Review of Eastern Promises (2007) by Pranay S — 13 Aug 2011

I never did get a chance to see Cronenberg's other film, A History of Violence, although I heard great things about it. And after viewing Eastern Promises, I'm very inclined to rent it and finally see what all of the acclaim and praise is about. Anyway, EP is a very well-acted and well-made movie. The cast does a fantastic job making this dark, sick, and violent mob-oriented environment come to life. Mortensen stands out above all though, with his performance once again showcasing his acting prowess (and his apparent tight grip on Russian accents). While the film does have its flaws, it is a great mobster/gangster film that any film fanatic will thoroughly enjoy. It is definitely no Goodfellas, but is does stand its own ground in terms of quality. I would have wished for a longer run-time for further characterization in the beginning and middle of the film, as well as Cronenberg taking advantage of the ending twist for more dramatic effect or something in that manner, but these complaints aren't nearly enough to drag the movie down significantly. I'd definitely recommend it.

81%.