ada the leading man is my tpye

Organnall Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

ChampDavSlim The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Hattie I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

acarabbal Full of atmosphere, great acting, great photograph, and the characters are very real. Russian mafia story in London

Kyle Perez With shades of film-noir and clear inspirations from legendary mob films like "The Godfather (1972)", "Goodfellas (1990)" and "Casino (1995)", Eastern Promises (2007) unfolds as one of the greatest modern crime films of the 21st Century. The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, and Armin Mueller-Stahl and is directed by David Cronenberg (The Fly, Videodrome, Dead Ringers). The story, one of intertwined violence, corruption and mystery, focuses on a Russian mob family who may be tied to the rape and murder of a Russian teenager living in London. Her diary, which contained the secrets leading up to her demise, is found by British-Russian midwife Anna Khitrova and compels her to fill in the missing pieces. Anna's search for these answers is accompanied by the posthumous narration of the victim.What separates this film from many modern crime films is the mood of the characters and the noirish atmosphere these moods seem to permeate. The musical score, composed by Howard Shore ("LOTR" franchise, dare I say more), is so evocative of the time it is portraying that to call it simply 'fitting' for the film would be an understatement - it becomes a character in itself and plays an integral role in shaping the film's authenticity and style.It is so refreshing to witness a more recent film where the characters and story develop honestly, not in a contrived manner. It's a testament to the film's storytelling and respect for its audience - where feelings and inner conflicts are at the forefront; and the violence isn't so much exploited as it is a punctuation of the characters. EP pays homage to some of the greatest classic mob films while injecting enough mystery and charm in it to become a unique entry into the genre.

Scott LeBrun Anna (Naomi Watts) is a midwife of English / Russian parentage who earns her living in London. One night she helps to deliver the baby for a teen aged girl, who dies in childbirth. Finding a diary among the girls' belongings, she hopes to get it translated so that she can give the baby to whatever family the girl has. In so doing, she gets mixed up with a Russian mob family, including its boss, Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl), his sleazy son Kirill (Vincent Cassel), and Kirills' loyal chauffeur / muscle man Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen).Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg again delivers a film that is equal parts engrossing, interesting, and reasonably intelligent. Working from a screenplay by Steven Knight, he does an impressive job of immersing us in an exotic environment. The mood and the feel of the material are just right. Although Cronenberg unfortunately seems to have left his "body horror" era far behind by this point, there is some very effective violence here and there courtesy of Stephan Dupuis.The film travels far on the charisma of its leading man Mortensen, who is utterly convincing as this enigmatic character. But the whole cast is excellent, really. Watts is an appealing protagonist, Cassel is most amusing, and Mueller-Stahl is a treat as the aged, reserved mafia boss. Other sturdy contributions are made by Sinead Cusack and Jerzy Skolimowski as Annas' aunt and uncle, Tatiana Maslany (voice only), Mina E. Mina, and Donald Sumpter. Some of Mortensens' fans will be truly delighted to see him show off the goods in a key bath house sequence.Certain story twists, the location shooting, and the crisp photography all help to make this very fine entertainment. Cronenberg works alongside a few of his frequent collaborators: cinematographer Peter Suschitzky, production designer Carol Spier, editor Ronald Sanders, composer Howard Shore, and costume designer Denise Cronenberg (the directors' sister).Eight out of 10.

Python Hyena Eastern Promises (2007): Dir: David Cronenberg / Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Vincent Cassell, Sinead Cusack: Riveting thriller about our duties and honors. Naomi Watts works at a hospital where she cares for the newborn of an underage girl who had just died. The only clue given is a diary written in Russian thus leading her to a restaurant owned and run by a criminal mastermind. Directed by David Cronenberg who worked with his lead, Viggo Mortensen in the highly recommended The History of Violence. With that said, the film is equipped with smashing performances by Viggo Mortensen who plays a driver and severely skilled fighter who assists Watts in her search but we learn much more about this character by film's end. Watts is terrific searching for answers and avoiding near death encounters. She is out for the sake of the baby at any cost. Armin Mueller-Stahl plays the crime leader whose soft spoken disposition hides vengeance. Vincent Cassell plays the son wanting top family position. His eagerness to please is often extreme until he is placed in a right and wrong position in the conclusion. Sinead Cusack plays Watts's mother who doesn't discourage the course of her hectic life. Very graphic in its presentation of violence but it examines crime and family as well as promises another Cronenberg winner. Score: 9 / 10