'Brighton Rock' (1999) Movie of the Book by Graham Greene

This adaptation of 'Brighton Rock', directed by Rowan Joffé, attempts to bring Graham Greene’s 1938 novel to a modern audience. While visually striking and boasting strong performances, the film struggles to capture the novel’s deep existential themes and moral complexity, ultimately feeling more like a stylish crime drama than a truly faithful adaptation.

Plot Summary: Set in 1964 (rather than the novel’s original 1930s setting), 'Brighton Rock' follows Pinkie Brown (Sam Riley), a young, ruthless gangster trying to climb the ranks of the Brighton underworld. After a violent murder, he manipulates a naive waitress, Rose (Andrea Riseborough), into silence by seducing her, while the determined Ida Arnold (Helen Mirren) becomes suspicious and seeks justice. As Pinkie’s paranoia and violence escalate, the story hurtles toward its bleak and tragic conclusion.

Strengths: Performances and Atmosphere: One of the film’s strongest aspects is its performances. Sam Riley delivers a chilling portrayal of Pinkie, capturing the character’s brooding menace and barely restrained rage. Andrea Riseborough brings a quiet vulnerability to Rose, making her tragic arc all the more affecting. Helen Mirren’s Ida Arnold is a standout, adding gravitas to the role of the amateur detective who refuses to let evil go unchecked.

Visually, the film is stunning, with cinematographer John Mathieson crafting a moody, noir-like aesthetic. The decision to shift the setting to the 1960s allows for striking imagery of Mods and Rockers clashing on Brighton’s seafront, reinforcing the themes of youthful rebellion and social change. The film’s soundtrack and use of period detail create a vivid atmosphere that immerses the audience in its world.

Weaknesses: Thematic Depth and Faithfulness to Greene
While the film succeeds in mood and tension, it falters in translating the novel’s deeper Catholic themes of sin, redemption, and damnation. Greene’s Brighton Rock is not just a crime thriller—it’s a meditation on morality, free will, and divine justice. The 1947 adaptation, starring Richard Attenborough, better captured this philosophical undercurrent, while the this version leans more toward surface-level noir stylization.

By updating the setting to the 1960s, the film loses some of the social and political anxieties present in the original. The 1930s Brighton of the novel is a world in decay, where crime and Catholic guilt intertwine. The 1960s backdrop, while visually compelling, feels less integral to the story’s existential concerns.

Final Verdict: 'Brighton Rock' (1999) is an admirable attempt at reimagining Greene’s novel with a fresh visual style and strong performances. However, it lacks the thematic weight and moral complexity that made the book (and even the 1947 film) so powerful. While it works as a moody crime thriller, it doesn’t fully do justice to Greene’s exploration of damnation and grace.