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Deservedly praised for their work on the Masterful 'A History of Violence' (2005), David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen reunite to a bit lesser, yet very satisfying, effect with 'Eastern Promises'; a dramatic thriller written by Steve Knight (Oscar-Nominee 'Dirty Pretty Things'). Punctuated by 'Graphic Sequences' of convulsive violence and laced with macabre humor — (two of Cronenberg's signature motifs) — this riveting and atmospheric film carries you through to an end on such a bewilderingly abrupt note; you may wonder if there's a missing reel. Set primarily in London's Russian Community, 'Eastern Promises' stars Naomi Watts as Anna Khritrova, a midwife born to a Russian father and English mother (Sinead Cusack). Saddened by the death of a Russian teenager in childbirth, Anna resolves to find the baby's relatives. However, the only substantive information Anna can find about the dead girl is in her personal diary, written in Russian (a language Anna's never learned). Ignoring the advice of her ill-tempered Russian Uncle Stepan (Jerzy Skolimowski) to turn the diary over to the police, Anna finds a translator in Seymon (Armin Mueller-Stahl), the cultured Old World Owner of the Trans-Siberian Restaurant. What Anna doesn't know is that Seymon is actually a ruthless member of the feared Vory V Zakone Criminal Brotherhood — and that he and his volatile son Kirill (Vincent Cassell) have a sordid history with the dead girl that must remain secret. To that end, they rely on trusted driver Nikolai Luzhin (Mortensen), whose cryptic, soft-spoken demeanor betrays nothing, making him all the more formidable of Enforcers. Yet for reasons introduced later, Nikolai seems to want to help Anna — even as he rises in the Vory V Zakone. Evocatively shot by Cronenberg's longtime cinematographer Peter Suschitzky, 'Eastern Promises' provides a viscerally disturbing glimpse of the Eastern European "people traffic" conducted by the Vory Z Zakone (a real-life criminal syndicate) and others. There are scenes here as nerve-fraying as anything as Cronenberg's ever done; a fight scene in a public bath is almost unbearably intense; and the insidious dread of the film persists throughout. The police are shown briefly, investigating the related-murder of a Chechen Gangster, but then disappear until Cronenberg and Knight bring them back for a late-breaking plot twist that's revealing and creatively developed. Although 'Eastern Promises' doesn't quite live up to the masterpiece that set their bar with 'A History of Violence'; it's assuredly not a letdown. And Mortensen has never been better. Playing the enigmatic Nikolai, his sinewy physique covered in tattoos, he's a mesmerizing presence, both lethal and morally conflicted. "He" fulfills the promise of 'A History of Violence'. Good Film, with an atmospheric and fulfilling portrait of another family of Mafia; leaving behind the stereotypes and overly-cinematized Italian Mob. Applauds Nonetheless....Doesn't Dissapoint !!Read full review
Film noir was (and is) one of the most celebrated sub-genres in American film. Thus it's strange to see how few noirs have been made since their golden age in the forties and fifties. There was Polanski's masterful "Chinatown", the handsomely crafted and atmospheric "L.A Confidential", and if you're willing to stretch the idea, Michael Mann's menacing, dreamy "Collateral" felt rather nourish. And now we have David Conenberg's "Eastern Promises"--at its heart merely a well-made crime mystery, taken up a notch by Cronenberg's grisly, brutal direction--a follow-up to his masterful "A History of Violence", to add to that list of modern noir. Plot-wise, EP has enough twists and turns to keep viewers interested in its dark, seedy tale. Its central mystery revolves around the diary of a 14-year-old Russian girl, discovered by an English midwife Anna (Naomi Watts) after the girl gives birth and subsequently dies. Since the diary is written in Russian, Anna takes it to a Russian restaurant to get translated (after her bitter Uncle at first refuses). It is here she meets Semyon (Armin-Muehl Stahl), a man who speaks so eloquently you know he's rotten to the core. And he is. In fact, he's the head of an entire crime syndicate; mostly though, we the audience get to know two members of his entourage: son Kirill (Vincent Cassel) and their driver Nikolai (Viggo Mortenson). The performers are all great; Naomi Watts brings some personality to a character who seems to be written with none, Vincent Cassel is memorable, and Stahl's presence radiates with calm power. Of course, it's Viggo Mortenson's performance everyone is talking about. His presence as a calm, calculated killer is chilling and tense; he's just as great here as his subtle burn in "A History of Violence", his accent unflawed and his rage openly bared. His already infamous fight scene (spectacularly choreographed) is his tour-de-force moment for sure, but it is here where its possible to see what the entire project is: an average thriller made more intense and set apart by Cronenberg's visceral and simply revolting use of violence. Some moments in this film are among the most squeamish you'll ever see, but that's the limit of the film's power. For whereas "A History of Violence" was relevant, horrifying, masterful, suspenseful and haunting (staying in your mind long after its end; getting under your very nerves even), "Eastern Promises" is merely a passable story served up with the Cronenberg touch. Its ending even felt a little incomplete to me, a few elements unexplained (and not in a good, open-ended way). But against all other contenders out there this season, it's worth a look.Read full review
Was intrigued by preview and wanted to see how everything would turn out. After watching movie, gleaned information about how Russian Mafia is set up and run. The story has two main characters in my opinion. The first is the tough guy driver (Played by Viggo) who aspires to do more than be a guard for the bosses son. The second is the baby of a 14 year old girl that was raped and murdered. They create the common bond that brings to light the drivers true self. Watch this if like bloody fights, murders and Mafia family values. Viggo's portrayal is excellent, he brings the loner type with killer abilities and a heart. You WILL enjoy this flick.
Viggo Mortensen can do no wrong in my eyes! He is by far one of the greatest actors of this generation and this movie proves it!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I liked this movie. Coming from that part of the World, I could relate to the themes and the dynamics. The Director has done an excellent job portraying Nikolai's cold and pragmatic mind. Nikolai indeed shows a soft and warm side, who, at first, seems to be a cold and ruthless thug on the outside. Westerners do not perceive Russians or other Slavic nationals as being smart, determined, and sentimental at the same time. This movie offers another point of view. Vigo played a great role, which puts him among top 5 actors on my list. This may be the New Godfather sequel, who knows... The whole thing about the Russian immigrants is pretty accurate, and the suspense throughout the movie is thrillilng. The influential "Vory-v-Zakone" (Lawful Thieves) and their closed society presented in a simplistic way, but gives the viewer an idea of what is happening. Open your mind and ejoy, because it is the only stage in which your mind operates anyway.Read full review
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