Review of A History Of Violence

Introduction

Director David Cronenberg must have faced a bit of a dilemma when it came to casting someone in the lead role of this film.

He had to find someone who could make a convincing family man but who could also convince the audience that he would, or would not be capable of concealing a chequered history.

Viggo Mortensen pulls this off pretty well. He maintains an air of mystery throughout the film and although the title of the film gives a lot of clues, you never quite let yourself believe the truth.

Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is a quiet family man who has everything he could ever hope for.

A beautiful wife, two children and a stress-free existence living in small-town America.

That is until a couple of drifters who`d kill for a cup of coffee turn up at his diner and start threatening to "off" the hired help.

Tom surprises everyone with his lightning quick reactions and no-nonsense, expert approach to turning the tables on the killers - permanently.

He is quickly but reluctantly propelled to local hero and the story attracts national press attention - and someone else`s.

Tom`s diner is soon packed, but there`s one customer who he is not quite so happy to see.

Carl Fogarty, (Ed Harris) an intimidating, disfigured gangster who stands out like a sore thumb in the café full of locals makes it clear to Tom that he knows who he really is, and they have unfinished business.

Tom`s son Jack (Ashton Holmes) is also experiencing the pitfalls of his father`s fame at the hands of bully Bobby (Kyle Schmid), until he too discovers he has the knack of turning the tables on someone.

All this upsets the serenity of the Stall family existence and Tom`s wife; Edie (Maria Bello) begins to question whether her husband is really the man she thinks he is.

That`s not his only problem though, Tom`s brother, Richie (William Hurt) is back in touch after almost twenty years and he`s not the kind of man you ignore.

Video

Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1

Audio

English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Digital .2.0

An excellent score by Howard Shore, really very good.

Features

Acts Of Violence

Some of these are absolutely brilliant, a definite incentive to making you part with your cash to own the DVD.

Scenes are dissected by the cast and crew to give the viewer an extraordinary look at the making of the movie.

In one of the clips, a scene in a shopping mall with Maria Bello and Ed Harris, Bello recounts what`s happening in the scene.

The two start off with the scripted dialogue and halfway through Harris lowers his voice a little and explains what his intentions are for the scene.

What he says can also relate to the situation the two are in, in the film, and he stays in character when saying it.

Bello looks a bit shell-shocked at first but quickly realises what he`s trying to do and thankfully remains in character herself, quoting the next scripted line. Suddenly the scene is finished and Harris has managed to get the exact reaction he was looking for. Absolute genius.

Scene 44 Deleted Scene

The Unmaking Of Scene 44

Violences History United Sates Version Vs International Version

Too Commercial For Cannes

Another excellent feature. The director`s video diary of the screening of the movie at Cannes Film Festival and the interviews etc. he had to endure.

Feature Commentary With David Cronenberg

Theatrical Trailer

Main Language: English

Conclusion

I am so glad this film is not another patchwork, contemporary movie that hacks a load of pointless scenes together and passes it off as a story, then relies heavily on "style" and the cast saving it from being a complete disaster.

I`ve seen a lot of these "independent movies" lately and although a number of them are good, the majority are totally overrated.

Cronenberg is known for producing some pretty, "off the wall" stuff himself but his are better than most.

I`d say this is one of his best and definitely his most commercial. I enjoyed this very much but I felt a little disappointed by the ending.

It`s a great story, great performances from a great cast, great direction and some great action.

The scenes whether sexual or violent are fairly graphic. Cronenberg is known for the violence in his films and nothing much changes here, it is all necessary though.

I think he is trying to show how violent situations can affect anyone`s lives.

With regards to the early sex scenes, he is trying to show how healthy the couple`s relationship still is.

The relationship then shows strain as violence enters their lives, and the later sexual scenes are to show how violence can be strangely glamorous but repulsive at the same time.

When Bello displays her disgust in these scenes she is definitely at her best. Anyone who has been in a strained relationship will totally empathise with Tom immediately after the couple have sex on the stairs.

I`ve read a few reviews on this movie and many seem to be banging on about how good Mortensen is.

I agree, but I think Mario Bello should take a lot of credit for her performance as well.

She seems to be getting better in every movie I see her in, she`s a brave actress that has the ability to make her co-stars look very good opposite her.

Mortensen is equally good, although he strikes me as a bit of a fish out of water during the end sequence (just look at his clothes compared to his surroundings).

This is more than likely deliberate though to show just how much the character has changed over the years.

For reasons I can`t really explain he reminds me of Harrison Ford. He has a similar look and can get away with smiling very little.

I also think this is the kind of role Ford may have taken on in his younger days, come to think of it it`s not so far removed from his role in What Lies Beneath.

I thought Tom`s relationship with his son was a little bit distant and I expected it to be later revealed that he was not the boy`s father, or maybe he was just struggling as his boy reaches adolescence - keen for him to stay on the right path.

This could again be deliberate, possibly to give you an idea of how holding on to a huge secret can drive a wedge between a family.

Highest praise has to go to Ed Harris though. Truly a master of the art, he`s outstanding in this movie. Cool as ever, he breezes into this role as if he was born for it, effortlessly stealing every single scene he`s in.

He cuts a terrifyingly, serene character, I absolutely love the scene where his limo is pulled over by the local cop.

William Hurt is very good as well. There were all kinds of talk about this being an Oscar-winning performance, I think that`s going a bit over-the-top.

It`s a very convincing performance, but no better than the rest and I don`t think it would have been such a great challenge for an actor of his experience anyway.

As for my comment early on about the ending. The very end scene, when Tom returns home is excellent, the perfect finish. It shows the family trying desperately to forget what`s happened and returning to normal, I really liked that.

It`s the events preceding this scene that I found a bit flat. It`s a good enough ending over all, with some excellent action and it certainly doesn`t spoil the film in any way.

I just thought it seemed a bit too easy and over too quickly - a bit of an anti-climax.

Still, this is a very good film. I`d certainly recommend it to anyone thinking of having a Friday night in and the extra features are among the best I have seen.