Review of Eastern Promises (2007) by Tony G — 20 Jul 2010
A pregnant russian teenager comes into a hospital bleeding out, the mother dies and the child lives. The midwife (Naomi Watts) finds that the girl has left a diary, but it is in russian and the midwife altho' half russian needs it translated. She visited a restaurant and the boss offers to translate it. However her uncle (also russian) translates it also - it tells of the horrific life of the 14 year old russian prostitute and the involvement of the russian crime family in her life and death. The midwife investigates the dead girls life looking for clues to her family. Viggo is the chauffeur come undertaker for the russian mob. Cassel is the son of the big boss - Kiril, who is not living up to his father's expectations of hard man.
It is extremely brutal, bloody and violent with some awful themes, but it retains its thriller credentials and in some ways is beautiful. Superb writing and excellent casting. Viggo is so far removed from his Aragorn role that my faith in his acting chops is once more renewed. Nice to see Vincent Cassel living up to expectations.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for something absorbing, but willing to put up with the violence that is innate to the plot.
This review of Eastern Promises (2007) was written by Tony G on 20 Jul 2010.
Eastern Promises has generally received very positive reviews.
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