Mar 4, 2012

A history of violence [2005]


David Cronenberg's 2005 movie is interesting. It has its strong points, but some weak ones, as well, but overall, it is good film and projects a cool attitude and very strong characters.

It follows the story of Tom Stall, a small town guy who's peaceful life is disrupted by an act of violence he is forced to do, in order to save the people from his diner, when two armed men try to rob it. After this event, he becomes the hero of the town and receives unwanted attention, one that eventually leads Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris) to him, insisting that Joey Cusack, the man Carl thinks he is, comes back with him to Philadelphia.

The beginning was a little weak and, at times, boring, as it took its time to set up the story and the characters, going from scene A to scene B to scene C almost automatically. It also gave it a sense of predictability- I knew something bad will happen to the family or to Tom, and I had a feeling it will go down in the diner. I did like the progress of the story after the act of violence and one of my favorite scenes has to be the shooting in the yard. Viggo Mortensen comes in and out of character, switching from Tom to Joey with such ease and roughness, that I am left shocked and a little bit creeped out by the character and what he is capable of- just the way his expression and his eyes change from second to second, channeling Joey just enough to save himself and the family (the way he looked at Jack, his son, after he shot the man, was so intense and scary).

That being said, one of the best things about "A history of violence" are the characters- these are strong, complex, real, tough individuals that give the story and the situation more substance and a much more accute sense of reality. Viggo Mortensen as Tom/Joey gives one his best performances to date and Maria Bello shines as his innocent wife, who tries to protect her family and her hisband. Ed Harris is appropriate as the mob guy who tries to scare Tom, and William Hurt (Joey Cusack's brother) is just as tough as Harris, but with more background relevance and a scarier attitude; I also thought Ashton Holmes, as the son, was good and I can see potential there.

Coming back to the beginning, my weak points refer to the lack of music and the slow pace of action in some places, although it seemed extremely well-thought and with many layers to the story and the people involved.

Overall, I thought "A history of violence" was a good movie, with chilling performances and good action! I would recommend it! Next in line: Eastern Promises, with the same David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen!

16 comments:

  1. I remember 'History of Violence' more fondly than 'Eastern Promises'. They just irritate him too much and then he shows his true talents.

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  2. Great review! I really loved the movie and it is one of the first movies in new style by Cronenberg - slow, gritty and disturbing minus all the body horror from his earlier works. Mortensen is amazing here, but he was even better in Eastern Promises.

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  3. I love A History of Violence. Sure it starts slowly but it crescendos into the end both in terms of pace, intensity and violence.

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  4. @Max: Exactly, I thought A history of violence is better and I love the way he shows his true colours at the end!
    @Sati: Thanks, but I think I prefer Viggo Mortensen in this one, although Eastern Promises is very good, as well.
    @Castor: It does start slow, but I do love the ending, as you said!

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  5. Great, great film. One of my favourites by Cronenberg. I watched Eastern Promises again recently. Viggo deserved his Oscar nom there for that bath scene alone. Incredible. I love the opening sequence in this film. The son's sub-plot with the bully always irked me though.

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  6. If you liked this one, then you will love Eastern Promises!!

    Nicely down Diana!

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  7. @Andy: I liked this one better than Eastern Promises, and Viggo Mortensen is amazing in both movies. As for the son bully story, I think they just wanted to show that he has a tendency of violence, as well, and that, like it or not, he is very much like his father.
    @Castor: Thanks Scott! Like I said, this one was better than Eastern Promises, for me, at least!

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  8. I really like this film. Mortensen's performance is great and it is a very unique way of telling a somewhat familiar story.

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  9. I also liked Bello's subtle changes as she starts to learn who her husband really is and how that makes her feel, culminating with the scene on the stairs.

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  10. @Dan: I agree! Although the story was predictable in some points, it was still strong!
    @Chip: Oh, that scene on the stairs is fantastic- so rough, yet interestingly sexy! I loved it!

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  11. I might check this one out as I've heard lots of great things about Viggo's performance. Not sure I can handle 'Eastern Promises' though. Great review Diana!

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  12. @Ruth: Thanks Ruth, but why can't you handle EP? :)

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  13. If you paid me to find a fault in this movie, I couldn't do it. I think its slow-paced first act perfectly tricks you into thinking you're in for something ordinary. Then, much like Drive, it goes off the rails, which I love.

    So happy you're doing a Cronenberg marathon!

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  14. @Alex: I love the going off the rails part, too, it was brilliant! The stairs scene, the shooting in the yard, the meeting with his brother- very cool!

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  15. I am doing my posts in reverse!

    AHOV is definitely a stronger film than Eastern Promises.

    I liked the pacing of this one and like you said Diana - the in and out of the personas of Tom and Joey was pretty remarkable.

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  16. @iluvcinema: The pacing was ok for me, too, but like I said, it dragged at the beginning, although I loved it overall; and yes, it is better than EP!

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