Drama > Cronenberg, David Drama

A History of Violence with a coffeepot

Advantages: Great acting, good plot on the whole
Disadvantages: Confusing at times, could have been better

The role of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings films seems to have led to full exposure for Viggo Mortenson. The 2005 film 'A History of Violence' directed by David Cronenberg has Mortenson as the lead in an intricately woven gangster film, and features a good cast and some top acting. It is 92 minutes long. The Plot Tom Spall and his wife and two children lead a quiet life in the small town of Millbrook. Tom works in their cafe, and one day foils ...
...who are keen to get the exclusive on some action in a town where nthing ever happens, Tom's face ends up on local and national TV. This leads to a series of events that would have anyone asking questions. Tom is confronted by a mysterious 'stranger', Carl Fogarty, who seems to believe Tom is someone he is not - a former gangster! He is accused of ruining this man's life, and as Tom struggles to return to normalcy and to escape the attentions of ...

pmcds 14.03.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The History Of Violence (DVD)

Probably the WORST film ever made !

Advantages: Nice when it's over
Disadvantages: Everything

This film may have a controversial and possibly disturbing theme, but why make it in the first place ? There is little or no storyline, no characterisation, the acting is wooden and the whole effect is that one just couldn't care less about what happens on screen. Starring James Spader, Holly Hunter and Patricia Arquette one would have expected a great deal more from this movie, however one is left with the burning question as to how these actors ...
...C-list TV celebrity (Spader)becoming sexually obsessed with car crashes is highly implausible, to say the least. The sex scenes are not erotic (scarred and injured people screwing in a car wreck does nothing for me), the script is very bland, hence giving the actors no real motivation, and the "action" pieces are very tame. Director David Cronenberg, has made some great movies in his time, but this is definitely not one of them. Quite who the target ...

Paggy 10.01.2004 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Crash (DVD)

Thought-provoking film of a great book

Advantages: Miranda Richardson
Disadvantages: None I can mention

This is a compelling story and one which will leave you asking questions throughout, but SO worth the watch and the subsequent discussion with friends. I am not entirely convinced that Ralph Fiennes was the most suitable choice for the lead but Miranda Richardson gives a sterling performance for her characters. The story is hard to fully describe but, like Momento, the plot becomes clearer as the film progresses. I assume the film did not cost too ...
...I'd find it hard to take if it cost in the millions!) but the strong character performances and dramatic soundtrack keep you locked to see Ralph's past unravel and his current situation explained. You can read the synopsis for yourself but this doesn't really do the film justice. As with many movies, this is worthy of a rent as opposed to buying but I would definitely recommend you read the book. ENJOY! ...

marcberryman 17.06.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Spider (DVD)

The Good… The Bad… & The Undecided…

Advantages: A few good action scenes; If you like violence this is for you...
Disadvantages: If you don't, don't even botter, you'll feel sick...

† What you are about to read is a review on a box set that could easily be described in a simple word: Violence…! But as I spend more than 300 minutes watching it, I think I will tell you a bit more about it… Was it worth it? You will soon find out… † “Domino” (2005) - “There is three kinds of people in the world: the poor, the rich, and everyone in between… My name is Domino Harvey…” (2/5). Tony Scott is the personification of everything we hate ...
...blockbuster concept, when he directed “Top Gun”, back in 1986. But there’s something about him that catches my attention and maybe that’s the reason why one of my favourite “worst movie ever” is “The Last Boy Scout” (1991)… “Domino” is an action thriller freely adapted to the true life of Londoner Domino Harvey, who gave up her career as a model to become a bounty hunter; Domino was the only daughter of Lawrence Harvey (Lithuanian-born actor, mostly ...

octavio.teixeira 02.05.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Domino/A Man Apart/A History Of Violence (DVD)

'I'm just the driver'

Advantages: riveting storyline
Disadvantages: subtitled parts may be a disadvantage for some people

I love any type of gangster films so when Andrew told me about this one, I was more than happy to sit and watch it. I have now watched it twice so feel that I can give a good run down on it. The film is set in London where a young girl hemorrhages and dies but at the same time gives birth to a baby girl. The midwife who delivers the child, Anna, finds her diary and sets out on a journey to get it interpreted as it's written in Russian. She unfortunately ...
...on thin ice as she delves more and more into the life of the young girl who set her fate in this direction. The acting throughout the film was pretty convincing and although there were certain areas that I felt were a little corny, over all it was believable. I really enjoyed the film and liked the dark element that it had to it. It had some very unexpected twists and turns that I was expecting at all and I felt that this kept the film fresh and ...

claribella 13.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Eastern Promises (DVD)