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"Eastern Promises": Not your average feel good movie.....

208.148.209.11

London and the Russian mobs. Dirty business with strange protocols and devilish proclivities for violence. Enter a dying 14 year-old, pregnant girl who dies at the local hospital while being attended by mid-wife Naomi Watts. The poor child passes and Naomi finds a diary in her coat written in Russian along with a business card for a local Russian restaurant. Watts takes the diary home to her aunt and Russian uncle who is reluctant to translate it after reading a few pages. Watts then goes to the restaurant, following a hunch, and meets Armin Mueller-Stahl who happily agrees to translate. Subsequently, we see the operation of this crime family from the viewpoint of loyal foot-solider Viggo Mortensen who serves both Stahl and his drunken son (Vincent Cassel). In the end we are left feeling less than satisfied knowing this is how the real world works.
The film is well-produced with superb casting and script. The film is well paced and leaves you bathed in "noir". I think someday we will see Mortensen holding up an Oscar. Maybe not for this role but one coming down the pike.
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Complicit Constapo Talibangelical since MMIII

Edits: 09/22/07

Follow Ups:

Viggo: a star is born. Watts: terrific as usual. Good, not great, film. nt - tinear 10:42:48 09/25/07 (0)
as
The first "A" movie I've seen this fall. Admittedly, it is - townsend 20:00:31 09/23/07 (0)
early in the fall movie season, but this movie has an intensity to it that you don't find often.

I've seen Watts recently in The Painted Veil and Eastern Promises. She is excellent in both.

Viggo has come a long way since riding that pony in Hildalgo! I think he was good in Cronenberg's "A History of Violence," but his acting in "Eastern Promises" is on another, much higher level.
I just returned from seeing it... - mkuller 19:17:15 09/23/07 (0)
...and it's excellent.

Naomi Watts is one of my favorite actresses.

The fight seen in the bath house was incredible - I read it took four days to film.

This could be the year for Viggo...
Mortensen is magnetic! - afilado 21:34:52 09/22/07 (3)
He has turned in two superlative performances now with Cronenberg.

I agree with your high assessment of the movie. I watched it twice and am still digesting. "A History Of Violence" is still my choice of the two but only if I had to choose one.

Cronenberg should now be mentioned among the great directors.
- Have you seen some of his earlier work? - mkuller 11:54:57 09/23/07 (2)
  ..."Videodrome" is very disturbing and his remake of "The Fly" is very well done, although not as camp as the original.
  
  There is "The Dead Zone", "Dead Ringers", "The Brood" and many others.
  - Cronenberg Films (Open in New Window)
  - ...Most of his theater releases.. - afilado 18:05:16 09/23/07 (0)
    ..I'm not as familiar with the TV work.
    
    I can't say that I have the same appreciation for every film. It's hard, though, to deny his body of work and his courage - if you want to call it that - in having his own way with his art.
  - "The Reflecting Skin" was a real weirdie.... * - mr grits 12:17:37 09/23/07 (0)
    .
    Complicit Constapo Talibangelical since MMIII

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