A History of Violence

Director: David Cronenberg
Year: 2005
Source: Based on a Graphic Novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt, Ashton Holmes.
Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)

Mr. Cronerberg's movies were never personal to me. Still I always feel immensely fascinated by them. One of the peculiarities of Cronerberg movies is it's leisurely speed. He takes time to get us in the groove. Some like it, some hate ( I don't say 'dislike'). I fall in the former category. Having said that, some scenes seem stretched. Watching his reminds me of another talented director Sam Mendes. Like his Road to Perdition this one is also based on a graphic novel. Cronerberg disappointed me in Crash. His repetitiveness in Crash irked me a bit.

Anyway, here he has made a brilliant film with such talent as our own Mr. Mortensen at hand. The film is effective and seldom seems dragged. There's lot of sex and violence in here too as is Cronerberg's hallmark and it's all worth. The violence is on your face and it's never lame, so are the sex sequences. It sure isn't gratuitous. Viggo Mortensen is a great actor. He pulls off Tom/Joey with great power and his vulnerability as Tom, the gentleman with a family is a real achievement for the actor. Ed Harris and William Hurt shine in small roles, particularly Hurt is chilling as the bad guy 'Ritchie'. Remember the last scene, Joey looking at his wife with guilt and misery, his eyes explaining everything, as the camera pans out. That reminded me of Cranerberg/Moretensen pair's last venture, the unforgettable Eastern Promises. Remember the horror in his eyes?

Joey's son Jack picks up the gun before he realizes the truth about his father. The legacy passes on. The History of Violence. It wasn't really a choice, was it?