not for kids
Compelling but brutal mafia film for adults only.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that violence -- both graphic and implied -- permeates this film (just as it did Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg's last collaboration, A History of Violence). From the first scene (which shows a brutal throat cutting) on, it's clear that kids and teens aren't the intended audience. Women are manhandled, men are murdered, babies are kidnapped, sons are betrayed, and sexual acts are forced, with little or no emotion. There's also smoking, drinking, strong language, and full nudity. It all serves a complex storyline that yields an intriguing film. But if you're not a Cronenberg fan, you may walk away stunned and appalled.
- Families can talk about how the movie depicts mob life. Does it glamorize it or paint a more distasteful picture? How is it similar to and different from other movies about the mafia? Why are films in general fascinated by the criminal underworld? What about that subject drives filmmakers and screenwriters to explore it over and over? Families can also talk about the role of violence in the movie. Is it necessary to tell the story? Why or why not? How realistic do you think it is?
The good stuff
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Messages: Murder, deception, brutality, kidnapping, smuggling, homophobia -- there's a panoply of questionable behavior on display here.
What to watch for
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Violence: Brutal and nearly unrelenting, whether outright graphic or implied. In the opening scene, the throat of a man sitting in a barber shop chair is slit while the camera zooms up close; later, mobsters cut off his fingers so that there won't be any fingerprints (also shown in close-up). A young girl collapses in a pool of blood, Semyon beats his son at the drop of a hat, and Kirill then takes out his frustrations on others. A particularly bloody fight unfolds in a bathhouse, where a naked Nikolai goes up against two clothed intruders bearing knives. One ends up with a dagger in his eyeballs (again, seen up close). Accompanying all of this is a cacophony of disturbing sounds of bones crunching and flesh being hacked to pieces. Women are raped and coerced into sex.
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Sex: Tatiana and Nikolai share a tender kiss. All other scenes of sex/nudity involve women clearly under the influence of force and/or coercion. One of these disturbing scenes shows a woman having intercourse (her breasts and bottom are bare) while her eyes are glazed over, as if she's completely disconnected from the act. Images include full nudity, though it's artfully staged so that the camera doesn't linger too long on genitalia (viewers just get flashes of them).
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Language: Many uses of "f--k," "bitch," and "whore."
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Consumerism: Occasional: Business card for a Russian restaurant, champagne label, Mercedes Benz.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Alcohol fuels the mayhem and seemingly numbs characters to their acts of violence (in a few scenes at a brothel, men drink from liquor bottles before they have sex -- one of them forcibly -- with the women). The young girl, Tatiana, has track marks on her arms, proof that she was drugged so she wouldn't fight her unfortunate circumstances. The men smoke endlessly, and there's social drinking and smoking in the restaurant.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Oh Viggo. by Daydream
There is solid acting in this film. Viggo steals the movie with an amazing performance. Watts shows what shes got as well. This is a great Russian Mafia movie with scenes that make you move in your seat. Honestly, I wasnt a huge fan of Cassel in his role, but you cant always get what you want... I give it a go just for Viggo. He was amazing, as always.
5
A action movie without guns and explosions......IT WAS FANTASTIC by BobbyDEE
I went to this movie having no real expectations, now be warned this movie is
violent and a bit gritty but in that fact it is wonderful. Also once the movie
ended I realized that there was no gunplay or explosions. Most action flicks
these days are all about over the top heroes who can't be hurt while they
fire unlimited ammo from their never failing weapons. The main character in this film had some close calls and I never felt he was a generic superhero very real. To sum up, a bit of reality in these movies was a refreshing change of pace.
5
Eastern Promises - intense --- by aw2921
Eastern Promises is a movie that stays with you -- while David Cronenberg is known for violence - it is necessary to the story and there is sifficuent lead time to look away
Viggo Mortensen has regal bearing and completely disappears into the role
If you liked Lord of War - this is a step beyond in revealing aspects of the Russian underworld that is both frightening and fascinating
Very powerful film
3
Unfulfilled promises by Igotothemoviesalot
Another movie that almost got it but missed. A Russian teen dies during birth in London leaving a mysterious diary behind. A man gets murdered. The Russian mafia is involved. An uncle who could have solved the mystery early in the movie. All thinly related plot points. The first half of the movie does little to advance the plot. Naomi Watts' character does little in the second half. At times, it felt like a documentary on the inside of the Russian mafia (with plenty of scenes unrelated to the plot at hand.) And kudos to Viggo Mortensen for baring it all during the only exciting scene in the whole movie where he battles two assasins while in the nude at the public bath house (and yes, he does show it all.) A word of caution, beware if you don't like your movies with heavy accents; half the movie is spoken with a thick Russian accent (with some scenes with English subtitles.)
5
Eastern Promises by luckyducky
Acting was superb. Movie was far better than we ever expected. The twists and turns were excellent. The bath fight scene, however, was too graphic and brutal for my taste, although extremely realistic. The ending was just the way it should be. I'd recommend this movie to any adult who wants something to think about when they go home, as long as they can stomach the violence.
5
A Russian Godfather by CINEMA_KEN
In London, an innocent crosses paths with a patriarch of a Russian family whose business is shall we say, cash only. It is a Russian Godfather complete with a wise strong patriarch, a deeply flawed heir apparent In a multi-generational family setting replete with big family dinners, lots of food and drink, kids, music - and graphic and brutal violence, mostly deserved. In other wortds, film worth watching again and again. Naiomi Watts (Mullhullan Drive) sizzles as the naive midwife who looks for a baby's family with a Russian diary that could put away the Russian mob. The Godfather is perfectly cast - as are the son and his soldier. The midwife's Russian uncle who translates the diary is blilliant - his face alone deserves an Oscar! One word: Sequel!
5
A growing partnership by darcyman2
Viggo Mortenson and David Cronenberg are fast forging an artistically impressive partnership in the league of John Wayne and John Ford, Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorcese.
Mortenson dominates the screen with a magnetic presence, and eerily compelling stillness. Coupling nicely with Naomi Watt's reliably excellent performance, he presents a nuanced portrait of a man precariously poised between worlds and roles. He excellently underplays the tension simmering just below the surface.
Cronenberg also does a masterful job of creating a tight, controlled thriller very much of and about its setting--for all of the overglamorous and pseudo-edgy portrayals of London, he delves into the substrata of a vibrant city to show its visceral and pulsating underworld as it collides with the working class existence of "normal, ordinary people."
5
Viggo is amazing by katmat35
You know...I could go on and on about the complex and gripping plot and how fair Naomi Watts is in this picture, but you know what????....the bottom line for me was that Viggo is completely nekkid in a knife fight with 2 bad guys....the entire time I was holding my breath and in disbelief that I was witnessing Viggo's undercarriage in all it's natural glory! This is a fantastic movie!!!
5
A Bloody Slab of Reality by moobiebuff
A chilling, uncooked incision that severs the viewer into a reality more raw than one is first willing to admit, but nonetheless is brutally force-fed. A paper cut on the psyche, this movie sieves your heart and mind, ransacks your subconscious, to wreak an inexplicable, strikingly near visceral, corollary. What these characters exude separates this film upon an entirely more cavernous psychological rift altogether. Its complexity is bleeding, a sensory saturation leaving us to metabolize its powerful effect on us long after we leave the theatre. Upon first glance, what Cronenberg faces you with leaves your jaw on the floor, your stomach sank into your lap, your throat swelled up, and your heart wrenched like Cronenberg himself was wringing out a towel. Viggo Mortensen is absolutely mystical, and has entered in my books the supernatural echelons of actors and actresses. Immeasurable directing. Un-befreaking-lievable!!!
1
oh please... by truereviews
Please somebody save us!!! I'm sick of these really tacky male frontal scenes, why do they spring them on us like that? From American History X, to this nonsense of a terribly cast movie. These scenes cheapen and render unwatchable otherwise passable fare.