Eastern Promises

Director David Cronenberg scored such a resounding triumph with his 2005 flick, A History of Violence, that the prospect of a quick reunion with that film's star (Viggo Mortensen) in yet another intriguing story exploring the nature of violence filled us with anticipation for Eastern Promises. It does indeed have much to recommend, including Mortensen's seething performance, but does it live up to its brilliant predecessor? Unfortunately, it doesn't; but it's still worth seeing for Cronenberg fans. Mortensen is a Russian-born driver for one of London's most notorious crime families, in particular a ruthless Trans-Siberian restaurant owner (Armin Mueller-Stahl) and his loose cannon of a son (a terrific Vincent Cassel). Soon his whole-mannered existence is shattered when he meets a midwife (Naomi Watts) who is trying to get to the core of the sudden unexplained death of a teenager who died shortly after giving birth to a baby with a lineage that could lead right into the center of Mortensen's world. This tightly directed and brutally violent tale (there are two full-color throat slittings that require strong stomachs) is an interesting, if melodramatic, story exploring the mystery behind a man of few words and strong actions. A knock-down, drag-out fight in the middle of a steam room between Mortensen and his pursuers is impressively staged and executed, a model of pure CGI-less physicality and action. The pronounced Russian accents and overall deliberate pacing might test your patience, but in the end, Eastern promises—and delivers—an intelligent film full of its own brand of sound and fury.