A History of Violence (New Line Platinum Series)
by David Cronenberg
List Price:
Our Price: $9.99
You Save: $4.99 (33%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $1.05 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ashton Holmes, Ed Harris, Maria Bello, Viggo Mortensen, William HurtDirector: David Cronenberg
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-03-14
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: New Line Home Video
Movie Reviews of A History of Violence (New Line Platinum Series)
Movie Review: We never truly know people
Summary: 4 Stars
So much has been written about this film and the title. For most, the movie is about the way violence is encoded in our lives and how we all have an underlying current running through us. I think the movie is really the study of the relationship between the two main characters--Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) and Edie (Maria Bello).
These two actors are amazing the film, especially Bello, who deserves to become a household name. Their intereactions are always spot on as they drive the plot. The sideways glance, the tense look, the loving smile: every part means something.
These two characters are madly in love after seventeen or such years of marriage, and we see it through different ways. The first half of the movie is there to set up their relationship and the love they feel. But then everything is turned upside down, and we realize that these two people who have shared everything and love one another dearly really know nothing about what lies beneath. It's as if they have only shared a part of themselves.
It's this interaction and realization that makes the film so great. The plot almost seems beside the point; it's merely there to make use see the characters.
I give the film four stars instead of five because of some of the scenes were out of place, almost as if Cronenberg couldn't decide what kind of film to make. William Hurt is good at the end, for instance, but his character didn't fit. Watch the movie for the main characters' interactions and go along with the rest.
Summary of A History of Violence (New Line Platinum Series)
On the surface, David Cronenberg may seem an unlikely candidate to direct A History of Violence, but dig deeper and you'll see that he's the right man for the job. As an intellectual seeker of meaning and an avowed believer in Darwinian survival of the fittest, Cronenberg knows that the story of mild-mannered small-town diner proprietor Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is in fact a multilayered examination of inbred human behavior, beginning when Tom's skillful killing of two would-be robbers draws unwanted attention to his idyllic family life in rural Indiana. He's got a loving wife (Maria Bello) and young daughter (Heidi Hayes) who are about to learn things about Tom they hadn't suspected, and a teenage son (Ashton Holmes) who has inherited his father's most prominent survival trait, manifesting itself in ways he never expected. By the time Tom has come into contact with a scarred villain (Ed Harris) and connections that lead him to a half-crazy kingpin (William Hurt, in a spectacular cameo), Cronenberg has plumbed the dark depths of human nature so skillfully that A History of Violence stands well above the graphic novel that inspired it (indeed, Cronenberg was unaware of the source material behind Josh Olson's chilling adaptation). With hard-hitting violence that's as sudden as it is graphically authentic, this is A History of Violence that's worthy of serious study and widespread acclaim. --Jeff Shannon On the DVD
On a single disc and with little fanfare, this DVD makes an excellent case for the best extras of the year. Dive into the one-hour-long documentary and learn more about moviemaking than on many a double-disc. The secret lies in director David Cronenberg's (and his usual crew) folksy casualness in showing off the craft, be it makeup (green screens were used), directing (Cronenberg doesn't storyboard), or art direction (the diner set). It also is very funny to hear about "fish Fridays" and how Maria Bello's Uncle Pete became an influence. Even the infamous sex-on-the-staircase scene is diagnosed with candor as stars Viggo Mortensen and Bello act as if there is no backstage camera. There's only one deleted scene, but it's uncommonly deconstructed on why it was filmed and why it was cut (it's a very Cronenbergian dream sequence). A short bit on Cannes is also a delight. So much is here that Cronenberg's smart commentary track is nearly superfluous. Isn't that a nice surprise? --Doug Thomas
More to Explore
 The Graphic Novel |  Other Graphic Novels that Inspired Movies |  David Cronenberg Essentials |
 Why We Love Maria Bello |  The work of Viggo Mortensen |  The work of William Hurt |
Stills from A History of Violence
 Viggo Mortensoe as Tom Stall |  Ashton Holmes as Jack Stall and Kyle Schmid as Bobby Jordan |
 William Hurt as Richie Cusack |  Ed Harris as Carl Fogarty and Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall |
 Maria Bello as Edie Stall |  Director David Cronenberg |
An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father (Viggo Mortensen) commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.
DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Director David Cronenberg Commentary
Deleted Scenes:Deleted scene w/director commentary
Documentary:"Acts of Violence" documentary
Easter Eggs
Featurette:"The Unmakeing of Scene 44" "Violence's History: U.S. vs. International Versions" "Too Commercial for Cannes"
Action & Adventure DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in My Favorite Movies From the 00 Decade So Far
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2005-11-01; DVD
Best price: $12.13
Price in other shops:
Gone in 60 SecondsTouchstone; Release date: 2000-12-05; DVD
Best price: $5.24
Price in other shops:
Ocean's Eleven (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2002-05-07; DVD
Best price: $1.89
Price in other shops:
Kill Bill, Volume 1Release date: 2004-04-13; DVD
Best price: $4.66
Price in other shops:
Daredevil (Director's Cut)Release date: 2004-11-30; DVD
Best price: $6.58
Price in other shops:
X2 - X-Men United (Widescreen Edition)Release date: 2005-09-06; DVD
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
The Lord of the Rings - The Two TowersWarner Brothers; Release date: 2003-08-26; DVD
Best price: $2.41
Price in other shops:
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Full Screen Edition)Release date: 2002-08-06; DVD
Best price: $2.50
Price in other shops:
Batman Begins (Widescreen Edition)WARNER HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2005-10-18; DVD
Best price: $5.05
Price in other shops:
The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2003-10-14; DVD
Best price: $1.00
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
16 Blocks (Widescreen Edition)WARNER HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2006-06-13; DVD
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops:
Children of Men (Widescreen Edition)CHILDREN OF MEN - WIDESCREEN (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2007-03-27; DVD
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops:
Derailed (Unrated Widescreen)DERAILED - UNRATED WIDESCREEN (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2006-03-21; DVD
Best price: $1.79
Price in other shops:
Inside Man (Widescreen Edition)Release date: 2006-08-08; DVD
Best price: $4.45
Price in other shops:
Syriana (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-06-20; DVD
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
CapoteRelease date: 2006-03-21; DVD
Best price: $2.30
Price in other shops:
Munich (Widescreen Edition)Release date: 2006-05-09; DVD
Best price: $5.50
Price in other shops:
Eastern Promises (Widescreen Edition)EASTERN PROMISES (WS) (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2007-12-23; DVD
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
The Constant Gardener (Widescreen Edition)Release date: 2006-01-10; DVD
Best price: $3.08
Price in other shops:
Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-03-14; DVD
Best price: $4.80
Price in other shops: