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Created May 06, 2010 10:20PM PST • Edited May 07, 2010 07:23PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   The Good, the Grim & the Grimmer. Michael Caine as an elderly avenger against gang thugs suggests a British “Gran Torino.” Harry Brown instead delivers a geriatric “Death Wish.” His allies – such as they are – are downright grim, while his enemies are grimmer yet.

   Harry Brown? More like Harry Bummer. The redoubtable Sir Michael never fails to provide good company, yet even his avuncular charm can’t rescue this sad sack of a revenge thriller. The movie’s high point comes when Caine’s Harry Brown visits a pair of spectacularly scummy drug dealers in their lair. Darkly funny that. If only the rest of the movie had similar verve.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Michael Caine could read the phone book and be worth watching while he does it. While he’s had worse roles, this is far from one of his highlights. That said, it feels like watching a favorite uncle grow old to now see him just this side of elderly.

   Emily Mortimer’s dour performance as an earnest Detective Inspector wins her no plaudits.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars OK 2.5

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    OK 2.5

    The film felt like a throwback to the 70s, when rampant street criminality led to movies like Death Wish. This seems out of sorts with the current times, leading to a suspension-of-disbelief problem for me.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Barely OK 2.0

13. Music Barely OK 2.0

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.5

17. Sex Titillating 1.8

18. Violence Brutal 3.1

19. Rudeness Profane 2.6

21. Reality

    Glib 1.4

    Are housing projects in the UK currently overrun with open air drug markets that the police are powerless or too fearful to stop?

    More practically, the final double-crosses didn’t hold water.

22. Circumstantial Glib 2.0

23. Biological Glib 1.3

24. Physical Natural 1.0