Eastern Promises (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]

Eastern Promises (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
by David Cronenberg

List Price: ~~$26.98~~
Our Price: $17.95
You Save: $9.03 (33%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $9.98 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases

Compare Prices for Eastern Promises (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]

Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD Cover Information

Actor: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel
Director: David Cronenberg
Brand: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); French (Original Language); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); French (Dubbed)
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 101 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-12-23
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Movie Reviews of Eastern Promises (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]

Movie Review: Filling a Void
Summary: 5 Stars

What a difference it makes when your retinue sees your vision! Here is the second Cronenberg movie with Viggo Mortensen, and with this oeuvre, the auteur finally enters the ranks of film's great directors. Thanks mainly to Mortensen, Cronenberg's sometimes incoherent, often dissipated eye focuses its lens.

Cronenberg's genius has always been to lead the viewer down rabbit holes, but he often strands them there. Mortensen won't allow that to happen. He values his director to much to allow him to be fettered in gordian knots. Many of Cronenberg's previous movies have suffered from his lead actor's inability to realize this. Gabriel Byrne came very close in 2002's "Spider." If only Maria Bello could have been brought aboard too. Her interpretation of Cronemberg is just as strong as Mortensen, and together they made 2005's "History of Violence" one of Cronenberg's strongest films. Ms. Watts gave it a brave attempt, but utlimately came nowhere near as good as Bello would have been.

Perhaps too, there has been a void left in the Earth's culture since Bergman passed. "Eastern Promises" seemed almost an homage to the late auteur. Much of the camera work could almost be a direct imitation of many techniques invented by the Swede. While these touts were charming enough, I don't think they should be repeated in the future. Cronenberg has realized how to part the curtain, and show us reality flickering beneath the lights. I have enough faith in his craft to eagerly await his next release.

Certainly this film is the most accessible of all Cronenberg movies. It may even be his best. I would recommend that a first-time viewer of Cronenberg's work see this first, then invest in a retrospective.

Write your own review

All Eastern Promises (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD] Movie Reviews

Summary of Eastern Promises (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]

Viggo Mortensen and Academy Award? nominee Naomi Watts star in this electrifying thriller from critically acclaimed director David Cronenberg (A History of Violence). Criminal mastermind Nikolai (Mortensen) finds his ties to a notorious crime family shaken when he crosses paths with Anna (Watts) a midwife who has accidentally uncovered evidence against them. Their unusual relationship sets off an unstoppable chain of murder mystery and deception in the explosive film critics are calling "provocative and engrossing" (Claudia Puig USA Today).System Requirements:Running Time; 101 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/CRIME Rating: R UPC: 025195000369 Manufacturer No: 62100067

David Cronenberg's signature obsessions flower in Eastern Promises, a stunning look at violence, responsibility, and skin. Near Christmastime in London, a baby is born to a teenage junkie--an event that leads a midwife (Naomi Watts) into the world of the Russian mob. Central to this world is an ambitious enforcer (Viggo Mortensen) who's lately buddied up with the reckless son (Vincent Cassel) of a mob boss (Armin Mueller-Stahl, doing his benign-sinister thing). Screenwriter Steve Knight also wrote Dirty Pretty Things, and in some ways this is a companion piece to that film, though utterly different in style. The plot is classical to the point of being familiar, but Cronenberg doesn't allow anything to become sentimental; he and his peerless cinematographer Peter Suschitzky take a cool, controlled approach to this story. Because of that, when the movie erupts in its (relatively brief) violence, it's genuinely shocking. Cronenberg really puts the viewer through it, as though to shame the easy purveyors of pulp violence--nobody will cheer when the blood runs in this film. Still, Eastern Promises has a furtive humor, nicely conveyed in Viggo Mortensen's highly original performance. Covered in tattoos, his body a scroll depicting his personal history of violence, Mortensen conveys a subtle blend of resolve and lost-ness. He's a true, haunting mystery man. --Robert Horton

Stills from Eastern Promises (click for larger image). Photos by Peter Mountain.

Vincent Cassel (left) and Viggo Mortensen (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.

Armin Mueller-Stahl (center) stars in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Viggo Mortensen (left) and Naomi Watts (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.

Viggo Mortensen (left) and Naomi Watts (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Naomi Watts stars in David Cronenberg's new thriller EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Armin Mueller-Stahl (left) and Naomi Watt (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.

Mina E. Mina (left), Vincent Cassel (center) and Viggo Mortensen (right) star in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Vincent Cassel stars in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.
Viggo Mortensen stars in David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES, a Focus Features release.

Art House & International DVD Video

Mystery & Suspense

DVD Video

Movies most talked about in HD DVD - The Greatest Hits Collection

Zodiac (Two-Disc Director's Cut) [HD DVD]
PARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2008-01-08; DVD
Best price: $20.49
Price in other shops: ~~$39.99~~

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory [HD DVD]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-10-10; DVD
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops: ~~$28.99~~

Traffic [HD DVD]
Universal; Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $11.48
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

The Thing [HD DVD]
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.; Release date: 2006-10-24; DVD
Best price: $11.54
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Stardust [HD DVD]
PARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2007-12-18; DVD
Best price: $18.99
Price in other shops: ~~$39.99~~

Shaun of the Dead [HD DVD]
Release date: 2007-07-31; DVD
Best price: $12.09
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Serenity [HD DVD]
Universal; Release date: 2006-04-18; DVD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Seabiscuit [HD DVD]
Universal; Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $7.70
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Scent of a Woman [HD DVD]
Universal; Release date: 2007-07-24; DVD
Best price: $7.19
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Ray [HD DVD]
Universal; Release date: 2006-08-08; DVD
Best price: $8.95
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Similar DVD Movies

Michael Clayton (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-03-11; DVD
Best price: $17.95
Price in other shops: ~~$35.99~~

Rendition
Release date: 2008-03-24; Video Download; Movie
Best price: $3.99

BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD (HD) (DVD HD)
Image Entertainment; DVD
Price in other shops: ~~$35.98~~

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD] Image

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-02-26; DVD
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops: ~~$35.99~~

Gone Baby Gone
Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2008-02-12; DVD
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops: ~~$29.99~~

The Brave One (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-02-26; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops: ~~$35.99~~

Shoot 'Em Up
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-01-01; DVD
Best price: $5.45
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

We Own the Night
Sony; Release date: 2008-02-12; DVD
Best price: $6.09
Price in other shops: ~~$28.95~~

In the Valley of Elah (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-03-11; DVD
Best price: $18.95
Price in other shops: ~~$35.99~~

The Kingdom (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.; Release date: 2007-12-23; DVD
Best price: $14.90
Price in other shops: ~~$26.98~~