Quick Review: Eastern Promises

Eastern Promises (2007)

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Synopsis (Rotten Tomatoes): The new thriller reteaming acclaimed director David Cronenberg with his A History of Violence leading man Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises is written by Steve Knight (Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Dirty Pretty Things). As in the earlier film, director and star together explore the psyche, physicality, and fortunes of a man whose true nature may never be wholly revealed. The mysterious and charismatic Russian-born Nikolai Luzhin (Mr. Mortensen) is a driver for one of London’s most notorious organized crime families of Eastern European origin. The family itself is part of the Vory V Zakone criminal brotherhood. Headed by Semyon (Academy Award nominee Armin Mueller-Stahl), whose courtly charm as the welcoming proprietor of the plush Trans-Siberian restaurant impeccably masks a cold and brutal core, the family’s fortunes are tested by Semyon’s volatile son and enforcer, Kirill (Vincent Cassel), who is more tightly bound to Nikolai than to his own father. But Nikolai’s carefully maintained existence is jarred once he crosses paths at Christmastime with Anna Khitrova (Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts), a midwife at a North London hospital. Anna is deeply affected by the desperate situation of a young teenager who dies while giving birth to a baby. Anna resolves to try to trace the baby’s lineage and relatives. The girl’s personal diary also survives her; it is written in Russian, and Anna seeks answers in it. Anna’s mother Helen (Sinéad Cusack) does not discourage her, but Anna’s irascible Russian-born uncle Stepan (Jerzy Skolimowski) urges caution. He is right to do so; by delving into the diary, Anna has accidentally unleashed the full fury of the Vory. With Semyon and Kirill closing ranks and Anna pressing her inquiries, Nikolai unexpectedly finds his loyalties divided. The family tightens its grip on him; who can, or should, he trust? Several lives – including his own – hang in the balance as a harrowing chain of murder, deceit, and retribution reverberates through the darkest corners of both the family and London itself.

Impressions that I get: Viggo Mortensen is really an excellent actor. And I'm not talking about Aragorn. His performance really drives Eastern Promises and also captures the complexity of a Russian hit man. From the authentic Russian speaking to the simple gestures in his eyes, Mortensen is absolutely commanding in his role. Not to take anything away from Naomi Watts (who plays an innocent nurse who is trying to help a dead woman) or Vincent Cassel (who plays the impulsive and confused son of the gang lord), both of whom did fine jobs, but I cannot help raving about Viggo Mortensen. He has proven himself to be a master of the serious character who is solemn on the outside, but divided within himself on the inside (Check out A History of Violence as well.)

As for the movie as a whole, it was very well shot and gives one a great sense of the trechary and bloodiness of being in a prominent gang. All from an outsiders perspective as well, as the details of the plot are found by characters reading journals written by a dead prostitute who came from Ukraine for a better life (The "eastern promise".) Somehow though, this movie doesn't seem to "stick". I just can't see myself wanting to watch this again and again. Overall though, if you're looking for some fine acting and snapshot of the Russian mafia, give this film a whirl. (Quick Warning however, this is GRUESOME at parts. Cronenberg hides nothing.)-AT

Acting (9.5/10)- Viggo is the man.

Plot (7/10)- Not terribly memorable

Cinematography(8.5/10)- Very good, gets the nitty gritty urban feel

Originality (7/10)- Interesting, but doesn't stand out on its own