World Famous Comics: Eastern Promises (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Eastern Promises (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl Directed By: David Cronenberg Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: HD DVD Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen Label: Universal Studios Home Entertainment Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: December 23, 2007 Running Time: 101 minutes Theatrical Release Date: September 21, 2007
Amazon.com: David Cronenberg's signature obsessions flower in Eastern Promises, a stunning look at violence, responsibility, and skin. Near Christmastime in London, a baby is born to a teenage junkie--an event that leads a midwife (Naomi Watts) into the world of the Russian mob. Central to this world is an ambitious enforcer (Viggo Mortensen) who's lately buddied up with the reckless son (Vincent Cassel) of a mob boss (Armin Mueller-Stahl, doing his benign-sinister thing). Screenwriter Steve Knight also wrote Dirty Pretty Things, and in some ways this is a companion piece to that film, though utterly different in style. The plot is classical to the point of being familiar, but Cronenberg doesn't allow anything to become sentimental; he and his peerless cinematographer Peter Suschitzky take a cool, controlled approach to this story. Because of that, when the movie erupts in its (relatively brief) violence, it's genuinely shocking. Cronenberg really puts the viewer through it, as though to shame the easy purveyors of pulp violence--nobody will cheer when the blood runs in this film. Still, Eastern Promises has a furtive humor, nicely conveyed in Viggo Mortensen's highly original performance. Covered in tattoos, his body a scroll depicting his personal history of violence, Mortensen conveys a subtle blend of resolve and lost-ness. He's a true, haunting mystery man. --Robert Horton
Stills from Eastern Promises . Photos by Peter Mountain.
Vincent Cassel (left) and Viggo Mortensen (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Armin Mueller-Stahl (center) stars in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Viggo Mortensen (left) and Naomi Watts (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Viggo Mortensen (left) and Naomi Watts (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Naomi Watts stars in David Cronenberg's new thriller EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Armin Mueller-Stahl (left) and Naomi Watt (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Mina E. Mina (left), Vincent Cassel (center) and Viggo Mortensen (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Vincent Cassel stars in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Viggo Mortensen stars in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Product Description: Viggo Mortensen and Academy Award® nominee Naomi Watts star in this electrifying thriller from critically acclaimed director David Cronenberg (A History of Violence). Criminal mastermind Nikolai (Mortensen) finds his ties to a notorious crime family shaken when he crosses paths with Anna (Watts) a midwife who has accidentally uncovered evidence against them. Their unusual relationship sets off an unstoppable chain of murder mystery and deception in the explosive film critics are calling "provocative and engrossing" (Claudia Puig USA Today).System Requirements:Running Time; 101 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/CRIME Rating: R UPC: 025195000369 Manufacturer No: 62100067
Filling a Void What a difference it makes when your retinue sees your vision! Here is the second Cronenberg movie with Viggo Mortensen, and with this oeuvre, the auteur finally enters the ranks of film's great directors. Thanks mainly to Mortensen, Cronenberg's sometimes incoherent, often dissipated eye focuses its lens.
Cronenberg's genius has always been to lead the viewer down rabbit holes, but he often strands them there. Mortensen won't allow that to happen. He values his director to much to allow him to be fettered in gordian knots. Many of Cronenberg's previous movies have suffered from his lead actor's inability to realize this. Gabriel Byrne came very close in 2002's "Spider." If only Maria Bello could have been brought aboard too. Her interpretation of Cronemberg is just as strong as Mortensen, and together they made 2005's "History of Violence" one of Cronenberg's strongest films. Ms. Watts gave it a brave attempt, but utlimately came nowhere near as good as Bello would have been.
Perhaps too, there has been a void left in the Earth's culture since Bergman passed. "Eastern Promises" seemed almost an homage to the late auteur. Much of the camera work could almost be a direct imitation of many techniques invented by the Swede. While these touts were charming enough, I don't think they should be repeated in the future. Cronenberg has realized how to part the curtain, and show us reality flickering beneath the lights. I have enough faith in his craft to eagerly await his next release.
Certainly this film is the most accessible of all Cronenberg movies. It may even be his best. I would recommend that a first-time viewer of Cronenberg's work see this first, then invest in a retrospective.
hard to follow I had a hard time understanding Eastern Promises. If it wasn't the quiet mumbling that dominated the majority of the conversations, it was the shocking and disgusting segments involving gruesome deaths, blood, or other kinds of violence. The build up in the beginning was extremely slow and uninteresting. It's not a movie for everyone.
Superbly acted meditation on honour and loyalty Superbly acted saga on the Russian mafia in London. Has echoes of "The Godfather" and the machinations of the Russian nobility. Not really an action film, more a meditation on loyalty and honour. Told with maximum impact by director David Cronenberg, who continues his excellent partnership with Viggo Mortensen from "A History of Violence" (2005). Only a few inconsistent plot points and an abrupt ending detract from this film.
Brilliantly acted but the plot is flawed I gave this film four stars ONLY,and I repeat, ONLY, because of the amazing quality of Viggo Mortensen's acting. He remains stony-faced throughout the film, and much is communicated with the most subtle of expressions. I was impressed even by his use of subtle body language. I have a new respect for him as an actor after watching this film, and hope to see more of his work in the future. This film should be rated NC-17, not R, for the full frontal male nudity, graphic sex scene, and intense, gory and realistic violence. THe plot is flawed, andmany will find especially the ending to be unfulfilling. Also, I have one important question: Why do the Russian gangsters in this film speak english (Russian-accented) with an American accent? its wierdly contrasted to Naomi Watt's English accent. I must add that the fight scene in the bath house is one of the best I've ever seen on film, mostly because it seemed to lack that obvious choreographed feel. Once again Viggo's acting makes this scene stand out.
Great Screenplay and Performance by Viggo As most reviewers have noted, Viggo is the story of this movie. He gives an award-winning caliber performance as Nikolai, a on the rise chaffeur to a Russian gangster in London. What makes Viggo's performance great is the control and restraint he delivers as well as the anger and violence he exhibits at other moments. My two complaints and reason for a four are: (1) I thought Naomi Watts was lifeless as a midwife that enters this unseemly underworld of crime. At times, I was frustrated by her seeming naievete and cluelessness to the situations she put herself in. (2) Without revealing any of the ending, I was a bit disappointed in the ending of the movie. While i don't like neat endings, the ending felt a little too abrupt in many ways and too tidy in others. Lastly, I felt Cronenberg was more judicious in his use of screen violence in the film.
While there were a few hard-to-watch scenes, they contributed to and added dimension to the movie, rather than being gratuitous. The reality is the world of organized crime is a brutal and violent world and not reflecting that would have raised questions about the authenticity of the world he was portraying. Additionally, the performances by Armin Mueller-Stahl (Semyon) and Vincent Cassel (Kirill) as father and son gangsters are top-notch.
Overall, this is a movie worth seeing, especially for the powerful performance by Mortensen.
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