A History of Violence

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Year:	2005
Country of origin:	USA / Germany
Director:	David Cronenberg
Genre:	Stylish thriller
Starring:	Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt
Rating:	4/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399146/
Tagline:	Everyone has something to hide.
Favourite line:	"Come here you fuck! You cocksucking motherfucker!"

Cronenberg's Mafia effort is a stylish, if not entirely convincing affair.

Viggo Mortensen, the man with a jaw so square you could butter it up and stick it under the grill with some grated cheese, plays Tom, an everyday sort; kind, unassuming, a good family man. One night, as he is about to close his diner a couple of Mafia sorts enter and insist that he serve them. He attempts to comply, clearly hoping that he can co-operate and see them on their way, when events escalate as the hoodlums threaten to kill a member of his staff. Without pause for thought, he bursts into action, killing both of the mobsters, seemingly surprising himself as much as the bad guys.
Shortly after, a Mafiosa lynchpin (Harris) from Philadelphia pays him a visit and insists that he is not actually called Tom but Joey and that the scar on the Wiseguy's face is as a result of a barbed wire attack by the aforementioned Joe. And he's seeking retribution.
Within hours, the life of the previously sedate and settled Tom is spiralling out of control as a battle of identity ensues.

Whilst not Croneneberg's best effort, this is nevertheless engaging, tense fare with an intriguing premise and riveting performances all round, particularly from Viggo 'Aragorn' Mortensen, a man with depths of ability I was previously unaware of. It's a brief movie too, something I tend to approve of, coming in just over the hour and a half mark, meaning that little time is wasted on unnecessaries, trimmed right down to the bone for maximum impact.
The single docked mark is as a result of the latter scenes, involving the Mafia, lacking real credibility.
That aside, this is a confident, understated, intelligent thriller that should appeal to most with a brain cell to rub together.
Those that enjoyed Transformers need not apply.
Because you are fucking morons.