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Director: David Cronenberg
Screenwriter: Steven Knight
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Sinead Cusack
Synopsis
When Anna (Watts), a midwife/nurse tries to translate the diary of one of her patients who died of giving birth, she becomes the target of a Russian mafia family, including their ruthless driver Nikolai (Mortensen).
Review
From being a director of low-budget sci-fi horror, to evolve into one of thrillers, David Cronenberg presents another masterpiece. Collaberating with his star from A History of Violence, Viggo Mortensen, the duo once again become key members in the gangster genre. However, instead of a family drama that explores America itself through violence, but a London-set thriller that is up there with The Godfather (part 1, of course).
The reason why this is Cronenberg's first film that's not been shot in Canada, is because of Steven Knight, the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Dirty Pretty Things and the creator of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, as he wanted to explore the foreign threats in the UK, as there seem to be a lot of people from other continents roaming around in England presently. The Russian mafia family in the film is incredibly well explored in the same way you get to know the Corleone family in that wonderful wedding sequence.
You might think this would be totally different to Cronenberg's previous work, despite A History of Violence, but he's long been slated to do adapt the Martin Amis novel London Fields, which we may not here from again. In the mean time, we have this to recommend to, not everyone, but those who have strong stomachs, as like in many Cronenberg picture, violence is brutal but meaningful. Many of Cronenberg's films usually have one violent moment that is memorable, such as the exploding head from Scanners, and with Eastern Promises, it'll be remembered for its bathhouse fight sequence, which is extremely tough to watch but very erotic.
When it comes to tattoos, Viggo Mortensen shows his dark side, but we don't have to hate him for it. Like his previous collaberation with Cronenberg, the film deals with identity, in which it is the theme that explores the many layers of Nikolai has to bring, in order to treat him like the hero. Naomi Watts is not much of a talker when she does her best, but its more about her eyes, as she brings the heart of the film when she gazes upon the young daughter of the late patient. Even though its about the mafia, it deals with many family problems, such as the secret homosexuality of Nikolai's captain Kirill, played by Vincent Cassel, while his father Armin Mueller-Stahl as Semyon, makes business like he was cooking food for the family.
Verdict
If A History of Violence was the Jackyll to a double feature that was directed by David Cronenberg and starring Viggo Mortensen, then Eastern Promises will be its Hyde. Cronenberg has not only presented his third masterpiece, but his true masterpiece.
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