View Full Version : Eastern Promises
StefanHaynes
09-08-2007, 10:37 PM
Very surprised there's been no mention of this film.
I've been a huge Cronenberg fan for a while, and this will hopefully not disappoint.
I kinda lost a bit of faith in him when he directed the craptacularly awful "History of Violence," but hopefully, this will redeem him (other than that, he hasn't had a bad film in his entire filmography).
It will also be written by Steven Knight, the man who penned the brilliant "Dirty Pretty Things."
I've been looking forward to this film for around a year, even before major details were leaked. This will be good.
Trailer (http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/easternpromises/trailer/)
Isaac_Brody
09-08-2007, 10:48 PM
I'm looking forward to it. And I liked History of Violence. I thought Violence did a great job of creating this taut tension that exploded when Viggo's buried character emerged. On successive viewings of Violence, I'm annoyed at how stilted the dialogue is. I think some of the dialogue is really poorly written.
McLeish
09-08-2007, 11:18 PM
A History of Violence ended up being an overhyped, mediocre film and the reviews so far about Eastern Promises are giving me a bit of deja vu. Big fan of the cast, and of course Cronenberg, but the more i hear about it the more skeptical i am. No point checking it out at TIFF, it's coming out way too soon. Here's to hoping I'll be impressed.
StefanHaynes
09-08-2007, 11:51 PM
Once again, it needs to be stressed that the writer is proven to be good, unlike History.
StefanHaynes
09-23-2007, 07:49 PM
Just watched it yesterday.
Indeed, it's good.
Great, actually.
Perhaps even amazing.
Easily the best film I've seen so far this year, and more than likely The Film of the Year. Although don't expect the Academy to think that way...
MotionFx
09-23-2007, 08:24 PM
I enjoyed it but the ending was a little tooo subtle.
Not as violent/gruesome as reviews said. I loved aragorn.
Brian
Hans Moleman
09-23-2007, 08:35 PM
definetly recommended. they pegged the russki family dynamics
JConnors
10-01-2007, 02:51 PM
Saw this over the weekend and loved it. Viggo was great in it.
Blaine
01-04-2008, 10:12 PM
Just watched this on DVD. I enjoyed it quite a bit. If there hadn't been so many other good movies last year (2007), this one might have had a chance at some awards but alas, it will end up being a footnote. I really liked A History of Violence. This was just as good albeit in a different way.
DeSica
01-06-2008, 08:06 PM
This film has much in common with A History Of Violence in that it is done with some great style, but the story isn't very compelling. Cronenberg can be like that, I find...
I liked this one more, but just because it didn't drag on or lose focus. I didn't like AHOV as much as I thought I would when I saw it, and this one came in at just about what I expected. Viggo was very good, Armin Mueller-Stahl was excellent and Cassel wasn't given much to do, so he didn't do much.
Nik's being FSB was a little too convenient, and the lack of onscreen resolution of certain matters felt like they couldn't engage that aspect without drawing the film out, so they just ended it there and then...with no regard to the pacing or momentum of the film. There was a feeling of unfinished business, even though you knew what had happened to some of the characters involved.
The general mood and style carried this film, as did the performances, but there wasn't much meat on the bone in terms of story or plot. Watts showed up and got a check...her part could have been played by The Hamburgler; it was so straight forward and simple.
It was an okay film overall, but could have been better. It ended up feeling like Donnie Brasco-Lite.
Kirk Gillock
01-07-2008, 03:45 AM
Viggo deserves an Oscar just for the bathroom fight scene. Yikes.
capitalP
10-08-2008, 08:25 AM
Saw this last night. It was good, but it would of been great if they made it an Epic, like 3hrs long or maybe a Part 2. It had so much potential. Just when I'm starting to get into it, it ended.
I so wish it was 3hrs long... But great performance from Viggo, the Cinematraphy was nice also.
By the way, I loved a History of Violence, that movie was complete(length wise).