Review of A History of Violence (2005) by Jason W — 22 Jul 2010
?A History of Violence? displays the way our past never dies and the innocence that it destroys in it?s wake. Tom Stall (Mortensen) is an honest, innocent family man in small town mid west America. He owns a diner and has the pukingly perfect life.
An encounter with a attempted robbery at his diner makes Tom a local hero which soon produces a strange character who claims to know Tom. One caveat however: he says his name in Joey from Philly and it has come to pay the piper.
The ensuing exploration is tight, violent and engaging. Is this Tom or Joey? Why is there no inhibitions when killing people? How will his family react to these accusations. Cronenberg keeps the plot thick, moving and provocative.
A fine five minutes also from William Hurt. It turns around the lens on the desires of human attraction. We all have the desire to live a humble peaceful life in a town where everybody knows your name, yet we as a society have a fascination with the violent, crime spree that engulfs us.
An intriguing look at life in America today.
This review of A History of Violence (2005) was written by Jason W on 22 Jul 2010.
A History of Violence has generally received very positive reviews.
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