A History of Violence
2005 Directed by David Cronenberg
Synopsis
Tom Stall had the perfect life... until he became a hero.
A mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core.
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“Jesus, Joey.”
-Richie Cusack (William Hurt)I picked this one up pre-owned from Blockbuster today, ‘cause it was cheap. I think it’s fair to say the disc has seen a history of violence itself. But alas, it worked, so I can’t really complain.
In fact, I’m glad I finally got round to watching this, as it is easily one of director David Cronenberg’s most accessible, yet also superior, works.Cronenberg ventures into foreign territory with ‘A History’ that, in regards to the plot, plays out like a typical gangster film. It’s a world away from the peculiar and often surreal films he produced across his earlier career, such as Naked Lunch (1991), Crash (1996) or eXistenZ (1999), yet it still…
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The film is brimming with brilliant performances, particularly from Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello in their central roles, but the most impressive performance came from Ed Harris. He makes full use of his screen time and benefits from a well written script as the frighteningly sinister Carl Fogerty.
The central narrative is gripping from the moment it begins, but is equally matched by tense cutaways into the lives of each member of the Stall family and how they have each been affected by the legendary status Tom has received after his heroic actions.
Cronenberg’s visceral style lends itself to the violence in this film, a tone which lingers throughout the narrative. However, the brilliance of the film comes from its focus on the reactions that are caused by violence. This thoroughly engaging character study is the most mainstream of Cronenberg’s films (that I’ve seen) and is certainly his finest.
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A couple years ago, this film was firmly in my Top 50. I haven't seen the film for a couple years now, and by the time I did my top 100 Letterboxd list, this was no where in sight. I've decided this film requires a rewatch.
This film is a delight from Cronenberg. It mixes various little film influences together into a great little story. But the film wouldn't work without the acting. Mortensen gives one of his best ever performances as a man with a deeply hidden past identity. Maria Bello is solid with some great acting scenes. Ashton Holmes gives a memorable teen performance as well.
Then you have Ed Harris effortlessly stealing the show, and William Hurt… -
This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
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The whole film is awesome but the last 20 minutes are epically badass.
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If there's one phrase that fills me with more dread than any other, it's 'based on a graphic novel'. Out of all of the films based on comics or graphic novels which I have seen, the vast majority have disappointed me, and so the mention of such a source tends me make me apprehensive.
However, Cronenberg's 'A History of Violence' is a long way from being the ultra-stylised violence of '300' or the classic good vs. bad of superhero films. Instead, we get a brilliantly executed crime thriller with a range of exceptional performances.
The acting really is the key to 'Violence', with the everyone from leading man Viggo Mortensen - as what could now be described as the anti-Walter…
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A couple years ago, this film was firmly in my Top 50. I haven't seen the film for a couple years now, and by the time I did my top 100 Letterboxd list, this was no where in sight. I've decided this film requires a rewatch.
This film is a delight from Cronenberg. It mixes various little film influences together into a great little story. But the film wouldn't work without the acting. Mortensen gives one of his best ever performances as a man with a deeply hidden past identity. Maria Bello is solid with some great acting scenes. Ashton Holmes gives a memorable teen performance as well.
Then you have Ed Harris effortlessly stealing the show, and William Hurt… -
An interesting film on the effects of violence on people. Viggo Mortensen gives a great performance as a simple family man living in a small midwestern town who becomes a local hero when he shoots and kills two mobsters who attempt to rob his coffee house and kill those inside. Unfortunately, more mobsters begin to follow him and his family, suggesting that he has a secret, and violent, past. His life is thrown into turmoil as he has to confront these men and the suggestions they make about his past. It is an interesting story about the effects this has on his family. One thing I did not like about this film, however, was the score. Throughout the film it…
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Great movie. At times I feel the action pushes the suspension of disbelief to the very limit, but when it's brought back to the family environment it's fascinating, it really got me thinking about the past in terms of it's relevance, him being a gangster and murderer really doesn't matter at all until they know, which means that the past is not what matters, its the knowledge that matters, which is weird because we basically force that upon ourselves.
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Great movie. At times I feel the action pushes the suspension of disbelief to the very limit, but when it's brought back to the family environment it's fascinating, it really got me thinking about the past in terms of it's relevance, him being a gangster and murderer really doesn't matter at all until they know, which means that the past is not what matters, its the knowledge that matters, which is weird because we basically force that upon ourselves.
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Powerful and menacing.
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This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
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Surprising in its simplicity, which is also its strength.
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It's somewhat consequence-free ending seems to be at odds with it's themes and message, but nonetheless A History of Violence is a constantly engaging crime drama of a man struggling to move on from his brutal past. The performances are strong throughout, with a bleak depiction of violence that punishes you for looking forward to events you shouldn't enjoy in the slightest - featuring violent climaxes in tension that make you wince when they play out - and it's script quickly holds more weight than it's narrative would suggest, developing into a smart exploration of the very nature of violence itself.