and sentenced to seven years in prison. "Don't worry, son, you'll be out in four," his mother tells him. Not bloody likely. Peterson loves prison and yearns to be famous, taking on the name Charles Bronson and turning his many violent tendencies into art. As the title character, Tom Hardy gives last year's best performance you never heard about, completely transforming himself into a muscular brute who loves to fight. But it's Refn's thrilling direction, heavy on style but appropriate for the material, that puts you in the head of the main character. It's funny, scary and fascinating to spend time there. Think "Chopper" crossed with "A Clockwork Orange." (Rated R.)
- Uptown Theater
Midnight Fri and Sat (01/22-23)
