Josh Helman played Lenny with these OTT facial twitches & constant gurning, which was so off putting I nearly turned it off. Contrary to other reviews,the actors portrayal bare no resemblance to the real life Lenny. Anyone that doesn't believe that go on YouTube and watch the few interviews that are on there of Lenny in full Flow. Also the real Lenny was a 20 stone, muscled up monster and dwarfed Shaw in their fights, both in height and bulk. They didn't catch this difference in this film. They had a 6ft2 Josh Helman weighing no more than 15 stone, fighting Bisping playing Shaw who's the same size himself. In reality there was about 5 inch difference and at least 6 stone.
It was obvious to me that the Director had watched Bronson & tried to copy it, both in it's style & the bits of comedy they tried to introduce but it all doesn't really come off. They even put in the singing skit, which is straight off Bronson. I see why they did it because Lenny loved to sing Elvis songs and even brought out an album.
Even though the film sells itself as 'The life story of one of Britain's most notorious bare-knuckle fighters', the Story though is just too short and is just based mainly through a couple of years in his late 20's, when he fights a 40 odd year old Shaw 3 times and a little bit of bare knuckle fighting at the start.
Speaking of Shaw,having read his book I'd have much preferred to see his story on screen, although there would have been room for both interesting life stories. Shaw a man similar to Lenny in many ways but spent 18 years inside before coming out & fighting Lenny in his 40's. Then went on to make himself into a millionaire, through mainly real estate.
Going back to this film, they could have fleshed it out so much more both character wise and story wise. Starting at his early years as petty criminal, to bare knuckle fighter, to unlicensed boxer, to Doorman around London, debt collector & mob enforcer, the attempts on his life, his manslaughter charge, to finally him turning his life around & getting into acting plus writing his biography
Why though they felt the need to turn Lenny into some kind of lovable rogue type who sorted out the ills of his local Community is beyond me. Truth is the man was one of the biggest bullies Britain has seen, even his Cousin Frank Warren described him as "a terrible bully, Lenny. One of the biggest bullies you will ever meet, always intimidating people'. Which speaks volumes.
Apart from his role in Lock stock and his 3 fights with Shaw, he was just as famous back in the day for turning down fights, lying about his accomplishments and getting beat up by the likes of Johnny Waldron & Cliff Field.
If you know something about Lenny, especially his fights with Shaw it might be of interest and is entertaining at times. But other than that, it really doesn't do justice on what could have been another Bronson. Shame this was John Hurts final film.
It was obvious to me that the Director had watched Bronson & tried to copy it, both in it's style & the bits of comedy they tried to introduce but it all doesn't really come off. They even put in the singing skit, which is straight off Bronson. I see why they did it because Lenny loved to sing Elvis songs and even brought out an album.
Even though the film sells itself as 'The life story of one of Britain's most notorious bare-knuckle fighters', the Story though is just too short and is just based mainly through a couple of years in his late 20's, when he fights a 40 odd year old Shaw 3 times and a little bit of bare knuckle fighting at the start.
Speaking of Shaw,having read his book I'd have much preferred to see his story on screen, although there would have been room for both interesting life stories. Shaw a man similar to Lenny in many ways but spent 18 years inside before coming out & fighting Lenny in his 40's. Then went on to make himself into a millionaire, through mainly real estate.
Going back to this film, they could have fleshed it out so much more both character wise and story wise. Starting at his early years as petty criminal, to bare knuckle fighter, to unlicensed boxer, to Doorman around London, debt collector & mob enforcer, the attempts on his life, his manslaughter charge, to finally him turning his life around & getting into acting plus writing his biography
Why though they felt the need to turn Lenny into some kind of lovable rogue type who sorted out the ills of his local Community is beyond me. Truth is the man was one of the biggest bullies Britain has seen, even his Cousin Frank Warren described him as "a terrible bully, Lenny. One of the biggest bullies you will ever meet, always intimidating people'. Which speaks volumes.
Apart from his role in Lock stock and his 3 fights with Shaw, he was just as famous back in the day for turning down fights, lying about his accomplishments and getting beat up by the likes of Johnny Waldron & Cliff Field.
If you know something about Lenny, especially his fights with Shaw it might be of interest and is entertaining at times. But other than that, it really doesn't do justice on what could have been another Bronson. Shame this was John Hurts final film.