Eastern Promises (2007)
Only after finishing the film did I find out that the director was David Cronenberg. Then it all made sense – that’s why the violence was so … Cronenberg.
Teaming up with Viggo Mortensen for the second time, Cronenberg has again made a compelling crime drama that is able to deeply disturb the audience – which is such a rarity nowadays. And he does it not using excessive violence – indeed you there are only 3 acts of violence in this thriller, though you will remember each one much more clearly than the alarming body counts you will find in other films. The film is disturbing because of the characters it depict, which will make you ponder simple questions such as “why could men be such sinners?”
The film is a fascinating look into the London underworld, with the focal point on the Russian mob. Here you will find a Don Corleone type, only more brutal and monstrous, in the form of Semyon (expertly played by Armin Mueller-Stahl – he steals the show in every scene). Then there’s his son Kirill (Vincent Cassel), who doesn’t live up to Semyon’s expectations and always gets into trouble. Then you have Mortensen as Nikolai, who is initially just Kirill’s driver – but from the first scene you know he’s not any driver.
If it were a film only about ruthless characters, the story would have become much more simple. Instead, there’s also Anna (Naomi Watts), a midwife who is clueless about the dark trades of London but stumbles right into trouble. The interaction between her and the aforementioned menaces provide most of the “juice” of this film.
Comparatively, Anna is the most straightforward character. She is simple, righteous, and persistent, which is a formula for disaster when she faces the mob. Semyon is the true embodiment of the demon, who could be gentle and soft-spoken on the outside but mercilessly selfish inside. The quiet, mysterious Nikolai who keeps to himself is the character which will keep audiences guessing – what drives him? What will he do? There is an answer, but even after its delivery, you will still be guessing.
8/10
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