Eastern Promises

A chain of murder and retribution uncoils when a man (Viggo Mortensen) who is tied to a London crime family crosses paths with an innocent midwife (Naomi Watts).

Directed by: David Cronenberg
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts | Full Cast & Crew
Year: 2007
MPAA Rating: R
Genres: Drama, Suspense
Running Time: 1:40
Language: English
Country: CAN/GBR
Color type: Color

Photos

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Reviews

REELZ REVIEW

"A cast of shady characters, scenes of inappropriate gore and a ten-minute fight sequence featuring a completel..." [more]

— Thomas Leupp

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- Thomas Leupp
  
  ReelzChannel.com, September 26, 2007
  
  A cast of shady characters, scenes of inappropriate gore and a ten-minute fight sequence featuring a completely naked Viggo? Must be a Cronenberg flick.
  
  Two years ago David Cronenberg's A History of Violence, the first collaboration between the cult director and actor Viggo Mortensen, went largely unnoticed by the Academy and mainstream audiences alike, despite near-universal praise from critics. Undaunted, they've teamed up again for Eastern Promises, a riveting new thriller set in the bleak world of London's Russian Mafia.
  
  The movie begins in typical Cronenberg fashion (read: violent and gruesome), with a barbershop throat-slashing followed by a woman dying in childbirth. The connection between the two disparate -- and yet equally unsettling -- scenes becomes apparent through the efforts of Anna (Naomi Watts), a determined midwife who makes it her mission to contact the girl's family in the hopes of finding a proper home for the orphaned child.
  
  Anna's search leads her to London's Russian quarter, where she meets Nikolai Luzhin (Mortensen), a limo driver and part-time mortician for the privileged, sadistic son of prominent Russian crime boss. Unlike his more ruthless counterparts, Nikolai possesses something of a conscience, and when his bosses order him to dispatch the pesky midwife for asking too many questions, he can't bring himself to do it. Thus the stage is set for violent confrontation between Nikolai and his former mafia pals, featuring the aforementioned naked knife fight.
  
  While Eastern Promises is 100% Cronenberg, the real star of the show is Mortensen, who makes a powerful case for a Best Actor Oscar nomination.
  
  ReelzChannel Rating:
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Cronenberg discusses Fly Opera and Eastern Promises Sequel
By Jeff Otto

The 2007 Toronto International Film Festival: A Recap
By Thomas Leupp

MOVIE NEWS

Wednesday, December 26

DVD ~~Tuesday~~ Wednesday

In deference to Christmas Day's major theatrical releases, DVD Tuesday arrives a day late this week, with the Chris Tucker/Jackie Chan buddy comedy Rush Hour 3 leading the way. Also debuting on DVD are Jamie Foxx's political thriller The Kingdom and Bob Odenkirk's comedy The Brothers Solomon.

Our pick for this week is David Cronenberg's stellar Eastern Promises, featuring Lord of the Rings' Viggo Mortensen in an Oscar-worthy performance as a ruthless Russian Mafioso with a gaggle of gnarly tattoos and a knack for naked knife fights.

Posted 12/26/2007 by Thomas

Related: Eastern Promises | Rush Hour 3 | The Brothers Solomon

Friday, October 12

Cronenberg on Fly Opera and Eastern Promises Sequel

Director David Cronenberg was out on the town last night to help promote Eastern Promises' awards campaign.

At a small cocktail party with press and assorted Hollywood socialites, the director discussed his Russian Mafioso as well as his opera. Yes, his opera. The Fly Opera is coming to Paris and Los Angeles in 2008.

You can read more on The Fly Opera as well as Cronenberg's thoughts on Eastern Promises 2 in our full report right here.

Eastern Promises Trailer

Cronenberg directs Naomi Watts & Viggo Mortensen.

Viggo and Violence

Viggo Mortensen talks about Eastern Promises.

Eastern Wins Toronto

Dailies takes a closer look at David Cronenberg.

Secret's Out

Leonard Maltin takes a closer look at Eastern Promises.

Posted 10/12/2007 by Jeff

Related: Eastern Promises | The Fly

Saturday, September 15

Toronto loves David Cronenberg

The 32nd annual Toronto International Film Festival ends today and before closing they elected their king.

Audiences awarded David Cronenberg's Russian mob thriller Eastern Promises Best Picture, and Jason Reitman's teen pregnancy comedy Juno was runner up.

Hey, I'd vote for a naked Viggo Mortensen, too.

Eastern Promises trailer

Cronenberg directs Naomi Watts & Viggo Mortensen.

Posted 09/15/2007 by Heather

Related: Eastern Promises

Friday, September 14

By the Numbers: Reviews of this Weekend's New Releases

With all three of this weekend's major releases, The Brave One, Mr. Woodcock and Dragon Wars, receiving mediocre reviews, folks heading to the movies this weekend might be best advised to skip the Cineplex entirely and hit up the local arthouse theater instead.

A rundown of our reviews of this weekend's new releases:

The Brave One
"The director tries to distract you with lots of fancy shots, but the script...I don't know what's worse, the storyline or the dialogue." [Full Review]

Mr. Woodcock
"The movie's first ten minutes, in which coach Billy Bob viciously berates his meek pupils, are intermittently hilarious, but it's all downhill from there."  [Full Review]

In the Valley of Elah
"It's heavy, it's sad, and flaws aside, I liked it...Tommy Lee Jones's performance is quiet, intense, and stunning."  [Full Review]

King of California
"For an 'adventure movie' full of quirk, it can feel a bit flat, but Douglas in particular delivers a tremendous performance."  [Full Review]

Eastern Promises
"A cast of shady characters, scenes of inappropriate gore and a ten-minute fight sequence featuring a completely naked Viggo? Must be a Cronenberg flick."  [Full Review]

Also opening this weekend: Moving McAllister, Dragon Wars, December Boys and Silk.

Posted 09/14/2007 by Thomas

Related: The Brave One | Mr. Woodcock | In the Valley of Elah | Eastern Promises | King of California