Review of Eastern Promises (2007) by Joseph H — 13 Mar 2011

So much wasted potential. A good movie that could have been great. I feel they should stop making mafia movies. They never really offer anything that unique from their predecessors. Sure this mafia is Russian, but it falls into the same old cliches. A retiring mob boss with a screw up for a son. Looks past his son for a new leader. The son realizes that the father doesn't repsect him and tries to earn his respect. Gets jealous of the new prospect. Etc.

On top of that, I had to turn on the closed captioning because Viggo Mortensen mubbles non-stop. His thick russian accent combined with him constantly smoking a cigarette while talking make him near impossible to understand. In addition, the shower knife fight scene was unnecessary. Full frontal male nudity is not what I look for in a mafia movie.

Overall, this movie is interesting and somewhat entertaining. Worth a watch if there is nothing else to do. No re-watch value. A rental at best.