The Aesthetics of the Tea Serving Scene in "Bronson"

The 2008 pseudo-biopic movie "Bronson" starring Tom Hardy is definitely a movie that I appreciate more than most. It is mostly nonfictional and is definitely hilarious. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the Tea Serving Scene, I recommend you at least watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VZwNVFq_rU. The way that the scene is performed by the actors involved makes for a tacit and wildly brilliant scene in the movie, with a humorous tone that arises from the performances by the actors, in a very subtle way. I want to break down this scene since not only did the new Tom Hardy move "Mad Max: Fury Road" come out today, and I would love to promote a good Tom Hardy movie for people, but also because I want to show the brilliance of this film because it really is a brilliant movie, that everyone should watch at some point. It's socially significant and is also really great.

The scene starts with "Charles Bronson," the main character's pseudonym, entering a room while pushing a cart with tea and tea accessories on it. There is only a prison guard in the room at the time.

Charles Bronson: Would you like a cup of tea, mate?

I love how he says this; the accent is perfect.

Prison Guard: Thanks, Mickey, I'd love one.

It's funny how the prison guard actually knows Bronson by name. This is probably because at this point Mickey Peterson AKA Charles Bronson is already known as "Britian's Most Violent Prisoner." Bronson has probably beaten up many guards at the prison he is in, possibly including some of this particular guard's friends, or maybe even him. They all know Bronson, and probably not because of anything good.

Bronson: Milk and sugar?
Guard:Please.

The prison guard sounds so subtly desperate for the milk and sugar. I'm almost unsure on how the tone of his voice is supposed to reflect his mood. He almost sounds fed up with his work, at the moment.

Bronson: How many sugars?
Guard:Two.
Bronson: Two ...

At this point in the scene, a character that is later known as "Paul Daniels" enters the room as he sings a song about tea while smoking a cigarette like he is a tobacco connoisseur.

Paul: Picture you upon my knee,
Tea for two
and two for tea,
Just me for you and you for me ...
Da, da...
Bronson:And would you like a cup of tea too mate?


I love Hardy's line delivery; Bronson can tell that this man is probably indirectly asking for a cup of tea. Bronson loathes indirectness, and is probably the bluntest character in the movie, and maybe the bluntest man in Britain.

Paul: Nothing closer to my heart than a cup of English Cha.

This is my favorite line in the whole scene. The way he says it, *mph*, it's delicious.

Bronson: Sugar and milk?
Paul: No, I like it dark.

Matt King (the actor who portrays Paul Daniels) continues to perform in this raspy voice that is uncomfortably soothing and is generally humorous to listen to.

Paul [cont.]: That's an impressive set of guns you have there,
you must be handy in a brawl.
Bam! Bam! Knock-out ...
Ding Ding ...
Very Nice.

These lines are not only still funny to listen to, they also foreshadow a later part of the movie. Paul's social etiquette is hilarious in itself, and really ties this scene together, like the rug in The Dude's room in The Big Lebowski.

For anyone who likes Tom Hardy, I recommend this movie. It is a bit weird, a bit disturbing and is very good. The acting is fantastic and anyone who loves a good British brawl will enjoy "Bronson."