A History of Violence
A thriller from director David Cronenberg, A History of Violence stars Viggo Mortensen as a pillar of a small town community who runs a diner and lives a happy and quiet life with his wife (Maria Bello) and two children. But their lives are forever changed when Mortensen thwarts an attempted robbery and is lauded as a hero by the media, attracting the attention of some mobsters (William Hurt and Ed Harris) who believe he is someone else.
Member Reviews
One of Cronenberg's best - Scopitone
One of Cronenberg's best! A strange mix between surrealism, action and comedy. I love Cronenberg's inversion of the American dream. Viggio Mortensen is fantastic in this movie. A completely solid performance by him and Maria Bello. Definitley recommended.Great Crime Story - bbryon1
A small-town diner owner finds himself a local hero after he successfully takes down two thugs during an attempted robbery. But his sudden celebrity draws unwanted attention from the outside world, including mobsters who insist that he is intricately tied to their past. Impressed by the mastery of Cronenberg as a filmmaker. It's a harsh and hard film, even more so emotionally than in physical violence. A remarquable piece of filmmaking, but not a feelgood one. If you are having a bad case of the blues, look somewhere elseA Slow Burn - mamadu
On its own, "A History of Violence" is a very good film. It has some amazing camera work and cinematography, extremely subtle acting, and intriguing character development. But what makes this film so interesting, and what also makes it feel like a very successful experiment, is its unique use of tension. There is so much tension not only between characters, but in each scene; it's like Cronenburg managed to capture the atmosphere, the pressure of these scenes, which makes watching this film so thrilling.
However, I consider this film a precursor to Cronenburg's next film "Eastern Promises." Not that I mean it's a superior film, more that "Eastern Promises" takes the achievements of "A History of Violence" and applies it to a more compelling story.
In any event, a great film, and an interesting warm-up to Cronenburg's follow-up.
Member Reviews
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One of Cronenberg's best - Scopitone
One of Cronenberg's best! A strange mix between surrealism, action and comedy. I love Cronenberg's inversion of the American dream. Viggio Mortensen is fantastic in this movie. A completely solid performance by him and Maria Bello. Definitley recommended.Great Crime Story - bbryon1
A small-town diner owner finds himself a local hero after he successfully takes down two thugs during an attempted robbery. But his sudden celebrity draws unwanted attention from the outside world, including mobsters who insist that he is intricately tied ...A Slow Burn - mamadu
On its own, "A History of Violence" is a very good film. It has some amazing camera work and cinematography, extremely subtle acting, and intriguing character development. But what makes this film so interesting, and what also makes it feel like a very successful ...