Eastern Promises

[Bourne101]

http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/o/-/Q/easternpromisesposter.jpg

Directed by David Cronenberg

Genre: Drama/Mystery/Thriller

Tagline: Every sin leaves a mark.

Plot Outline: The film follows the mysterious and ruthless Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who is tied to one of London's most notorious organized crime families. His carefully maintained existence is jarred when he crosses paths with Anna (Naomi Watts), an innocent midwife trying to right a wrong, who accidentally uncovers potential evidence against the family. Now Nikolai must put into motion a harrowing chain of murder, deceit, and retribution.

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts and Vincent Cassel

Rated R for strong brutal and bloody violence, some graphic sexuality, language and nudity.

Runtime: 96 minutes

Although it doesn't look as good as A History of Violence, it still looks pretty good, and I will definitely see it in theatres. Just something I noticed, and it doesn't really mean anything but, the rating reason, runtime and genre is almost exactly the same as A History of Violence.

[XCoRyX]

CANNOT wait...looks amazing. Simple as that.

More and more, Viggo is easily my favorite/the best actor out there right now.

[Mr.HyDe807]

A Hisotry of Violence was a great movie, hopefully this is just as good

[Cronos]

Cronenberg is one of my favourite director's so this is a must see for me, looks amazing and has some great actors too. Can't wait.

[Lazy Boy]

Finally, a weekend where I can't wait to see more than one new release. This, and The Brave One.

[Scarfather]

Viggggoooooooo!!!!!!!!!

[Powerslave]

This movie looks awesome, I can't wait. Plus the few reviews up on RT are all decidedly positive.

[movieme07]

Looks really good but it's only going to 11 markets this weekend, with that kind of cast I thought for sure they'd push it wider.

[Danger^Cart]

AHV was missing something I couldn't quite place, and it's severely hindered every subsequent viewing since. Hopefully, this will be able to capture whatever was missing. The Russian mob isn't featured enough. They're a hell of a lot more interesting than Italians.

Love that poster as well, although I wish the decapitated heads would disappear.

[bigred760]

A History of Violence was the last thing Cronenberg and Mortensen delivered together and that was one hell of a movie. From the previews of Eastern Promises, I'd say they have another great movie. Can't wait to see this puppy.

[thedudeman69]

I mean, I was hooked from the first trailer. It looks outstanding. I hope it is as great as it looks. I love that shot of Viggo extinguishing the cig on his tongue, that was fucking awesome. Also, Vince Cassel is in this? holy, He went back into hiding after Derailed. I love that guy. This is going to be solid.

[Strider]

A History of Violence is terribly overrated, but I do like some of Cronenberg's other work, and I think Eastern Promises looks awesome. I can't wait to check it out.

By the way, am I the only one who thinks the scene (from the trailer and television spots) where Viggo Mortensen's character puts two fingers to his throat is completely bad-ass?

Strider

[MidnightAngel]

A heck of a thriller by David Cronenberg.

[Powerslave]

Originally posted by Strider
By the way, am I the only one who thinks the scene (from the trailer and television spots) where Viggo Mortensen's character puts two fingers to his throat is completely bad-ass?

Every scene Viggo's in (in the trailer) is completely badass, that one included.

[Strider]

Originally posted by Powerslave
Every scene Viggo's in (in the trailer) is completely badass, that one included.

I saw the trailer again last night - you're right, Viggo is completely bad-ass in every scene.

Strider

[Superplasmatron]

I really wanna see this movie,


Nobody has mentioned how good Naomi Watts English accent is, also there are clips of the shop I used to buy ribena in everyday when i Lived in london, This film looks even better than a history of violence, I never even knew history of violence was a comic.

[Superplasmatron]

and Russian prison tattoos are badass.

[JasonBourne]

Trailer looks sick, really wanna see this movie.

[KiKrusher99]

Looks excellent, I wish I could have caught it at TIFF. :(

[CreeperBEATNGU]

Naomi is one of my favorite actresses, Viggo is on of my favorite actors, Cronenberg is one of my favorite filmmakers, and Cassell is one of the best bad guy actors in the business.

This can't miss.

[Le_Big_Mac]

I'm sure I'll see this, although the plot seems quite similar to A History of Violence. Hopefully, Cronenberg has formed more of a companion piece than a self rip-off, something you expect more from Brian De Palma.

[Danger^Cart]

Wait....how is this anything like AHV, aside from they both star Viggo?

[taxi_driver]

Originally posted by Roy L Dennis
I really wanna see this movie,


Nobody has mentioned how good Naomi Watts English accent is, also there are clips of the shop I used to buy ribena in everyday when i Lived in london, This film looks even better than a history of violence, I never even knew history of violence was a comic.

Naomi Watts is originally from England.

[TeeRay]

A History Of Violence was amazing, so I really want to see this. I hope it goes into wide release.

[XCoRyX]

Originally posted by TeeRay
A History Of Violence was amazing, so I really want to see this. I hope it goes into wide release.

Agreed...I'm quite confident it will get a wide release. People knowing its from the people behind History of Violence will definetly garner interest. I missed out seeing History on the big screen,not this time...

[dfd3657]

Originally posted by taxi_driver
Naomi Watts is originally from England.

Hah. I was about to state that. Anyway, I've been fucking stoked for this for it seems like ages. Naomi Watts is one of my absolute favorite actresses, and when I heard she was going to be in a movie with Viggo Mortensen AND directed by David Cronenberg, I fucking shat. Having loved A History of Violence, I'm excited as hell.

[dfd3657]

Originally posted by XCoRyX
Agreed...I'm quite confident it will get a wide release. People knowing its from the people behind History of Violence will definetly garner interest. I missed out seeing History on the big screen,not this time...

It's supposed to be going wide on the 21st. I sure as fucking hell hope it comes near me.

[ilovemovies]

I use to think that this movie looked meh. But watching the trailer again, it's kind of grown on me and I do actually want to see it. Besides, I <3 Naomi Watts and will see her in pretty much anything.

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by taxi_driver
Naomi Watts is originally from England.

I confuse her with Nicole Kidman, once again, I thought Watts was Australian.

[Tony_Montana]

Viggo's birthday (October 20) is the same as my birthday.

The film's London premiere is 3 days before my birthday (according to IMDB).

Viggo plays a Russian guy (just like me).

Viggo plays a Russian guy called Nikolai (That's my name. They even spelt it right)


:eek:

[Addi88]

Originally posted by Tony_Montana
Viggo's birthday (October 20) is the same as my birthday.

The film's London premiere is 3 days before my birthday (according to IMDB).

Viggo plays a Russian guy (just like me).

Viggo plays a Russian guy called Nikolai (That's my name. They even spelt it right)


:eek:

http://images.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2007/02/23/number_23/story.jpg
20 + 3 = 23
:eek:
:p

Eastern Promises is going to be the tits.

[anakinsrise]

Been intrigued since i saw the trailer.Now i just have to find the theatre it opens up in this weekend.

[XCoRyX]

good to know this did well, now i can definetly check it out this weekend.

[bowieee]

This is one of the most hard core gore filled mood inducing mob flicks I've seen in ages and it's pretty much flawless. I'm a huge Cronenberg fan and I honestly think this is the best thing he's done for years. Who knew Viggo could act so well? Who knew that the russian mob could make their yakuza and Italian counterpart looks like pussies?

Man great stuff.

[Danger^Cart]

Originally posted by bowieee
This is one of the most hard core gore filled mood inducing mob flicks I've seen in ages and it's pretty much flawless. I'm a huge Cronenberg fan and I honestly think this is the best thing he's done for years. Who knew Viggo could act so well? Who knew that the russian mob could make their yakuza and Italian counterpart looks like pussies?

Man great stuff.

Could you give me your general impression of A...Violence? Just so I know where your heads at...

[bowieee]

Originally posted by Danger^Cart
Could you give me your general impression of A...Violence? Just so I know where your heads at...

I liked a History of Violence quite a bit but it doesn't hold a flame to this film. I found Eastern Promises to be a much more consistently engaging film then HOV. They are two totally different films with two totally different directions and moods but like I stated previously Eastern promises is the much stronger of the two.

[gyro_44]

I liked History of Violence a lot, and I actually thought it improved on subsequent viewings. I have been a huge fan of Cronenberg for a long time and this looks like it's going to be awesome. That poster is badass.

[CosmicPuppet]

I have to chime in on this film. Everything Bowiee said was pretty much right on the money.

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD

Eastern Promises delivers as a drama and crime story. It melts two worlds together into a cohesive narrative that keeps you intrigued all the way through. What I enjoyed about Eastern Promises is that it's not a film about a big twist although there is one in the film that changes your perception of the story, but what I love about it, is that it's like Fight Club in that the film continues on after that moment and doesn't end abruptly like the Sixth Sense.

Another thing to enjoy about the film is the performances. Naomi Watts, Vigo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel, and Armin Mueller-Stahl are all pretty great in their roles and you really get to see them fill their roles. When you first meet Armin, he's the sweetest old man in the world... serving Naomi's character Borscht, offering her to help, but you just can't help but to get a hint of impending doom with his kindness. Those are moments I really enjoy to watch and take. Vigo and Vincent play off of each other really well in the film. Vigo's a silent brooding force who puts on a performance that I enjoyed more than A History of Violence, though that was a great role too. I think his face really just said a lot... you could believe he went through hell and back to get to where was at in the story. The scene I like between him and Vincent is in the wine cellar where you really get the sense of brotherly love-hate relationship between them... not to mention the little shocker when Vincent asks Vigo to do something in front of him to "prove" himself. Great stuff.

That's ultimately what I liked most about the film. It's not a plot heavy film. It usually does away with the exposition so that it can get to the meat of the film, which is the character interactions. There's a great chemistry amongst the cast and it really shows in the film. I also liked that it had a sort of anticlimactic ending where it didn't end in a shootout. It did the opposite of that, but it did it brilliantly.

But that's not to say there's no violence in the film. This is Cronenberg and he's never shied away from showing blood and body parts, usually in the same shot. The film starts off with a throat slashing, and there are key moments that make you squirm, such as the infamous bath house rumble which will definitely be remembered for years to come. Surprisingly, the most disturbing shot to me was when Vigo cuts off a frozen dead body's fingers. There's no blood or anything but it stuck with me more than the other bloodier moments.

Overall, I give this film a 9/10... I just enjoyed it all the way. It didn't feel like the typical gangster film. Also, that last shot was just perfect... it's very much reminiscent of the last shot in the Godfather Part 2. You'll see what I mean.

[JCPhoenix]

It's really interesting reading these two reactions so far to the film here and I just wanted to ask the two who have seen the flick (or anyone who has seen it for that matter) if you felt like the movie was missing that extra oomph at the end at all (without spoiling anything as I haven't seen it).

The reason I ask is because my roommate is a HUGE, and I mean HUGE Cronenberg fan (Dead Ringers is his favorite I believe followed by Videodrome) - the only director I know of that he digs as much is David Lynch. In any case, my roommate also loved A History of Violence...but he was disappointed with Eastern Promises. He said he felt that it was doing everything perfect and building well but that it just...ended and he felt like it was missing another twenty to thirty minutes so I'm just wondering if anyone else who has seen the movie feels that way or not?

[CreeperBEATNGU]

Three of the best performance of the year in one film by Viggo/Naomi/Cassell, a compelling exploration of good people that get caught up in bad lifestyles, and damn, Cronenberg knows how to film an intense fight scene with the best of them.
It ended a bit abruptly and it was a little too short, but it ties together nicely it's atleast as good as A History of Violence.
I'll probably grow to love it even more in repeat viewings.

[KiKrusher99]

I definetly think an extra 20 minutes would have been great.

Anyway I wasn't a fan of History of Violence, I found it predictable and a little boring. And while i'm a fan of Cronenbergs work, I sometimes Ifeel that his philisophical themes get in the way of emotional exploration. So in the case of A History of Violence I found some parts poorly written and acted. I don't know maybe I missed the point.

That being said I found Eastern Promises to be a huge step forward and i'm sure i'll appreciate it more after a couple rewatches.

8/10

[franky4fingerz]

I thought it was okay. I expected a little more though.
7/10

[I Am Legend]

I hoped to learn more about the Russian mob. I mean, they teased the audience by mentioning the tattoos but you don't really see anything about the way they operate, only the same 2 or 3 thugs.

Not a bad film, but definitely not great.

7/10

[Le_Big_Mac]

7/10

The first half of the movie was great, but it kind of lost interest as it proceeded on. The much talked about fight scene was great, but it obviously couldn't save it. It was also very well-directed by the great David Cronenberg, and it's nice to see he's still not afraid to let the bodily substances flow, but this is definitely the least good film of his I've seen.

[anakinsrise]

Viggo Mortensen will likely receive well deserved nominations for his role as the "driver" Nikolai. Kudos to Armin Mueller-Stahl who easily shifts from kindly restauranter, to a cold hearted mobster.Naomi Watts is also very watchable as a brave,mid wife seeking the truth.Vincent Cassel also does a fine job,seeking his papa's approval but also fearing him.My only problem with this film it was far too short,i wanted more from all of the characters,because they all held my interest.
Scale of 1-10 8 1/2

[someguy]

I liked it overall, but the ending was just too fast. We pretty much spend this whole time slowly developing the characters, and then the pace just goes into overdrive. I think that the movie would have been a lot better if 10 or 20 minutes was added on to give some more time on the story.

7/10

[fixedMind]

*spoilers*

I saw it last night and definetly felt it was lacking in the end.
The position Viggo's character ends up in is also rather unrealistic.
Im not an expert on vori v zakone, but I would guess that the bosses might have objections to Kirril taking over his fathers position. The idea that Nikolai could go from being a lackey "driver" to the head of such a dangerous and secretive organization so quickly is asking a lot.

I was let down by this movie in the end. I knew that Viggo would end up being a cop once he got all that info from the sex slave girl.
I love Cronenbergs vision and the way he shoots his films though.

[Tweek]

I'm not sure if i can put a number ojn my rating.

Let's see: FANTASTIC acting. Viggo M. just played an unwavering amount of charm and ease and badass-ery. And I empathized with him! What?! Naomi W. gave a solid performance. And she is the woman of my dreams, so of course I think that. Vincent C. was just... Whoa, I was blown away.


The brutality was... I had to cover my mouth to keep from the "Oh my GOD!" coming out of it a few times.


The only thing I didn't like was that weird kiss at the end. But it didn't ruin anything for me. -shrug-

[CosmicPuppet]

Originally posted by fixedMind
*spoilers*

I saw it last night and definetly felt it was lacking in the end.
The position Viggo's character ends up in is also rather unrealistic.
Im not an expert on vori v zakone, but I would guess that the bosses might have objections to Kirril taking over his fathers position. The idea that Nikolai could go from being a lackey "driver" to the head of such a dangerous and secretive organization so quickly is asking a lot.

I was let down by this movie in the end. I knew that Viggo would end up being a cop once he got all that info from the sex slave girl.
I love Cronenbergs vision and the way he shoots his films though.

I would disagree about the believability of Viggo's move in the mob. Only because he was really the brains behind a lot of what was going on, only Kirril would get the credit or his father. Also, he wasn't really "the leader." Kirril would inherit that because of his family and name but we all know Nikolai was the brains behind him, so of course he would be the puppet master and eventually send the mob to its downfall. I thought it was a rather brilliant ending and great last shot that reminded me of the Godfather Part 2, where he'll have to live with all this nasty shit for the rest of his life. He was already promoted a Captain, even though under false pretenses), he is still a Captain. You can't take that away once it's been given.

As to who would object to Kirril's position, I don't think anybody would be able to refute his position given that he was the most likely to gain control of his father's portion of the mob. Not to mention, I bet money he and Nikolai would kill that old man with the mustache ASAP because he back stabbed Nikolai (literally) and I don't see anybody objecting to that either. Due to the strange nature of how Nikolai and Kirril took power, I don't think they would find many objections because it looked like they were simply caught in the crossfire of this strange situation from the other mobster's point of view.

Even if the mob did object, it is only a matter of time before Kirril becomes the head figure due to his age and the others looked very old at the dinner. And, whose to say they ARE in power? That last shot only implied that Nikolai's plan would come to fruition, it is never stated that he was the boss or anything yet. It was very ambiguous.

[Rick-James]

Best movie of the year, 9/10.

[Rick-James]

Am I the only person who thinks this film should really get a sequel. The ending really sets it up.

[movieme07]

I was very surprised at how non-Cronenberg this film was. People say they can see his signatures all over it, I can't. It's still a damn great movie though. The twist was a tad unnecessary I think, and it needed to be longer, but I still had a hell of a great time.

9/10

[Bourne101]

Eastern Promises - 9/10

Cronenberg has done it again! With last year's A History of Violence being one of my favorites of the year, I was expecting a lot from Eastern Promises, but I wasn't over enthusiastic because Cronenberg is a bit of a hit and miss kind of director. But there is no doubt, this is Cronenberg's best film to date, and one of the best films of the year. The acting is flat out great. Viggo Mortensen, Naiomi Watts and Vincent Cassel, may not get nominations come Oscar time, but they should definitely be in consideration. The story is so engaging and interesting, you just can't wait to see what will happen next. The violence is extremely realistic, probably the most realistic violence you will ever see in a movie. And the bathhouse fight scene was flatout brilliant, and the audience loved it also. After a few repeat viewings, I wouldn't doubt that this is worthy of a 10/10. Go see it!

[Moviefan02000]

http://movies.go.com/i/movies/872930/gallery/easternpromises_1.jpg

A wonderful gem of a film. This is definitely a film-goer kind of movie, as most mainstream movie goers will most likely find it boring and tedious. For the people that can appreciate it, it's a real treat. The acting is top notch from everyone, even the littlest supporting characters. The direction is some of the best of the year. The script is phenomenal and has many twists and unexpected turns and the cinematography is fantastic. I hope this isn't forgotten come Oscar time because it really deserves some nominations. Definitely recommended for most people here.

9/10 (A)

[The Heart Collector]

I guess I have the same problem most people had with this movie. I enjoyed it, and it had its fair share of memorable things, but I felt it was very underdeveloped, and while it seems like that was the intention, I still don't have to like it.


SPOILERS


I just felt like the movie had this "window-to-the-world" style, as opposed to something like The Departed which gave you the rundown on every little thing, and because of that it suffered.

I liked Viggo's character, thought he was interesting and all, but y'know, I guess he was supposed to be mysterious or the audience was supposed to think "what's up with this guy" but I didn;t really feel that way much. Also, when it is revealed that he's undercover, that goes nowhere. There's ONE scene when we find out he's a cop, and..... that's it. You could argue that it's to give him motivation, but it doesn't really do that now, does it?

His character is way too vague. I have no idea who his character is. I pretty much have to fill in every blank and assume he's just some cop who slowly and slowly got into the whole russian mob thing, and now he's so consumed by it he actually just wants to be the leader... right, that's what I assume, and that seems like a pretty interesting STORY, but that's not the story of this movie, really. His undercoverness never served as a dilemma, or even as a particular plot point, it just made him being on top at the end a particularly bittersweet moment.

As I said, just a window-to-the-world, vignette approach... which I don't really enjoy that much, to be honest. I wanted to know more things. Viggo's character was just a blur.

For that matter, I thought it worked well in the way Semyon was portrayed. You didn't see him do many evil things, but you knew the motherfucker was evil. But I think they dropped the ball by never even showing his end. Hell, I don't remember what his last scene in the movie was, he just disappeared.

IN SHORT, i enjoyed the movie, it had some memorable scenes and moments, but it's a minor movie because the approach it took was very minor, and I think it would have benefited from a more all-encompassing approach.

7/10.

[dfd3657]

I REALLY liked the movie, but I'm fucking pissed because I was extremely tired during the movie. I never actually fell asleep, but I kind of spaced out. Not because the movie was boring, but because I was fucking beat. Maybe I shouldn't stay up so late playing Halo 3. And I'm probably not gonna get out to see it again because of all the other movies coming out I want to see (In the Valley of Elah, 30 Days of Night, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and I still need to see 3:10 to Yuma). Anyway, the movie was great, and top notch performances all around. Naomi Watts and Viggo Mortensen are two of my favorite actresses and they further cement their positions in my mind. All around great flick.

[Tweek]

Naomi Watts and Viggo Mortensen are two of my favorite actresses

teehee.

;)

[gspawn]

Am I the only person who thinks this film should really get a sequel. The ending really sets it up.

I wish the movie would have ended at the "walking away" scene and not had the conclusion that it did, and just went for a sequel. Very good movie. Want more.
9/10

Yeah, believability was strained, but like "History of Violence", the movie was so good I was along for the ride. Suspense of belief seems to be a theme in Cronenberg movies at this point, and I'm cool with it.

*Semi-spoilers*

Kudos to Viggo for all the penis. It's interesting to note that you're allowed to have penis if there's enough violence to make sure it's non-sexual. But if there was this much penis that was in any way sexualized, it'd be an instant X rating.

[Badbird]

Let me just say that I was one of the few who absolutely hated A History of Violence. I thought it was one of the most boring loads of crap dressed up as high art that I'd ever seen.

Nor did I have any interest in seeing this, but my girlfriend wanted to go, so we did.

I ended up liking this a lot - more than she did. And she really liked A History of Violence.

Mob movies are a dime a dozen, so it was nice to see a very different take on one - this being in London and using the Russian mafia. But it was mostly the acting that kept me involved. Everyone was stellar, especially Viggo and Armin Mueller-Stahl, who should both get Oscar nods (but probably won't).

I kinda saw the "twist" coming for awhile, but that didn't bother me. No, the only thing that really bothered me was when Viggo got his new tattoos, his skin would have gotten red and swollen, and the assassins would have easily seen they were fresh, but, oh well, nothing major.

[exstinksean]

great movie. i'm flat broke right now and couldn't wait till i get paid to see it so i downloaded a cam copy... and after watching it, i really liked it but as with all cam copies i felt i was missing something, so i'm definatly going to go see it on the big screen next week. i think it's playing at the drive in. that would be great if it is:)

[gspawn]

*cough* spoilers ?

Mob movies are a dime a dozen, so it was nice to see a very different take on one - this being in London and using the Russian mafia. But it was mostly the acting that kept me involved. Everyone was stellar, especially Viggo and Armin Mueller-Stahl, who should both get Oscar nods (but probably won't).

I kinda saw the "twist" coming for awhile, but that didn't bother me. No, the only thing that really bothered me was when Viggo got his new tattoos, his skin would have gotten red and swollen, and the assassins would have easily seen they were fresh, but, oh well, nothing major.

I didn't mind the twist. Again, because I was sort of prepped from liking "History of Violence". I knew it was coming from a mile away, but it was well done, so it kept me interested. And this scene, like others, seems not to specify any time when I think there is some. A nice "fade to black" moment to infer some time has passed would have been enough to suggest a few days for the swelling to go down.

Also: Great point about the mob movie thing. I didn't even think about that. This was the most non-stereotypical (re: Non-Godfather-esque) mob movie I can remember. Not that the classic mob film is a bad thing, but it's nice to see something fresh.

[The Poonchy]

really good film, loved the slow, russian pace, and the acting (viggo) was phenomenal. could have used a bit more on the ending, but the rest of the film was just great. i think the only way you can really tell this is a cronenberg film is the really, really bloody gore. most other directors i don't think would go as far as he does with blood and guts. word.

8/10

[Badbird]

A nice "fade to black" moment to infer some time has passed would have been enough to suggest a few days for the swelling to go down.

Don't forget, he only had two days to do it. Definitely not enough time for the swelling/redness to go away. New tattoos look like sunburns - I should know. But a minor detail...

[Tweek]

*Semi-spoilers*

Kudos to Viggo for all the penis. It's interesting to note that you're allowed to have penis if there's enough violence to make sure it's non-sexual. But if there was this much penis that was in any way sexualized, it'd be an instant X rating.


I agree with the kudos.

[hoojib127]

Yeah, the film was wrapped up so quickly I almost wondered if a reel got missed or something. Not among Cronenberg's best, but he always gives us an interesting film...and a few of his signature bloody and/or perverse moments. ;) "Spider" is still his best film of the new century (so far).

7/10

[bigred760]

Great acting, good story, exciting fight scene - despite the fact Viggo was nude throughout, but the ending was anti-climactic as hell. I was expecting, wanted also, something along the lines of A History of Violence but this movie left a lot to be desired, and a little left wide open. The acting, especially Viggo Mortensen's performance, is a great reason to watch the movie, but it leaves you with a lot of disappointment walking out of the theater.

6/10

[ilovemovies]

Is it me, or did Naomi Watts character actually felt like she wasn't even needed. She had so little to do in this movie.

Viggo Mortensen was okay I suppose but this is not one of his better performances IMO. No one in the cast ever really stood out. The acting was fine but not really anything special. I found the movie to be actually quite dull. The only time it has any kind of pulse is during the big fight scene. I did like the twist involving Viggo's character though. I have to say I didn't see it coming.

All in all, I thought the movie was merely just okay. It's definitely not Cronenberg's worst, that would be the dreadful eXistenZ. But it's definitely not his best either.

6/10

[navarr0]

This movie was everything i hoped to be, this movie kicked ass man. Viggo's accent was top notch, considering he is not even Siberian. This movie was one of my favorites of the year. I enjoy the movies shot over seas in foreign countries.

*spolier* the barber shop scene was really brutal and graphic, which was awesome *spolier*

[xseanymacx]

*Obviously spoilers could be within*

This movie was solid, in my opinion. Definitely at least a 7.5/10 but I'd have to go with an 8/10 because I love Viggo.

I definitely feel the movie should've ended as the two walked away and I think the police angle was unnecessary. It added nothing.

I would've liked to have seen background detail on ANY character really. The movie was great but it lacked a certain depth...

[Bourne101]

Is it me, or did Naomi Watts character actually felt like she wasn't even needed. She had so little to do in this movie.

Uh, I don't mean to sound like an idiot and be so blunt, but without her character, there is no Eastern Promises. The whole plot revolves around her discovery of the diary, what she chooses to do with it, and the relationships she makes with the Russian Mafia. I'd say she had plenty to do in this film.

[silentasylum]

kind of flat and disappointing, I thought.

6/10

[Briare Rabbit]

Uh, I don't mean to sound like an idiot and be so blunt, but without her character, there is no Eastern Promises. The whole plot revolves around her discovery of the diary, what she chooses to do with it, and the relationships she makes with the Russian Mafia. I'd say she had plenty to do in this film.

Yep. I mean don't mean to sound like a jerk and I do anyway... but... duh?

I also agree that it was awful flat and I was pretty much disappointed when I walked out of the theatre. Performances [aside from Watts who was ghastly] were well done, but the film has

A) no climax. Or should I say the "climax" we got was no good. Please. I thought that bath scene was rather weak.

and

B) No arc for anyone. The story seems to go nowhere because almost nothing is resolved.

[ilovemovies]

It just seemed to me that movie mostly belonged to Mortenssen and Cassel. Watts didn't really seem to do anything. Yeah, sure she finds the diary and wants to find a family member to bring to the baby too, but the movie seems to put so much focus on the mob story and so little focus on Watts that there are times where she was really more of a supporting player and she didn't even seem to me like a significan supporting player at that.

[Briare Rabbit]

But you didn't say that. She is a supporting player. You said the movie couldnt have been done without her, which is total nonsense because shes the catalyst for the whole thing.

[gspawn]

But you didn't say that. She is a supporting player. You said the movie couldnt have been done without her, which is total nonsense because shes the catalyst for the whole thing.

*semi spoilers*

Not to mention the whole bit with Viggo womanizing her while she worked on her bike adding character for him, the diary coming to the mob house and catalyzing all the internal issues there, and so on. I think another critical aspect was bringing the "real world" in- this movie wasn't Underworld for the Russian mob. The caring female parent and the classic Russian father bring in some contrast against "normal people" that lots of mob movies lack without dragging you too far away from the rest of the movie.

[Superplasmatron]

Is it me, or did Naomi Watts character actually felt like she wasn't even needed. She had so little to do in this movie.

Viggo Mortensen was okay I suppose but this is not one of his better performances IMO. No one in the cast ever really stood out. The acting was fine but not really anything special. I found the movie to be actually quite dull. The only time it has any kind of pulse is during the big fight scene. I did like the twist involving Viggo's character though. I have to say I didn't see it coming.

All in all, I thought the movie was merely just okay. It's definitely not Cronenberg's worst, that would be the dreadful eXistenZ. But it's definitely not his best either.

6/10

Shes the pivotal character!!!
All the acting was fantastic, story great and passed wonderfully, even better than History of Violence. Viggo's best performance so far. Anti climax, what are you all on about it's a brilliant ending, 20 mins extra is all crazy talk.

9/10


Oh and to the people who said Naomi was English, English in birth but raised in Australia.

[echo_bravo]

I saw this awhile ago and forgot to post a review. Basically what a lot of other people said (the ending was dissapointing for me) however, there was terrific acting and very intense scenes.

7/10

That shower/fight scene was just BRUTAL!:eek:

[JackassFan]

Some amazing performances, but still a disappointment. The movie isn't bad at all, but it could've been so much better.

7/10.

[CreeperBEATNGU]

"aside from Watts who was ghastly"

I wish that more Hollywood actresses could be that "ghastly."

[HoyleHaw]

I really thought this movie was great. While my initial sentiments included thinking it might be short, I came out of there realizing I wasn't for a second bored, or curious when it would end. Even the plot twists that I felt initially unnecessary started to make more sense with regard to story. The actors were all perfect (in particular Mortensen and Armin Mueller-Stahl), and Cronenberg and writer Steven Knight have crafted the sort of film that, if they so chose, could become "The Godfather" of the new millennium.

And who else is glad to see Mueller-Stahl back in another strong supporting role?

9/10

[bigred760]

The Godfather it's not, not by a long shot. I'll probably think more of this movie if there was a sequel exploring Viggo's character more and his efforts. But standing alone, I thought the movie was a bit disappointing.

[Briare Rabbit]

"aside from Watts who was ghastly"

I wish that more Hollywood actresses could be that "ghastly."

Naomi Watts is, overall a pretty good actress but she is fucking horrible in this movie. Emotional range of a block of wood and about as interesting to watch.

[Cronos]

Awesome movie, excellent acting, direction and story.

9/10

[APzombie]

I've seen it three times now. Great picture!

[Monotreme]

http://www.kino-govno.com/trailers/3432t.jpg

(David Cronenberg, 2007)

The crime genre has always been graced with grand, epic tales of love, trust, loyalty, betrayal, and family. From The Godfather to The Departed, the genre has been graced by the greatest of actors and directors, which is why Eastern Promises is so startling – startling in its subtlety, and startling in its crew and cast.

Cronenberg himself has said that the crime drama doesn’t interest him, nor do the inner workings of the mob which such pinnacles of the genre such as The Godfather, Goodfellas or The Sopranos indulge in with such depth and detail. Cronenberg saying this is strange because the movie’s portrayal of the Russian mob in London is so in-depth without actually getting into the mechanics of it all, it must have required a lot of research on his and screenwriter Steven Knight’s part, especially since this particular mob isn’t as renown and infamous as, say, the Italian mob in the United States. Naturally this attention to detail sparked interest, and a quick search led to some very interesting articles about the London underground Russian mafia, and just how accurate the movie was and how acute its attention to detail was.

It’s quite difficult to place a finger on just what the movie is about. The key word is, surprisingly, subtlety. The film has a very rich and detailed plot but it’s not about the story. The characters are very rounded but it’s not about the characters. The mob workings are extremely well researched and detailed but it’s not about the mob. If anything, one could say that this film is a direct and far more subtle continuation of A History of Violence, as the only thing that is really loud and exaggerated in the film is the sometimes-gruesome ultra-violence. The film carries all the themes of the grand, operatic crime movies but keeps them under the radar – trust, loyalty, inner mob workings and character. Only the violence stands out.

Perhaps David Cronenberg, in continuation of his long-present themes of the inner human psyche, which have been present ever since he burst out of obscure, low-budget filmmaking and into the realm of more high-quality fare, has a newfound, more specific fascination with a specific aspect of the human psyche, and that is the primal drive for violence. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all of the film’s violence is on naked skin and almost never through some sort of artificial barrier – from throat-cutting to eye-stabbing to an incredibly choreographed and much-hyped fight scene which takes place in a bathhouse involving an all-nude Viggo Mortensen – man at his most primal, stripped-down form. Sickly and intense, Cronenberg’s very particular brand of violence is brutal in its reality and in its startling, sudden nature. Characters don’t just slice throats; they have to really carve and saw through them. Some scenes are truly cringe inducing, but I think that, as in A History of Violence, this is to serve Cronenberg’s purpose. Although in this film, the themes of man’s primal violent nature are far subtler than in the previous film.

What more can be said about the film is that it truly is a visual and stylistic masterwork. In an era when even the greats like Robert Zemeckis and David Lynch are moving to digital, it’s good to see that some directors remain faithfully honest to old-fashioned, stylized film. The movie is indeed very sleek and stylish, while of course remaining faithful to the gritty, underworld setting, which it must be said is almost beautifully and poetically portrayed and shot. Lighting is stark and almost romantically mellow while being very contrasted and stark, perhaps overshadowing the film’s themes of duality. Cronenberg’s camera is dynamic, the sets and costumes are all well designed, and in all the film just looks great and is made outstandingly well. Howard Shore’s fantastic score also deserves a mention.

In addition, the film is also an acting revelation. Vincent Cassel is very busy scenery chewing and does a great job at it, but the true stunners are the two stars. Naomi Watts has already proven herself to be an extremely talented actress and very capable of disappearing into roles, as seen both in the showy 21 Grams and the more subtle The Painted Veil. In this film she not only nails the accent, but she simply portrays her character in the most honest and straightforward way possible. The biggest standout is Viggo Mortensen, who will go down as one of the most devoted and hard-working actors to have never gotten his due respect. Just reading about all the research he did for the role fills me with bottomless respect and admiration, much like his vigorous preparation for the role of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The guy just has a knack of putting his all into a role, and from what I read he went to Russia and Ukraine without a translator for weeks to try and get his own impression on the lingo, and also visited Russian prisons in order to learn the ethics and codes of these institutions. His devotion to the role is stunning and impressive – And it takes a lot of guts to act in a scene such as the steam-room fight sequence I mentioned earlier. It is of course most impressive that the French Vincent Cassel and the American Viggo Mortensen come across as one-hundred-percent convincing Russians. I must also mention the veteran of the clan, the great Armin Mueller-Stahl, who delivers a powerhouse-yet-subdued performance as pure evil; the patriarch of the Russian mob family depicted in the film. It is without a doubt his greatest role in a long time.

An undeniable companion piece to A History of Violence, Cronenberg delivers a far subtler and more realistic version of his study of the human psyche and what drives us to violence. With great production value, beautiful cinematography and fantastic acting from a not so obvious but clearly stellar cast. Hopefully Cronenberg will continue making such fascinating and irresistibly entertaining films as this one.

RATING: 8/10.

[paul calf]

excellent movie top draw acting and direction,the only slight flaw was the ending as someone said i think it should have ended at the walking away scene,but thats just me being a little picky.
9/10

[CreeperBEATNGU]

Naomi Watts is, overall a pretty good actress but she is fucking horrible in this movie. Emotional range of a block of wood and about as interesting to watch.

Pretty good is a drastic understatement, and she conveyed the sympathy her character felt for the baby and its mother, and her anger towards the maffia members beautifully.

[LordSimen]

Quickly made it up to my top 10 of the year. All the performances in this movie are beyond excellent and while I see what people are saying about the ending possibly being a bit longer, I personally found the movie to be fine just the way it was.

10/10

[mel1ssa]

loved this movie when i saw it in the theatre, and it will be added to my collection. i am also a fan of HOV, and these two movies have raised my opinion of Viggo more than LOTR (gasp). he's able to play just about any kind of guy, but fool us all with the cadence in his voice and his eyes. the idea that you don't fully know his character in either movie is what draws me in. i don't have to know his character - i just want to see him lose his cool and kick some ass. and that's surprising (and great), because..come on...he doesn't look like the type.
as for the ending, HOV was pretty hard for me to take. after that learning experience with cronenberg, i wasn't as surprised with EP and could handle it. it's ok if it isn't wrapped up neatly at the end. in fact, it can make it more memorable. (HOV...)
not a huge fan of watts in this one, but she wasn't bad either. something about her always seems weak. liked him better with maria in HOV.

definitely 10/10

[MidnightAngel]

Saw it last week and it was a piece of well made cinema. Now if it had more violent gore scenes like A History of Violence it would be great. David Cronenberg has made another fine film.

[Frank the Tank]

I thought this was really good, but had a few flaws. Viggo is one of my favorite actors and he's pretty much owned in everything I've seen him in since 1991's The Indian Runner. He just oozes cool in this movie and is a total badass. I hope he gets nominated for the oscar but I doubt it. The acting is really good on all accounts. Vincent Cassell and the guy that played Casell's father were both great as was Naomi Watts. The fight scene was incredible and very intense. The final kill in that fight had me wincing like a bitch. The make-up for the slit throat scenes was amazing, those scenes were gory as hell. I loved the mood Cronenberg built up with this movie. Their's always an air of vagueness with all the characters, Viggo looked depressed/pissed off most of the movie and that added to his bleak character.

The movie did sort of lose my interest at a few points and I didn't like the suddeness of the ending, but other than that good flick that's just as good as History Of Violence.

7.5/10

[optimus1]

I thought Naomi was fantastic in this flick and Viggo rules as usual..I could see the twist a mile away but still I thought he did a fantastic job. Clearly he is one of the top few actors working today.

[Danger^Cart]

I really like the ending to AHOV, the subtelty of it, but this one really could have used another 10 minutes or so.

[Briare Rabbit]

Pretty good is a drastic understatement, and she conveyed the sympathy her character felt for the baby and its mother, and her anger towards the maffia members beautifully.

She is boring. She looks stunned most of the running time, has no emotion whatsoever and has Keira Knightley's teeth gritting syndrome from Pirates for the majority.

The Painted Veil is the best film of 2006. This is no Painted Veil.

[ilovemovies]

I thought Naomi Watts was the best thing about this pretty overrated flick. She's good here. Not even close to being her best performance but she's good. Viggo was OKAY in the movie but he does not deserve all of the awards/nominations he's been getting.

To me the only interesting aspects of the movie were the fight scene and the twist involving Viggo's character.

Oh, well. As I have said before the movie isn't boring but it's not interesting either. Still, it wasn't a total lost. At least I could just stare at Watts everytime she was on screen, though her screen time is actually not nearly as much as I was expecting since she's more of a supporting character actually.

[seansdadj]

I will get it on DVD for sure. I couldn't watch it on the silver screen because I had finals.

Sean,