‘Brighton Rock’ another pointless remake

Director: Rowan Joffe

Cast: Sam Riley, Helen Mirren, John Hurt, Andrea Riseborough

Cert: 16

The perfect example of a film that never required re-making, especially since the new version turns out to be such a clunking disappointment. You cannot improve on perfection.

The 1947 noir ‘Brighton Rock’, based on the Graham Green novel, starred the brilliant Richard Attenborough as small-time hood Pinkie on the run for having a gang rival done in … the original had everything the re-make lacks.

Riley does his best to flesh out the updated Pinkie – to the l960s – but debut director Rowan Joffe, son of The Mission’s Roland, just can’t steer it home since, in truth, there was no need to try.

No need, either to set it in the 1960s in order, clearly, to latch onto the mods and rockers confrontations or the fondly-remembered ‘cool’ of the period.

Star Rating: 2/5