Eastern Promises

Cronenberg left the fantasy world of human obsessions for good and began to explore ordinary people in liminal situations. The synopsis of Russian gangsters in London smacked of fake nasal accents and litres of vodka, and yet the result is more about the confrontation of different worlds. When we enter it, we can't get out, whether it’s the mafia driver with a secret, the nurse with an internal stigma, or the Ukrainian emigrant playing the involuntary role of a prostitute. It's gripping in moments and emotionally fulfilling on the whole, though the epilogue could be explored for long moments. And as paradoxical as it sounds, Eastern Promises is a very different alternative to Love Actually as a London Christmas film. 4 ½. (20/12/2007)

Good advice is better than gold - and believe me this is a good maxim to follow. The second picture by the “new", more approachable Cronenberg is in many ways like the first. And in many ways it is a bit weird. A movie about Russians where they speak, sing and everything else in Russian. However not a single Slav figures in the international cast. As a result it is conspicuous in the intonation, like it or not. It’s not exactly that dumb Hollywood idea of an affected Russian accent, but still. On the other hand, you might not notice, because otherwise the actors are utterly convincing. Not just Mortensen or Cassel, but also the absolutely perfect Armin Mueller-Stahl. But still, it was Viggo who left me with the deepest impression. His calm, confident demeanor speaks volumes. When he makes that gestures toward his uncle in front of the restaurant, you know that if you were there you would never leave the house again and couldn’t look forward to a good night’s sleep for the foreseeable future. The fight in the spa that everybody is raving about it simply... Realistically powerful. But what brings the movie down most is the rather surprising plot. The entire storyline with Naomi Watts is interesting, but seems added on later. Even the sudden ending is untraditional, but... And that’s precisely it. Eastern Promises have rather too many of those for my taste. I’m not saying that this isn’t a very good movie, but just that it could have been better. Considerably better. (10/01/2008)

With a bit of exaggeration, Naomi Watts's character seems to have fallen out of a naive Danielle Steele novel, creating a perfect contrast with the hard male world of the criminal underworld that has a somewhat uncompromising touch (detailed throat slashing, a knife stabbing an eyeball). It's in fact this contrast that is the greatest strength of the story, which is not very revelatory, but it must be said that Cronenberg's understated direction is very pleasant and effective, because despite the trivial plot, his film manages to draw you into the action so that the 100 minutes go by so quickly. Compared to the previous and weak A History of Violence, it is really very engaging with some truly unforgettable scenes (the opening fight in the sauna with Mortensen in a birthday suit). I could watch the phenomenal trio of Mueller-Stahl, Cassel, Mortensen for days. (08/01/2008)

The divorce of Cronenberg's directing brilliance from A History of Violence. Whilst therein the ordinariness (and its contrast with violence) focused on the average American family, in Eastern Promises, Cronenberg paradoxically concentrates it on the world of rafts in the law (the Russian mafia). Anyone expecting to see things as black and white, disgusting caricatures or demonization, is going to be surprised. Cronenberg gives the same amount of space to both the average family and the mobsters, lets them dine, pamper their children, and pays the same amount of attention to a slit neck as people sitting and listening to a Garmon player. The result is a fascinating narrative tone that rarely raises its voice (and it is then that the film is slightly marred by the false tone of the great drama). Viggo Mortensen is amazing, and this is one of the actor's most impressive physical performances that can be seen today. Naomi blooms, regardless of the wrinkles. Negative aspects? Again, the script, which has holes in the logic and structure of the story. And also the twist, which, unlike A History of Violence, rather flattens the main character. Which doesn't change the fact that Eastern Promises is a fantastic thriller and Cronenberg is in his prime. [85%] (13/01/2008)

Pretty restrained for Cronenberg, but you can still see his style. Like most films of his I’ve watched, this one felt very cold, but it still managed to capture my attention thanks to the intense rawness. Cronenberg is not for everyone, but I like playing his emotionally detached games sometimes. 80% (18/08/2008)